“Pienso luego existo” (René Descartes)

“Pienso luego existo” (René Descartes)

Pueden haber varios factores alrededor de esta icónica frase. Considero desde mi filosofía cristiana que Descartes lo que desarrolló fue un sistema de duda sistemática compleja buscando principalmente en el contexto de sus días desacreditar la existencia de Dios en vez de solo una frase para ser citada por los filósofos posteriores. Si realmente esto es lo que se buscaba, me  temo por mucho que no funcionó. Algunos filósofos modernos como Anthony G.N. Flew en el debate público que duró varías noches  con el Dr. Thomas B. Warren al Norte de Texas en 1977 hacía uso de esta filosofía para según él probar que Dios no existe. Hasta un siemple estudiante de primer ingreso  de la carrera de derecho como yo, puede construir un silogismo impenetranble que afirma lo contrario a la “inmensa”sabiduría de Descartes en esta frase. Observe con migo:Descartes

  • P.M Pienso luego existo.
  • P.M. Dios piensa. 
  • C. Por lo tanto, Dios existe.

Descartes cuestionó su propia existencia, cuestionó los sentidos, incluso no podía estar seguro si su mano derecha al frente de él era real o tan solo una invención de su subconsciente. La única cosa de la que pudo estar seguro fue precisamente de que no podia dudar de su duda. Si usted duda de su duda estarás inmerso en una prision de la que no puedes salir. Esta es la inconsistencia número 1 que yo le  encuentro al sistema de Descartes y toda la filosofía construida detrás de la frase. El Maestro expresó en Juan 8:31-32 que la verdad podía ser conocida, y es esa verdad la que nos provee la seguridad de los hechos. De regreso a la frase, note consecuentemente si estoy dudando necesariamente estoy pensando ya que la duda es un elemento del pensamiento. De la frase que nos compete y que ha hecho eco en latín  “cogito ergo sum” lo mas importante es el “ergo” traducido literalmente sería “pienso entonces soy”. El “entonces” es una conclusión lógica subsecuente, por lo que Descartes podía estar seguro de otra cosa más… a saber; su existencia. Lo que expone su segunda inconsistencia, pues su método estaba basado en la duda y su propia existencia es afirmada en su frase. Puedo observar que la frase incluso  suguiere una falacia.  La “Post hoc ergo propter hoc”  se trata de un tipo de falacia en el que se da por sentado que si un fenómeno ocurre después de otro, es que está causado por este, a falta de más pruebas que indiquen que eso es así. Quizás no intento afirmar que del todo la frase de Descartes es una falacia pero que fácilmente suguiere esto en principio. No se si en realidad debería de cuestionar este tema de la manera  que lo hago y  debería aceptar solamente la información brindada en clases de Filosofía que he recido, pero honrando la corriente racionalista de Descartes, estoy poniendo en tela de duda su sistema. De hecho lo expuesto anteriormente podría ejemplicarse de la siguiente manera:

  • Pienso que existo, luego existo.
  • Pienso que estoy cansado, luego estoy cansado.
  • Pienso que soy joven, entonces soy joven. 
  • Pienso que soy un rey, luego soy rey.
  • Pienso que soy un árbol, luego llego a ser árbol.

Puntualmente estoy convencido que hay 3 graves problemas con la filosofía de Descartes y su frase “pienso luego existo”:

              I.     Primero, “La insistencia en un estándar de certeza absoluta elimina el término medio de la evidencia razonable. La evidencia razonable es absolutamente necesaria para el pensamiento y para el sistema de convicción.  Observamos que en la orden de ofrecer a su hijo Abraham tuvo tres días de viaje hasta la  montaña  en el Génesis 22 lo que le dio suficiente tiempo para dudar. En el camino de Emaús en Lucas 24 aquellos dos hombres nos revelan que en Jerusalén murmuraba y dudaban sobre todo lo que había sucedido en referente a la persona de Jesús, los tres días fueron necesarios para suscitar una duda razonablemente lo  suficientemente necesaria como para provocar convicción. Un ejemplo más practico podría ilustrarse, cuando golpeo mi puño contra una pared, tengo un nivel insuficiente de certeza de que la pared es real, entonces, ¿qué nivel de certeza se necesita? Es un tanto absurdo. Los seres humanos necesariamente operan en un nivel de fe en sus sentidos, ciertamente suficiente y necesaria para la existencia humana.

