If you were to ask the generic Protestant if one can go to heaven without being a member of their respective group, they are most assuredly going to say “Yes.” And, of course they are right.
But if you were to ask, “Can you go to heaven without being a member of Christ’s church,” then the answer would be “no.” A resounding “no.”
The church of Christ matters because…
THE LORD’S SUPPER MATTERS:
The Lord’s Supper is to be observed at the Lord’s table and His table is in His kingdom. Luke 22:29-30.
The Lord’s Supper is to be observed by the Lord’s church every Lord’s day… Consider these verses and their cumulative message: Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 11:20; Revelation 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7.
THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM:
If the church does not matter, then the Messianic Kingdom does not matter. But it does, because Christ shed His blood for the kingdom / church: Acts 20:28; Revelation 1:5-6.
THE CHURCH AND GOD’S FAMILY:
Being a child of God is important, right (John 3:3)? To be a child of God is to become a new creature in Christ: 2 Cor. 5:17. Forgiveness of sins is by virtue of the blood of Christ: Hebrews 9:22.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK IS IMPORTANT:
In Joel 2:28-32, the prophet predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit so that mankind would know the teachings of God. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, the prophet reiterated the same idea. Jesus said the promise (Holy Spirit) would come with power (Luke 24:48-49) and then in Acts 1:4-5, He said that power would come when the disciples were assembled in Jerusalem. These verses show that the promises of the kingdom / church / coming of the Holy Spirit were all fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the ascension of Christ in Acts 2.
CHRIST – THE LORD – IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH:
The church has an infallible king, Jesus (1 Timothy 6:15). Jesus is the head of the church: Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18-20
Love and respect and encourage the church. We will be stuck with each other forever.
Paul Holland
