Becoming A Member Of His Church
Becoming A Member Of His Church
There is nothing to which one should belong that is more important
than belonging to His church. We are studying a series of lessons
centered around Jesus' own words, "Upon this rock I will build My
church" (Matthew 16:18). Our emphasis is on His declaration that the
church He built belongs only to Him. And, to be a member of it is of
the utmost importance. But have you heard statements like, "It doesn't
matter what church you belong to -- the church doesn't save anyone."
Keep that in your mind, and let's study that today on this program.
The West End church of Christ presents this program each Sunday at
this time in the interest of preaching only what can be found in the
Bible. We are dedicated to proclaiming truth unrestricted by human
doctrines, human wisdom, and human creeds. Every time we bring a lesson
on this program we ask those who listen to let us know where we are
wrong, if you do not believe what we teach. We are not daring anyone,
or challenging anyone, we are very sincere in our request. We want to
be right -- for being right about religious matters is the most
important issue both now and eternally.
We invite anyone in our listening area to come visit with us at our
meeting times. Sunday morning we begin our schedule at 9 a.m. with
Bible classes for all ages. At 10 a.m. we meet for congregational
worship. We sing praises to God, pray together, give of our means,
honor the Lord by teaching His word, and partake of the sacred memorial
feast of the Lord's Supper. Sunday evening at 6 p.m. we meet once again
for congregational worship. Please come and visit with us when you can.
Our meeting house is located at the corner of Parkside Drive and Old
Morgantown Road. That is just across from Lampkin Park and the A&W Root
Beer Restaurant. So, please accept our very sincere and cordial
invitation.
Jesus did build His church Matthew 16:18 are the words of the
Savior. He promised, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon
this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not
overpower it." It was established in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost
following His resurrection from the dead. The first mention of it as an
existing reality is Acts 2:47. There the record says that the Lord "was
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." It grew
to a very large number within just a few years. Those of the first
century who were members of it, made up the church -- the called out.
But just what did they do in order to be members of His church? Did
they "join the church" of their own choice? Did it make a difference if
they were members of that church, or could they have pleased the Lord by
being members of some other kind of church? Let's study.
It may surprise you, but there is nothing in the Bible that gives
instructions for joining that church. In fact, people did not join it,
in the sense of becoming members of it. Acts 2, the chapter telling us
of the events that took place as the church came into being, has Peter's
sermon, the audience response, and the divine results. You see, Peter
preached that Jesus was no longer dead -- He was risen and sitting at
the right hand of the Almighty. There was a general outcry, "Men and
brethren, what shall we do?" (Verse 37). Peter told them to "repent and
be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the
remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"
(Verse 38). Verse 41 reads, "They then that received his word were
baptized and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand
souls." Verse 47 tells to what they were added. It reads, "Praising
God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them
day by day those that were being saved." This was the church Jesus
built. And it was the only church in existence.
The people did not "join" that church nor any other church -- they
were added to it by the Lord. They were never offered the pious
platitude, "join the church of your choice." The Lord settled their
church membership by selectively adding the saved to the church of
Christ. Those who were "being saved" were added to it. Those who were
being lost, who refused to obey what Peter preached, were not added.
That is the way it was in the very beginning of Christianity and unless
the New Testament has been revised, it is still the Lord's way. To
this, nearly everyone who has studied the Bible with any profit at all
will readily agree. But it is inevitable that things were changed.
There are churches you may join. It is like becoming a member of some
club, or some organization. There are certain requirements you must
meet and then be accepted by the club. But that is not the way it was
in becoming a member of the church Jesus build.
With all genuine respect, let me read to you what is required of
some today who would be members of the Baptist Denomination. Reading
from A Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, by Edward T. Hiscox, page
22, "It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but 'one
Lord, one faith, and one baptism,' and no differing denominations
existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a
member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and
privileges of full membership. In that sense, 'baptism was the door
into the church.' Now, it is different; and while the churches are
desirous of receiving members, they are wary and cautious that they do
not receive unworthy persons. The churches therefore have candidates
come before them, make their statement, give their 'experience,' and
then their reception is decided by a vote of the members. And while
they cannot become members without baptism, yet it is the vote of the
body which admits them to its fellowship on receiving baptism."
Please understand, dear friend, this is an official statement from
the Baptist church as to how to become a member of their denomination.
And, their candid admission "now it is different" is very revealing.
The difference in now and the apostolic age is that then people simply
obeyed Christ's gospel and were added to the church. Today, people are
called upon to give their statement, their "experience" and then are
voted into fellowship with the Baptist church. The dangerous difference
is that voting is never mentioned anywhere in the Bible as a means of
receiving people into the fellowship of the church. This is clearly an
unscriptural, anti-biblical procedure.