            II.     En segundo lugar, “la insistencia en la claridad y distinción absoluta para la mente reflexiva escéptica elimina la consideración de cualquier aspecto en el que la realidad trascienda la representación completa y determinada”.  De hecho, el hecho mismo de que Descartes supiera que sus sentidos ocasionalmente lo “engañaban”, demuestra que sus sentidos por lo general (típicamente) le proporcionaban percepciones precisas. La Biblia enseña que generalmente podemos confiar en nuestros sentidos, incluso al grado de pecar, reconociendo la necesidad de salvación y accediendo a la remisión de los pecados (p. ej., Génesis 13:15; Mateo 5:13; Hechos 13:44; Juan 20:24-30; etc.). El argumento de Descartes es inteligible solo si la naturaleza ilusoria de los sueños, por ejemplo, no inhibe nuestra comprensión general de la realidad.

          III.     En tercer lugar, Descartes no proporcionó una razón convincente al menos no en el ámbito racional, para rechazar la posibilidad de que un demonio estuviera colocando ideas falsas en su conciencia. Debido a que toda la evidencia de Descartes era racional y ninguna era empírica, su base para pensar que Dios existe era una idea “clara y distinta” de una Persona, “infinita, eterna, inmutable, independiente, omnisciente, omnipotente”, “poderoso” . ¿Por qué esa idea no pudo haber sido colocada en la mente de Descartes por un dios que en realidad es engañoso? Descartes terminó donde empezó, pero no antes de intentar derrocar al empirismo.

Considero fuertemente que Kant pasó mucho tiempo en las proposiciones de Descartes antes de proponer sus teorías donde va a lidiar con lo empírico y también con el fenómeno neumático (todo lo que es espiritual) y que no va a negar del todo la existencia de este plano como tal.  De cualquier cosa todas las cosas han llegado a existir (incluido el ser humano) gracias al creador de todas las cosas; el Dios de la Biblia.  La explicación más fácil, la más lógica y la que puede ser demostrada es la de la deidad que ha orquestado nuestra existencia y es al mismo a quien debemos todo nuestro ser racional y pensante que nos separa de todos los demás serés humanos. El pensar es un regalo y al mismo tiempo una hermosa característica que nos relaciona directamente con nuestro Padre celestial. ¡Pensar en un don, no lo desperdiciemos!.

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Outwardly Religious

Outwardly Religious

The prophet Jeremiah spent decades of his life sharing the Words of God to an outwardly religious Israel/Judah.  The people to whom he was prophesying were a people that had been chosen of God.  They were chosen as a promise to Abraham that through Him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed”.  Jesus the Savior of all mankind would come through the lineage of Abraham.  The descendants of Abraham, the Israelites/Hebrews were enslaved by the nation of Egypt.  They originally came to that state as a family of 70 but grew under their bondage.  God through Moses delivered the people and brought them to Mt. Sinai of Arabia.  There they were told by God, “If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”  God then brought them to the land of Canaan as He had promised Abraham.  Before entering, Moses shared with them these words, “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules.  You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Moses then shared with them the blessings God would bring upon them if they obeyed and he also shared the curses to come upon them if they disobeyed (Deuteronomy 27/28).  Israel failed in following the commandments of God with all of their heart and soul.  Thus, a disobedient, hard-hearted people set on destruction was the nation to whom Jeremiah would prophecy.

Jeremiah 6:10 – “…the Word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn: they take no pleasure in it.”

Israel, being the nation chosen to be blessed above all others, had a rich history of God’s deliverance and grace.  They built a great temple in Jerusalem which God agreed to acknowledge with His presence.  Nations knew of the might of the God of Israel.  Israel had great and constant sacrifices to God.  Yet, despite the display of their religiousness, most of the people had no love for what God had instructed them or recognition of what he had done for them.  They were a nation of hypocrites and God was about to destroy them by the hand of the Chaldeans led by Nebuchadnezzar.  Jeremiah saw this.  Jeremiah experienced this.  His prophetic words called for their repentance, but the heart and soul devotion spoken of by Moses was not present with these people.

