The ideal congregation maintains faithfulness in doctrine, worship and life. John commented forcefully upon these. Regarding doctrine, he said, “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God…” (2 John 1:9). Regarding worship, he penned, “God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Regarding life, he transcribed, “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Thus, we see that the people of God must maintain faithfulness in these matters. To do otherwise constitutes a course that robs us of our present spiritual security and our future celestial inheritance. May we always have the courage to seek out the Lord’s will in all matters wherein He has spoken, as well as to demonstrate the fortitude to live and teach accordingly. Motivation to this end is realized in the observation that doctrine communicates divine principles of truth, while worship regulates our personal relationship with deity, and our course of life will determine our eternal destiny. Lives guided by these observations and principles truly have the hope promised to mankind in the Word of our gracious God.
