The Assembling Of The Saints
Introduction: There is a growing belief among those who claim Christ as Savior that the assembling of the saints is unnecessary. The American culture at large has slowly come to the place of believing that a person can be a Christian without regularly gathering together with other believers in worship and fellowship. This is just not the case. The Christian faith is an assembling faith. The very word church in the Greek is “Ekklesia” which, in the ancient Greek, denoted a group called out to come to the assembly. Assembly is in the word Ekklesia.
It is claimed by some that new testament Christians did not assemble for worship, therefore it is not a requirement today.
Christian Assemblies in God’s Word:
James 2:2
“For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel...” While writing to Christians about the need to never show partiality or favoritism to others, he mentioned an assembly. The Greek word for assembly in this verse is STRONGS NT 4864: συναγωγή, sunagoge (soon-ag-o-gay’); from (the reduplicated form of) NT:4863; an assemblage of persons; specifically, a Jewish “synagogue” (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church. In the KJV, this word is translated as – assembly, congregation, synagogue. James used the Greek word for synagogue, which was traditionally a gathering place for Jews to pray. There can be no doubt the assembly mentioned by James was for the purpose of worship.
The Corinthian Christians had a practice of mixing the Lord’s Supper with a common meal. They were getting drunk and eating the Lord’s supper in an improper manner. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 we read, “Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.” (NKJV). The Christians in Corinth were assembling to partake of the Lord’s supper. Paul chastised them for it and provided instruction through the rest of the chapter for the correct way the Lord’s supper was to be observed in their assemblies.
“when you come together as a church“
πρῶτον
First |
μὲν ,
indeed |
γὰρ
for |
συνερχομένων
coming together |
ὑμῶν
you |
ἐν
in |
ἐκκλησίᾳ
assembly |
Young’s Literal Translation: 1 Corinthians 11:18
“for first, indeed, ye coming together in an assembly”
Notice carefully, one of Paul’s complaints was that they were not waiting for one another to arrive at the assembly. Not only were they assembling in this context and worshipping, they were required to wait to assemble with the entire group and not intentionally leave anyone out.
In Acts 20:7 we read the following, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” The word when is an adverb of time denoting a known regular event. The Christians in Troas regularly came together to observe the Lord’s supper and to remember the cost of salvation on the first day of the week. It is worth noting here, Paul and company had been on Troas for several days, yet waited until the first day of the week to gather with the Christians there. In Acts 2:42, we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Fellowship and the breaking of bread require them to be assembled. This verse from God’s Word establishes a steadfast and continual assembling for fellowship, prayer and the breaking of bread. These are all activities one would see any worship assembly. Acts 2:42 establishes a repetitive ongoing event and Acts 20:7 provides the exact frequency of these assemblies.
The Christians in Corinth were having some issues with the Spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul is explaining to the Christians there the proper manner in which to utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” Prophecy and teaching in the Lord’s church are group activities. Paul uses the next 2 chapters to instruct the Corinthians on the proper place and prioritization of the miraculous gifts. In 1 Corinthians 14:23-24 he summarizes it with these words, “Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” These are absolutely assembly settings where the Holy Spirit is actively participating. It can not be denied these were assemblies where God was being worshipped.
Making an additional point to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” The presence of apostles, prophets, teachers, etc within the assemblies makes it necessary for them to assemble.
In Acts 14:23, we read, “So when they had appointed elders in every church...” Each congregation had Elders to oversee their activities. Paul’s letter to Titus gave explicit qualifications and duties for both Elders and Deacons in the assemblies.
Paul instructed the Christians in Corinth, and Galatia, to collect money for use in the ministry. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” (NIV)
Many opponents of modern worship assemblies try and set forth the idea that this is a private saving of one’s money at home. This cannot be reconciled with the text. Notice that Paul used the words, “so that when I come no collections will have to be made”. If the money were kept individually at their homes, a collection of these individual offerings would be necessary. Paul specifically said he did not want that to be necessary. The intent was for the money to be in one location. Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians to pool their money on the first day of every week into a single central location so that it was available upon his arrival. That is an early example of church treasury. The fact remains, the Galatian and Corinthian Christians were commanded to do this on the first day of every week. This was a prescribed set day to be repeated indefinitely.
In Acts 14:27-28 we read the following:
“Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” The Greek word for “church” in Acts 14:27 is “Ekklesia” which is an assembly.
The Reading of the Epistles to the Assemblies:
Paul wrote many letters to the congregations of Gentile Christians. In Colossians 4:15-16 we read the following, “Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”
“and the church that is in his house“. The Greek word for “church” in Colossians 4:15 is “Ekklesia” which is an assembly. Nymphas had an an assembly of Christians that met in his home. We know this because Paul instructed them to read his epistles to both Colossi and the Laodiceans aloud to the group. It was customary for the epistles to be read aloud to the entire congregations and this necessitated an assembly.