Hypocrites aren’t just a danger to themselves; they are a danger to others.  Their outwardly religious hypocrisy influences others to discount the glory, power, and provision of God.  God will not be mocked by pretend, superfluous religiosity.  God knows what He wants; He knows what He has commanded.  Due to blatant hypocrisy, many people walk away from or avoid religious bodies of people claiming to be God’s faithful.  They see great displays of religion, but little substance regarding the teaching and keeping of the commandments of God.  Studies show that young people recognize this hypocrisy and not being properly instructed in the scriptures or seeing hearts embracing the Word of God, they are walking away from “organized” religion in great numbers.

Acknowledging that the true worshippers of God are abundantly surrounded by hearts which truly have no pleasure in obeying God’s commandments, what is mankind to do?  Walking away is not the answer.  Business is full of hypocrisy, but people keep engaging in it so they can make money.  Society is full of hypocrites, but people rarely leave and become hermits.  Married life has hypocrites, but people keep on marrying.  Heaven is going to be the only place where there will be no hypocrites, but if a person avoids obeying the commandments of God and being part of the Lord’s Church, they will spend their eternity in hell with the hypocrites they tried to avoid.  So true worshippers, such as Jeremiah, continue on in the midst of the hypocrisy, following God’s commands and sharing His Word.  They call for repentance, they call for devotion, they call for the obedience which God commanded.  They do so knowing that many, even most, will not listen, will not turn, and will be destroyed.  In the maelstrom, those truly seeking God, do not turn away from the truth or the love of it, despite the presence of hypocrisy.  The devoted work to change it.  Committed souls may have to dust off their feet from time to time, but they move on, not away from, and steadfastly cling to the Words and commandments of God.

God has chosen the Church which Jesus built (Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:47) as the home of the believer.  He has provided a path that is a light to the feet of those who will follow, “for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.”.  In seeking the path of God, do not be distracted by the weak and flailing hearts of others.  Do not turn back when you see others falter or worse yet, relish in their disobedience to God while putting on a show of religious pomp.  “…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…” Jeremiah trusted and obeyed God completely.  His devotion was not a show, but it was a labor of love in the midst of an outwardly religious Israel whose hearts had gone cold.  Inside and out, let us keep the fires of our heart burning in service and honor to our God.

 

 

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Inspired

Inspired

A few weeks ago in a sermon, I spoke about the Bible doctrine of inspiration.  In that lesson we discussed how some people will accept some of the Bible as inspired, but not all of it.  One sub-category of this group is individuals who say they believe the words of Jesus but not the words of the apostles.  This idea sounds good to some, and it has appeal to those who are seeking to eliminate the Apostle Paul’s teachings especially in areas such as roles of women in the church and certain sexual sins. inspired

However, if we simply go by the teachings of Jesus, we will find that this belief cannot hold true.  In John 16:13, Jesus Himself had this to say about the teaching of the apostles: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”  In other words, the things that the apostles taught were from the same Holy Spirit that Jesus had in His life.  The Holy Spirit brought the teaching that Jesus wanted the apostles to have, and led them into “all truth.”  The apostles also were able to lay hands on others to give them the ability to prophecy (Acts 8:14-17).

We conclude that to reject the apostles is to reject the Holy Spirit, and to reject the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus Himself.  We cannot simply pick and choose which words we want to accept and which words we don’t want to accept because we will end up rejecting Jesus altogether.  Let us resolve to love all of God’s word, not just the parts that we like.

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True Faith

True Faith

When I was much younger, probably a decade ago, my dad did a youth class while the youth minister was away. I feel ashamed to say, that I don’t remember the class very well, but I do remember one thing. He started the class with a question: “What does God mean to you?” Most people, myself included, answered with a very generic “everything.” “Well, God means everything to me! He is my life!”

