ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR

ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Hebrews [ESV] 10: 12-25 … when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

  When it comes to church assembly attendance and participation (2 separate areas) professing Christians have never been all present and accounted for. The Book of Hebrews was written in the first century of the church and it speaks of truancy then. The #1 reason given is neglect (KJV “forsaking). The Greek definition being: Strong’s G1459 ἐγκαταλείπω; egkataleipō; eng-kat-al-i'-po; From G1722 and G2641; to leave behind in some place, that is, (in a good sense) let remain over, or (in a bad one) to desert: - forsake, leave.

  Today’s title is a military phrase indicating just what it says, all present or accounted for at roll call, or not; the latter being increasingly the case today in our USA Christian nation.

  Mainline denomination numbers have been falling for decades. Now the largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), has experienced its 9^th straight year of drop in membership. What do you see in your local church assembly roll and space?

  Numbers are not to be our goal, individuals are most important, but as we actively love others, and if they come to accept their individual responsibility, there will be numbers honoring our Lord as we encourage and support one another in good and bad times.

  Indeed church leadership and active members have responsibility for caring for one another, but let us note the wording by the writer of Hebrews . . . faithful participation is primarily responsibility of the individual believer.

  Let us not forget for one day that the roll call here affects the eternal roll call on “the Day”.

 EBB4