Jesus directly addressed seven Asian assemblies of Christians in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 2:1, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write…”
Revelation 2:8, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write…”
Revelation 2:12, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write…”
Revelation 2:18, “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write…”
Revelation 3:1, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write…”
Revelation 3:7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…”
Revelation 3:14, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write…”
The Greek word for church in every instance of Jesus’ address to the Asian assemblies of Christians in Revelation is “Ekklesia” In English it is translated as “church.” But the original word means a called assembly. It’s a reference to a group, or congregation of Christians. They assembled to hear this letter read aloud to them.
Extra Biblical References to Christian Assemblies:
Pliny was a civil servant who served as the Roman governor of Bithynia, in the north of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), from 111-113 AD. Here he met Christians for the first time and was not sure how they should be dealt with. So he wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan reporting what he had done so far and asking for guidance. A paragraph from this letter
“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to do some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food — but ordinary and innocent food.” Pliney
Pliney’s interrogations of Christians revealed they assembled on a certain day to sing hymns, exhort one another to live in accordance with God’s will, and later to assemble again to partake of a meal. This would have been either the Lord’s supper, or the love feasts, or both. Recall Paul’s letter to the Corinthians correcting them for abuses in the mixing of the two. Recall also, one element of Paul’s chastisement included instructions for the Christians to wait to partake of the Lord’s supper until all of them had arrived at the assembly.
Activities During the Christian Assemblies:
- Gave of their means: (Layed by in store on every first day of the week, (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
- Partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week: (Acts 20:7)
- Sang Hymns: Ephesians 5:19, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…“, Hebrews 2:12, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” (See also1 Corinthians 14:26; Colossians 3:16).
- Preaching: Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them,
- Congregational Prayer:
- The church prayed in difficult times. We noticed at the beginning that the church prayed for Peter while in prison (Acts 12:5). When he was released he came to the house of John’s mother, Mary where “many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12).
- The church prayed in times of decision, change, and farewell. When they appointed the seven to care for the widows, they prayed about their selection (Acts 6:6). Before Paul and Barnabas were sent away to preach they prayed about it (Acts 13:1-3). Before Paul left brethren after working with them they prayed together (Acts 14:23; 21:5).
- The church prayed for Paul (2 Corinthians 1:9-11). Note: In prayer they were “helping together in prayer.” Paul taught the Ephesians to pray for his work (Eph. 6:17-19). To the Thessalonians he gave the simple charge “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5: 25).
- The church prayed for all the saints. Paul taught the Ephesians not just to pray for him, but “all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
- The church prayed for all men and leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We looked at this text in talking about intercession (or prayer for others). Notice who it specifies that we should pray for—“all men” (v. 1) and “all who are in authority” (v. 2).
- The church prayed with thanksgiving (Colossians 3:16-17). Paul charged them to pray earnestly “with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
- The church prayed regularly (Romans 12:10-12). Peter teaches that an awareness of coming judgment should lead to constant prayer (1 Peter 4:7).
- Public Reading of God’s Word: Colossians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:27, “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.“
- Exhortation to Love and Good Works: Hebrews 10:24
- Fellowship: Acts 2:41-42, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.“
- Benevolence: The Christians engaged fellowship meals resembled something like a modern day potluck meal, where everyone was supposed to contribute what they could for the benefit of all. These were sometimes referred to as “love-feasts” (Jude 12). We see its origins in Acts 2:46 and it describes how ancient Christians who had an excess would give generously to support fellow believers who had need (see also 2 Corinthians 8-9, Acts 20:11).
To Refuse To Assemble Is Sin
Hebrews 10:24-27, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins...”
The Command to not forsake the assembling implies assemblies. To willfully and knowingly refuse to assemble with the saints results in the forfeiture of the efficacy of Christ’s blood for the forgiveness of our sin. No sacrifice for sin means no salvation, regardless of whether one has faith or not.
Conclusion:
The Word of God is replete with commands and examples for Christians to assemble for worship. It should be noted that everything the 1st century Christians did in their worship assemblies was for the good of the whole brotherhood both collectively and individually.
The first-century Christians did indeed assemble. They did it on the first day of every week. During these weekly assemblies, they engaged in activities that were acts of worship toward God and service toward one another.
Many people today try and deny the reality of the assemblies of Christians for the purpose of collective worship, however, such a position cannot be supported by a comprehensive examination of God’s Word. One cannot be a faithful Christian and expect Jesus’ sacrifice to have any benefit if they fail to assemble with the saints.