If I remember right, the class was about this topic: If God means so much to you, what are you doing for Him? It’s an important question, one that we ought to ask ourselves. Today, I want to ask the same question, in a similar light. What does God mean to you? More specifically, what does your faith in Him mean to you? Do you have faith in Him, or do you just hope that God is real, just hope to slide by into Heaven?

True Faith

True Faith

Heb. 11:1 defines faith like this: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, faith is that on which our belief in the invisible, the spiritual, is built. Why do we believe in God, trust in God, do what He says? Because we have faith. Our faith is built on evidence, based on the Word (Rom. 10:17). It’s not something magical, something fantastical. We don’t just have HOPE God exists, that’s not faith. Rather faith is proclaiming: “I KNOW God is real, and the things in His Word are true!”

So what does that faith mean to you? What does your faith look like? Is it a dead faith, or is it a living faith? Is it perfected? What did God want James’ audience to know about faith? James 2:21-22: “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”

What does perfect faith look like?

Friends, I want a true faith. I want a faith that God is proud of. If somehow there was a situation similar to the book of Job, I wish my name could replace Job’s. You might remember in Job 1:6-12, and Job 2:1-6, where Satan came before God one day. Job 1:8: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” I want that kind of faith, the faith that makes God say: “That’s My child, have you considered My servant Cannon?” The kind of faith that makes Jesus marvel, like He did when speaking to the centurion in Mat. 8. In Mat. 8:10: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” I want that kind of faith.

So what does it take? What do I need to have such a faith? For one, I can find out what that faith is NOT. We’ve seen it over and over in this chapter we’re studying, but James 2:20: “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” But secondly, I need to know what true faith looks like, faith that has works.

So first, I cannot have a dead faith. That kind of faith that does not show itself, that never seeks to please God by doing His will, but thinks everything is alright when in reality, it is far from alright. Faith without works is… a faith. But it is a dead faith, James tells us. If I want to have faith in God, and expect Him to bless me as He said He would, I have to make my faith mean something, it can’t be dead.

A faith without works doesn’t work for me. If I have faith, but do no good works for God, how can I expect my faith to do anything for me? That’s not a faith built on evidence, Heb. 11:1.  That’s not a faith built on the truth of the Scriptures, Rom. 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That’s wishful thinking, that’s hope that will disappoint me greatly. Because a faith without works is dead; a faith without works doesn’t work for me, and it doesn’t work for you.

Second, I need to know what a living faith looks like. Verse 21: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Why Abraham? What’s special about his example? There’s plenty of examples to pick from. We could take examples of Joshua, or David, or Moses, many others. But why Abraham? I think for two reasons.

James’ audience was primarily Jewish Christians; notice he writes “Abraham our father…”. This was their father of the faith, the Jewish faith. They learned about him since they were children, and learned to love him. He was a powerful example of love for God, deep, abiding trust, etc. Even for Gentiles who would read this letter, Abraham meant something to them too. He was a well-loved man by all. In Rom. 4, Paul talks about the fact that Abraham was blessed before he was circumcised. His blessing was not because he had the same physical characteristic as a Jew. The Gentiles could relate to him.

But another reason comes to my mind: because of who is the next example. First, James uses Abraham, a dearly beloved figure; verse 21: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works…”. Then he uses Rahab, who we would consider having a very low reputation; verse 25: “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works…”. She used to be a harlot; she didn’t continue in this practice, or she could not have been justified. But in the minds of people then, and even us today, she was associated with that practice. From the highest of reputations, to the lowest of reputations, from “our father” (father in the faith) to “the harlot”, faith and works can go together to do something special.

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works…”

Justified: pronounced or declared just. He was counted, reckoned, pronounced, declared, to be in a right relationship with God. It is a sense in which nothing separates him from God. That’s what I want, don’t you? I received that same condition Abraham has, when I was baptized. 1 Cor. 6:11: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I can be sanctified, set apart. I can be justified, if I only have a faith that cares. A faith that truly believes in God and obeys what He would have me to do.

