Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
October 2, 1969
NUMBER 22, PAGE 9b

? Why ?

George T. Eldridge

Why is a gospel meeting held? Why are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus exhorted to attend every service of the meeting? Why are you exhorted to bring your friends and relatives to the meeting?

The Bible answers those questions! In a gospel meeting, the "gospel of Christ" is preached. The gospel of Christ "is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth", Rom. 1:16. SALVATION is needed by all responsible individuals today! The individual's need for SALVATION will always exist because "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God", Rom. 3:23. Kind reader, don't you desire SALVATION? Don't you need SALVATION?

Whether the individual is a baptized believer or a non-baptized person, he cannot and will not know, obtain, and realize the SALVATION of Rom. 1:16 by absenting himself from services of God's Church. Why??? The absent individual cannot hear Bible PREACHING and respond thereto! Listening to and obeying Bible PREACHING is a must because "it pleased God by . . . preaching to save them that believe", I Cor. 1: 21. Therefore, regardless of what an individual might say or hear taught faithful attendance at all services is necessary in order to hear SALVATION PREACHED!!!

Bible PREACHING makes known SALVATION. Bible PREACHING saves you, brother or sister by teaching you (1) "to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ", 2 Peter 3:18, (2) to "walk by faith, not by sight", 2 Cor. 5:7, (3) to work now, today, not tomorrow or later because "the night cometh, when no man can work", John 9:4, (4) to "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear", I Peter 3: 15, (5) to "be ... faithful unto death", Rev. 2:10, and (6) "the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest", Rom. 16: 25 — 26. These Bible truths are enough to move any brother or sister to attend faithfully all of the church of Christ, whether those services be every night in a gospel meeting or otherwise!!!

Our friends, relatives, and others, who are not baptized believers, need, too, to listen to Bible PREACHING which makes known SALVATION. Bible PREACHING will prick their hearts. They then will say individually: "What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30. The preacher will answer that question with the Bible because "if any speak, let him speak as the oracles of God", I Peter 4:11.

Brethren and friends: Be present at every service of the Church of Christ. Invite your friends. Invite your relatives. Invite anyone. Your personal invitation with your attendance given over, over, and over again is the best means of advertising services of God's Church!