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Question #51

Are some worship services more important than others?

First Question: Is the Lord’s day service more important than any other service?

Second Question: In our Wed. night bible class the subject came up about which service of the church is more important. Some said one service is as important as another, others said the Lord’s day service is the most important because we come together to worship God by singing, praying, partaking of the Lord’s Supper and giving of our means and hearing His word proclaimed. I would appreciate an answer on your website about this.

The Answer:

I will assume that the first question was asked to enable the inquirer to respond to an individual who has asserted a belief that only the Lord’s Day worship is important. The next step is usually to make the decision that the Lord’s Day morning worship is more important than the Lord’s Day evening worship; thus, the evening worship can be missed with impunity and without fault. The reason that I make that assumption is because to ask the question could indicate that one is seeking support for the rationalization that other worship and study hours need not be attended. It smacks of “How little can I do and still get to glory,” instead of “I love the Lord and I will take advantage of every opportunity to gather with the saints to worship and study his word.” There is a world of difference, and may well be an eternity of difference, between those two approaches. This assumption obviously does not apply to the second question because it was asked by people attending mid-week Bible study.

Having that said, the Lord’s Day is in fact more important than any other day. It is the day of the Redeemer’s resurrection. It is the day the Lord has established as his day. It is the day that we are commanded by scripture not to forsake. Hebrews 10:28. Mid-week and other special services are appointed by elders for the edification of the congregation. Those who tend the flock have determined that such services are needful for the congregation’s spiritual welfare. One who determines that they are not necessary for him has just demonstrated that he is among those who need them most. He needs to learn to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33. When that lesson is learned, he will be glad each time he has an opportunity to worship the Lord. Psalm 122:1.

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God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)