Justified by works: “BY” works, meaning this is the source of Abraham’s being justified: works. Now let’s be clear about something. Eph. 2:8-9: “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” NOT OF WORKS, let any man should boast. Is it my works that justify, save me, or is it not? In the end, God justifies me, plain and simple. But HOW am I justified? Not in works that I can boast of, and act like God owes me salvation, but works that God demands so that I can obtain salvation!

“…when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

I want us to turn to Gen. 22, and see what Abraham did, how his works combined with his faith to perfect that faith. Gen. 22:1-2: “1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

If you have studied James 1 recently, you might remember that James tells us: God does not and cannot tempt anyone. James 1:13: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” Rather this was a test of faith.

Why did God test him in this way? Why ask him to sacrifice “his son, his only son, who he loves?” What did God get out of it? I don’t think God really got anything out of it; rather, this was for Abraham’s sake. This is a test of HIS faith in God, and if he goes through with this, then he can be, as James says in James 1:4, spiritually mature and whole, lacking nothing. But why the sacrifice of his son? Perhaps because of the land Abraham was in. One could ask Abraham: “Abraham, God has given you this land in prospect, this land of Canaan. Do you know how they prove their faith, their love and devotion to their gods? They sacrifice their children; Abraham, do you have as much faith as a Canaanite?”

Could we do something like that? If God asked us to do the same thing, could we sacrifice a child of ours? I don’t even have children, and I know I couldn’t.

Gen. 22:3-5: “3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”

He rose up early; he didn’t delay, he didn’t put it off, he rose up early to do the Lord’s will. He went on for three days, knowing what he was about to do! As far as he was concerned, Isaac was a dead man walking for three days. But notice what he said in verse 5: “I and the lad will go yonder to worship, and come again to you.” He believed that even if he sacrificed his son, God would bring him back.

How do we know that? Heb. 11:17-19: “17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Gen. 22:8 is even more proof of that.

Gen. 22:10-14: “10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”

Abraham was willing to go through with it. He was willing to bind his own son to the altar, to kill him, to give him up to God. But God didn’t want Isaac.

God wanted Abraham. Rom. 12:1-2: “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Abraham became that living sacrifice when he was willing to offer up his son. And Abraham showed his faith, through his works, that he trusted in God, he believed in him. And Abraham called that place “Jehovah-Jireh”, which means “The Lord will provide.”

Now back in our text, in James 2:22: “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Faith was made perfect, spiritually mature. What would Abraham’s faith look like if he had not offered Isaac? What kind of faith might he have? In overcoming this ordeal, his faith in God grew. A faith not tested is a faith not worth having. And as hard as it is to say sometimes, thanks be to God that God allows our faith to be tested, so that we can be tried, and come out more faithful to Him.

Faith alone doesn’t save, it’s a dead faith. But faith with works is something to behold indeed. We can overcome trials, we can overcome the difficulties of life, if we have faith in God. And our actions can show just how much faith we have, and cause our faith to grow even more.

When faith combines with works, it is a faith that works. Not just a living faith, that does good works for God, but a faith that works for us. A faith that can bless us, a faith that can help to save our souls. What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a living faith? Do you have a faith that seeks to please God?

What does God mean to you; and what does your faith in Him mean to you? Only you can determine the answer, only you can decide if it is a living faith! But if it is a dead faith, if it is a faith that does not seek to serve the Lord, then friend, as much as I love you, I have to tell you, a dead faith belongs to a spiritually dead person. A spiritually dead person is lost, is not headed for Heaven, is not going to make it on the Day of Judgement. God doesn’t accept those who “just slide by,” they have to be willing to put in the effort, Mat. 7:21.

What does God mean to you?

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Saints Assembled

Saints Assembled

The early church/ekklesia regularly assembled regularly.  The purpose of this article is to examine whether there is sufficient evidence within God’s word to draw the conclusion that Christians/Believers regularly assembled in the early church for the purpose of worshiping God.   This study from God’s Word is in response to those who seek to deny the reality of assembled Christians for the purpose of worship toward God in the early church.

