Who is the Church?

Membership

US Rep - 25yo, 7 years citizen, reside in state

US Sen - 30yo, 9 years citizen, reside in state

US Pres - 35yo, natural born citizen

Kingdom of God - born again! - John 3:3, Phil 3:20

Local church....2 requirements

Born again - saved, regenerated

Baptized - publically identified as a believer, disciple

Acts 2:41 - added to the rolls, accounting term, counted, added

Meaningful Church Membership

TODAY: Regenerated church membership

Why important? Is this Cornerstone?

Terms

“Christian” - what it means, what it doesn’t mean

“I’m a Christian” - What do you mean by....?

Regenerated

What/When/How - at salvation

Holy Spirit convicts of sin through the Gospel - John 16:8

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Titus 3:5 NASB95

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 2:4–5 NASB95

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Sealed when saved

Ephesians 1:13–14 NASB95

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO THE BELIEVER AT SALVATION!

Question - When did this occur in your life? What was the circumstance? How did this come about?

This is something you REMEMBER!

Why? Whats the Big Deal? The Role of the Holy Spirit

Creates new life - Titus 3:5

Allows understanding and application of Scripture - 1 Corinthians 2:12

(Unbeliever cannot understand; the HS leads to conviction of sin and repentance)

Prayer - enriches prayer life, intercedes for us - Romans 8:26-27

Empowers and leads a life lived for Christ - Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:14

Provides evidence of salvation - fruit - Galatians 5:22-23

Convicts of sin - Ephesians 4:30

Seals the believer - Ephesians 1:13-14

WHEN DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT - Romans 10:9-13

Your testimony - write it out

Local church - MUST have members who are regenerated - indwelled by the Holy Spirit, or none of this occurs

Baptized (assume immersion)

Defined - the outward expression of one’s inward belief - NOT A MEANS TO BE SAVED!

Acts 2:38, and then Acts 2:41, and then Acts 3:19

WHEN - After trusting Christ - every single time in NT, baptism occurs AFTER being saved, after trusting Christ?

What happens at salvation? Holy Spirit indwelling! (REM)

Baptism is first main step of obedience

Jesus will never ask you to do anything easier than being baptized!

Protects regenerated membership - How?

Only the truly saved will pursue baptism, so it serves as a safeguard for the church

Still, very symbolic, closely related to salvation

Many today do not understand this

Infant baptism, loose membership, etc.

The church has been weakened, and this is a big part of why

Think about it:

Churches full of non-believers

Prayer ineffective or nonexistent

Bible not understood

Morals decay - sin creeps in and corrupts

Cornerstone Membership

Testimony of salvation - talk with Pastor Chris

Public agreement, affirmation of this

Opinion: Should be exciting to tell people about being saved!

Baptism by immersion - total “wetness”

Romans 6 image of burial and resurrection

(The water does not save, remember that, the baptism comes AFTER the saving)

Applications

People want to serve, to feel good about helping, but do we want warm bodies or saved people ministering? (but, maybe they can help in ways that don’t include teaching or leading, and maybe our “Christian” will rub off)

Business meetings - we seek God’s will

Lost - seek God’s will be repenting and being saved, then get baptized

Communion

Some churches limit this to bona fide members - we don’t

James tell me to leave soul judgment to HIM!

But I’m told to warn people, examine selves

Communion is for believers - it’s a memorial service to remember what He’s done (“do this in remembrance”)

Need to be baptized? Again, between you and God

What do you think? Why? How would you find this in Bible?

Is H.S.-led obedience important?