Here is another example of modern procedures for church membership
that are not found anywhere in scripture. From the Methodist
Discipline, Chapter II, paragraph 107, I read, "All persons seeking to
be saved from their sins and sincerely desiring to be Christian in faith
and practice are proper candidates for membership in The Methodist
Church. When such persons offer themselves for membership, it shall be
the duty of the pastor, or of proper persons appointed by him, to
instruct them in the meaning of the Christian faith and the history,
organization and teaching of The Methodist Church; to explain to them
the baptismal and membership vows and to lead them to commit themselves
to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When they shall have given proof of
the genuineness of their faith in Christ and of their desire to assume
the obligations and become faithful members of The Methodist Church, and
after the rite of baptism has been administered to those who have not
been previously baptized, he shall bring them before the congregation,
administer the vows and receive them into the fellowship of the Church,
and duly enroll them as members."
Again, the difference between those on the day of Pentecost, and
the procedural requirements for membership in The Methodist Church is
very evident. In the first century, no one ever dreamed of learning of
the doctrines, history, organization, and policies of any church. Faith
in Christ as the Lord, that led sincere believers to repent and be
baptized made them automatically members of Christ's church. Please
notice very carefully, that both these denominations mentioned, and all
others (with which I am acquainted) require baptism in order to be in
their fellowship. But each and every one of them deny that baptism has
anything to do with salvation from sin. They affirm that one can be a
Christian, die and go to heaven, and never be a member of their
particular fellowship or church. The irresistible conclusion is that
they require more of one to be members of their denominations than the
Lord does for them to go to heaven.
No, dear friends, voting people in or out of the church based on
their statement or "experience" is not taught in the Bible.
Indoctrination of candidates into the doctrinal views, the history, and
organization of The Methodist Church is not taught in the Bible. In
fact, there is nothing in the Bible that tells one how to join the
church. The reason for that is simple. Dr. Hiscox was right. "...in
the apostolic age ... the baptism of a convert by that very act
constituted him a member of the church."
We have established previously that the church is the kingdom of
God on earth. Entering the church is entering the kingdom. And one is
made a member of Christ's kingdom by being born of "water and the
spirit" (John 3:5). Jesus said, "Except one be born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." By baptism in water,
in obedience to what the Holy Spirit has revealed through the inspired
apostles, one is then born again. No one joins the kingdom of Christ.
It would be as sensible to speak of a child "joining" its family as it
would be to speak of joining God's family. You become a member of
Christ's kingdom, the family of God, by birth -- a new birth of water
and spirit.
The process of conversion puts one in the church of Christ. Jesus
said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Conversion is the
change that occurs in one who leaves sin and enters salvation. But
notice that this is the procedure by which one enters the kingdom, and
simultaneously becomes a member of the church Jesus said was His own.
This has very serious implications. It implies that anyone who is
not a member of the church Jesus called His own is not saved. Being
saved is the means by which He adds one to His church. So, to be a
member of His church, is to be saved from past sins. But how is one
saved? If we are to be saved it will be only on the Lord's terms.
Listen carefully. Jesus, just prior to His ascension, said, "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes
and is baptized shall be saved. He who disbelieves will be damned"
(Mark 16:15-16). Salvation is placed after belief and baptism. The
passage is often twisted to read, "He who believes is saved, and then
should be baptized to join the church." But that is not the way Jesus
gave it. He put two conditions between the lost person and salvation,
and membership in His church.
It has not gone unnoticed that Jesus said, "He that disbelieveth
shall be damned.." with the erroneous conclusion that had baptism been
essential, he would have said, "He that disbelieveth and is not baptized
shall be damned." The truth is simple. He put two conditions between
damnation and salvation and only one for those who are lost.
Are you a member of His church? Have you obeyed His gospel? Have
you been immersed for the remission of sins, like those on the Day of
Pentecost were required to do? If so, the Lord has added you to His
church. If not, please carefully consider how you are now in God's
thinking. I pray that you will accept the truth of God's word, obey it
from your heard, be saved from your past sins, and added to His church
today.
If you have any question about this, or any other topic we have
discussed, we would be delighted to help you in a better understanding
of Bible teaching. Just contact us and let us know how we can help you
in your investigation of what the Bible teaches. You can write us at
West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green,
KY. 42101 -- or call us at 842-7880. Until next time, may God
richly bless you and yours. Goodbye.
Radio Sermon No. 59
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Children's NT Studies
