Church of Christ – Romans 16:16 Reasons Why “US” Should Love The Church of Christ – Romans 16:16

Six reasons we should love God’s church. I. The church is the eternal plan of God. II. Building the Kingdom One Life at a time III. The church is the most expensive purchase ever. IV. The church is where God is glorified. V The church is our eternal dwelling place. VI. Jesus / God loves the church.

I. The church is the eternal plan of God for mankind.

God prepared the church / kingdom before He created the world.

Matthew 25: 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'

I Peter 1: 19-21 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Therefore : We should love the church because it’s what God has always wanted for us.

II. Building God’s Kingdom One Life at a time.

Ephesians 2: 19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

I Peter 2: 4-5 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but chosen of God sight of God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Colossians 1: 13-14 For He delivered “US” from the power of darkness, and translated “US” into the kingdom of His dear Son, 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins.

You and I are the ones God uses to Enhance His kingdom – church. I Cor. 3: 9 – For we are God’s fellow workers; Luke 19: 10 – For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which is lost Eph. 2:10 – We are His workmanship

III. The church is the most expensive purchase ever made.

“For the Wages of Sin is Death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life.” Romans 6: 23

Acts 20: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Hebrews 9:12-14 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God

Therefore : We should love the church because it is a Blood bought Institution called the Church of Christ!!!!!!

IV. The church is where God is glorified on earth.

Christians are the only physical manifestation of God on the earth.

Galatians 2: 20 I am crucified with Christ; neverthleess I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Philippians 2: 12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

II Corinthians 5: 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

What am I ... What are you ... What are we ... What is this church doing to glorify God ?

V. The church is the Christian’s eternal dwelling place.

II Peter 3: 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

I Corinthians 15: 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.”

After physical death the soul of man lives on eternally. Luke 16: 19f ... The rich man and Lazarus Matthew 10: 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

I Thessalonians 4: 16-18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Therefore : We should love the church because in it we have the assurance of eternity with God and our brethren.

VII. We should love the church because Jesus / God loves His church.

Ephesians 5: 25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Six reasons we should love God’s church. 1. The church is the eternal plan of God. 2. Building God’s Kingdom One Life At A Time 3. The church is the most expensive purchase ever. 4. The church is where God is glorified. 5. The church is our eternal dwelling place. 6. Jesus / God loves the church.