To begin, we will examine the original Greek word translated as church in the New Testament.  An accurate understanding of this word in the original language is useful in a study of Christian assemblies.

The Greek word for church in most cases is Ekklesia

NT:479

General dictionaries define

ekklesia

as 1. “assembly” and 2. “church.” NT lexicons then distinguish between church as a. the whole body and b. the local congregation or house church.

(from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged edition, Copyright © 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

The Greek word ekklesia is primarily a reference to a group of individuals.  In all cases, this word refers to people and not material objects such as buildings.  In all cases, the word is a reference to a plurality of people either locally or universally.

Additionally, scripture specifically associates the “ekklesia” with the body of Christ which is understood as being either a local group of Christians or the universal company of all Christians / Believers.  (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18; 24).  Any time the word ‘Ekklesia’ is used in God’s Word in the context of Christians/Believers, it must be understood as being associated with the body of Christ.

Letters To The Churches

Paul addressed several of his epistles to churches or groups of Christians.  His epistle/letter to the Romans was addressed to “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” Romans 1:7.   His letter to the Galatians, “unto the churches [ekklesia] of Galatia”, Galatians 1:2.  His letter to the Ephesians, “saints which are at Ephesus”, Ephesians 1:1.  His letters to the Corinthians, “Unto the church [ekklesia] of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints”, 1 Corinthians 1:2.

It was the customary practice for these letters to be read to the entire congregation.   Notice Paul’s words in Colossians 4:16, “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”  A letter read “among” the members had to be done when they assembled.  So when we see a letter addressed to a church/ekklesia in God’s Word, we know it was meant for the entire congregation, or the entire church it was addressed to.  It is a necessary deduction from logic that these groups of Christians/believers assembled to hear the letters read aloud to them.

In Acts 2:42, we have a record of the early church on Pentecost.  The disciples continued steadfastly in praying and breaking of bread.  The breaking of bread in this context is in reference to the Lord’s Supper.  Continuing steadfastly establishes their meeting together on a regular basis.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (KJV)

The term “breaking of bread” is used to refer to both the eating of a common meal together or the observance of the Lord’s Supper.  The context is used to determine which usage is intended.    Acts 2 has an example of both within the same narrative.  Verse 42 uses this term in the context of prayers and doctrine (teaching).   The Greek in this passage employs the use of the definite article “ho” which as translated by nearly all English translations as “The breaking of bread”.  This lends weight to this usage being in reference to an important event everywhere known and thus understood.

In verse 46 we see this term used in the context of eating common meals together in their homes.   Acts 2:44 refers to them having “everything in common,” and this no doubt included sharing meals together, each one receiving from the others what they needed.   The NIV translation captures the intent of this passage quite clearly, “…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts”.

The church assembled:

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church [ekklesia], and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church [ekklesia] together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church [ekklesia], I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church [ekklesia] which is in his house.

Philemon 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the churc [ekklesia] in thy house:

The Greek word for the ‘church’ in all the passages cited is ‘ekklesia’ which means the assembly or the local body of Christians meeting together.   A church/ekklesia cannot be in someone’s home together unless they are assembled. They were assembling in their homes.  An assembly of Christians is a logical necessity.

There is no doubt the early church/ekklesia assembled together.

Activities done in the early assemblies as recorded in God’s Word:

Each of these activities falls within one of the three categories of the work of the Lord’s church as a whole, i.e. Benevolence (Galatians 6:10), evangelizing (Matthew 28:18-20), edification (Ephesians 4:12-16, 1 Corinthians 14:26).

  1. Reading God’s Word aloud to the church/ekklesia: [edification]

Colossians 4:16   “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”

  1. Singing:

Hebrews 2:12, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church [ekklesia] will I sing praise unto thee.”  Singing in the midst of the church/ekklesia requires them to be assembled.

Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  (teaching and admonishing one another requires an assembly, group activity, group worship)

  1. Praying:

Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Christians praying as a group.

Acts 12:12, “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”   This is an example of group prayer.

