Baptist Distinctive's (6)

B - Biblical Authority

A - Autonomy of The Local church

P - Priesthood of The Believer

T - Two Church Offices

I - Individual Soul Liberty

S - Saved and Baptized Church Membership

T -

S -

Through out the Word of God there are many different metaphors used to describe the Church.

An Army

A Fellowship

The Body of Christ

Household of Faith

Building Made without Hands

The Bride of Christ

The Flock of God

The Pillar and Ground of Truth

A Royal Priesthood

And many more.

In the Bible we see that the “church” is manifested in three ways

Universally - This is the church as a whole. i.e The Bride of Christ

Trans-locally - This is the church planted in other regions i.e The Flock of God

Locally - This is church local. i.e The Household of Faith

The word for church in the Greek is “ekklesia” from ek, “out of,” and klesis, “a calling” (kaleo, “to call”)

Through out the writings of Paul, we see that being saved is the number one requirement for Church Membership. Salvation is required to be part of the church universal. To many churches today will allow anyone that wants to join the church join. They may be a member of that church locally but they will not be part of the church universal.

If I was to go down to the moose lodge down 50 here and ask to join, there would be certain requirements that I would have to meet. If I did not meet those requirements I could not join the membership.

I cant join a marine club why? Because I was not or am not a marine.

I cant join a teachers union why? Im not a teacher

So why do so many people think just anyone can join a church that wants to?

Its simple, they either dont know the Bible or they know it but dont care about abiding by it.

So the first thing we see about Church Membership is

I. The Qualification for Membership

Salvation

I know there are really two qualifications for Church Membership but with out salvation you cant meet the other one. So, in reality this is the number one qualification, because we can vote on a believer to join the local fellowship pending Baptism if they have been saved but not baptized. Which means they would become offical members of VBC once they have been baptized. So again the number one qualification is salvation.

A. The Meaning of Salvation

i. What we are Saved From

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ii. What we are Saved To

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

iii. What we are Saved For

1. For His Glory

Galatians 1:3–5 KJV 1900

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2. For His Gain (Witnessing)

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

B. The Means of Salvation

i. The Father’s Plan

Matthew 25:34 KJV 1900

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

ii. The Son’s Passion

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV 1900

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

iii. The Spirit’s Persuasion

John 16:8 KJV 1900

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

C. The Method of Salvation

i. The Realization of Sin

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

ii. The Repentance of the Sinner

Luke 13:3 KJV 1900

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

iii. The Relinquish of Self

John 8:10–12 KJV 1900

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

iv. The Receipt of the Savior

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

D. The Mandate of Salvation

i. It is Imperative

John 3:3 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7 KJV 1900

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

ii. It is Exclusive

Acts 4:12 KJV 1900

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

II. The Identification of Membership

Water Baptism

A. Baptism Required is an Ordinance for The Membership

i. Jesus Mandated it

Matthew 28:16–20 KJV 1900

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

ii. Disciples Practiced it

Acts 2:41 KJV 1900

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

B. Baptism Received is Obedience in The Membership

i. It is a Public Display of Devotion

Acts 6:7 KJV 1900

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

ii. It is a Private Decision of Consecration

Hebrews 10:22 KJV 1900

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

C. Baptism Refused is Objectionable For Membership

When a person will not agree to be baptized is refusing to follow the Lord and if they refuse to be baptized because they do not believe it is require they are not meeting the requirements of membership.

i. It is Disobedience to God

III. The Association of Membership

The Local Body of Believers

While the phrases church member or join a church do not actually appear in the NT, this in no way negates the importance of the concept. The words rapture, trinity or sunday school do not appear in the Bible either. Does that mean we should stop believing in them?

No.

That being said, the NT gives good indication of formal church membership.

A. Scriptural ArgumentsFor Church Membership

The Book of Acts is filled with examples of the way a Church should conduct its self and how members are brought into the membership

i. The NT assumes structure and orginization

ii. The early church required doctrinal acceptance

Acts 15

iii. The church expected financial accountability

Acts 5 Annanis and Saphira

iv. The church selected its leadership

v. The church practiced discipline

B. SelectAssertions Against Church Membership

There are some folk that will not join a church to save their life. They try and use the Bible by saying...

i. “I do not believe the Bible speaks of church membership”

If that doesnt work they will that..

ii. “The church makes it to difficult to join”

Then when you tell them that it is actually very easy, they will say something like...

iii. “The church has hurt me before”

Then when you say, has Walmart ever made you made or how about Amazon, and yet you still go there and you still use their services They almost always go with...

iv. “I am not a ‘joiner’”

Even though they are a member of some local civic club or food club etc.

The ultimate assertion for them not wanting to be a member is...

v. They dont want to be told what to do by God. They are rebellious and most likely do not meet the requirements to begin with.