  1. Praising God:

Luke 24:52-53, “And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:  53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

  1. Giving:

1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” (NASU)

Romans 15:25-26, “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-5, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

  1. Lord’s Supper:

Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

Luke 24:33-35, “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.” (NASU)

Acts 2:42, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NASU)

1 Corinthians 10:16-18, “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.” (NASU)

1 Corinthians 11:20-22, “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?” (NASU)  (Partaking The Lord’s Supper is what they should have been doing.  Chastized for not doing what they should have been doing.)

  1. Preaching/Teaching:

Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”

All the above activities during assemblies of the Saints are forms of worship to God.  Therefore the assembly was done for the primary purpose of worshipping God.  These assemblies where God was praised, songs were sung, preaching was heard, contributions and prayers were offered and the Lord’s death remembered and honored are by logical necessity a worship service.

Instructions within God’s Word for the Christian assemblies:

        Instructions for conduct during assemblies implies an assembly

1 Corinthians 14:23-26, “Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.  26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (NASU)

James 2:1-4, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

Ephesians 5:19-20, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

They have to be assembled together to speak to one another.   They also have to be assembled to partake of the Lord’s supper together:

1 Corinthians 11:20-29, “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (KJV)

Instructions for how to partake of the Lord’s supper implies an assembly.  Christians must assemble to do this.  Notice Verse 20, “When ye come together”.  This is absolutely an action performed within an assembly of Christians.

 References / Instruction within God’s word Addressed to Christian Assemblies:

        Instructions directed to assemblies implies an assembly.

Hebrews 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect…”

Forsaking the assembling of the saints carried the consequence of losing the benefit of the sacrifice of Christ:

Hebrews 10:24-26, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”   The command to not forsake the assembling of  Christians together carries the necessary implication that assemblies are mandatory.  The sacrifice for sin here can be none other than Christ’s blood.  God’s word here pronounces the consequence of the loss of the saving power of Christ’s blood for failure to assemble with other Christians.  There can be no doubt this assembly just be the Lord’s Day worship assembly where the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross is remembered and commemorated each Lord’s Day through the observance of the Lord’s Supper.   Opponents of this reasoning are thus forced to produce another regular assembling of Christians for which the consequences for forsaking mentioned in God’s word are appropriate. In other words, what other regular, expected assembling of Christians could this be referring to?  If it is not the regular Lord’s day assembly, what then is it?  It’s important because deliberately and habitually forsaking it forfeits the saving benefit of Christ’s blood in their life.

The phrase “worship assembly” may not appear in that form in God’s word, but what does appear in God’s word are mandatory assemblies of Christians who”

  1. Worshipped/praised God
  2. Gave of their means to God
  3. Praised God in Song
  4. Offered Prayer to God
  5. Were edified (preaching & teaching) by the Word of God
  6. Commemorated/Remembered the death of Jesus (Lord’s Supper)

It makes sense that since mandatory assemblies were something required in God’s word, this logically applies universally to all the churches/congregations, therefore a record of when these assemblies occurred in any church would be binding to them all:

The Frequency of the assemblies of Christians:

The Christians in Troas assembled on the first day of the week to break bread.

“Acts 20:7, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…” (NASU)

The Christians in Corinth were commanded to give of their means to a central assembly on the first day of every week:

1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (NASU)

Assembling was mandatory per God’s word in Hebrews 10:24-26.  The Lord’s Supper, Giving, Praying, Singing, Preaching, Praising God were all done during assemblies of Christians in God’s Word.  Regular assemblies happening on the first day of every week are recorded in God’s word.  It therefore follows that the church/assemblies gathered every first day of the week to engage in worship to God.

Conclusion:

God’s inspired Word directly references assemblies of Christians/Believers.   God’s word references activities engaged in during assemblies of Christians/Believers.  God’s Word contains instructions for activities in the assemblies of Christians/Believers.   God’s Word directly addresses assemblies of Christians / Believers.  God’s Word directly and conclusively condemns willful failure to assemble with Christians/Believers.

Given the overwhelming evidence of the presence of assemblies of Christians/Believers with directions to them, it is a logical necessity that Christians/Believers assembled regularly on the first day of every week to participate in Worship to God.

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