CAMDENTON MO 2-9-97 AM

BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

A. The church is very important. So important that Christ gave his life for it. (Acts 20:28 KJV) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." He now reigns as head of it, (Eph 1:22-23 KJV) "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.", and He adds those being saved to it. (Acts 2:47 KJV) "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

B. Yet there are many today that do not know the proper means of becoming a member of that church, they believe that it is unnecessary, or that if its necessary at all then one joins a church of there own choosing based upon some criteria that is established by that church (i.e. denomination).

C. There are even some today within the church that would argue against the distinctive nature of the church (as opposed to the denominational world) and against any distinctive means of becoming a member of it.

D. This lesson let us consider what the Word of God says concerning this matter.

I. A Biblical Example (Acts 2:36-37 KJV) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. {37} Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

A. Having heard Peter's sermon, the Jews were told to "know assuredly" that Jesus is the Christ (v. 36).

B. Believing, these people were told to repent.

1. (Acts 2:38 KJV) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

C. As you have noticed they were also told to be baptized for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38).

II. The Lord Added (Acts 2:47 KJV) "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

A. Notice that no where does it say that anybody joined a church, not of their own choice or otherwise.

B. This concept comes from the mistaken and unbiblical idea that one is saved by one set of criteria, then follows some other criteria to become a church member.

1. I.E. The T.V. Evangelist that has his listeners say a prayer (commonly know as "The Believers Prayer" then tells them to go find a church that they like (or a preacher that they like).

C. Acts 2:47 shows that the Lord adds to the church those who are being saved not that people are saved then join the church that they want to. Nor is it the only such passage that shows this to be the case.

1. (Acts 5:14 KJV) "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)"

2. (Acts 11:24 KJV) "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord."

III. A Closer Look at the Conditions they followed to be added to the Church.

A. Hearing, (Rom 10:14 KJV) "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:17 KJV) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

1. One is drawn by hearing, learning the word. (John 6:44-45 KJV) "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. {45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

2. The terms which one must meet are communicated by preaching the Gospel; (Mark 16:15-16 KJV) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

a. Thus it is not by special dream, inspiration, or vision; (2 Cor 4:7 KJV) "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

B. Believing

1. Belief and faith are translations of the same Greek word.

2. A definition of this term is given by the Holy Spirit as he inspired Paul to write; (Heb 11:1 KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

3. Without this faith one cannot please God; (Heb 11:6 KJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

4. Faith, belief, is the foundation of one's obedience to God; (Rom 1:5 KJV) "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:" (Rom 16:26 KJV) "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"

5. However it must be noted that without that obedience (i.e. works of obedience) faith alone is not sufficient to save one. (James 2:17 KJV) "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:24 KJV) "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

C. Confession (acknowledgment) of Christ.

1. Before men; (Mat 10:32-33 KJV) "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. {33} But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

2. As Lord; (Rom 10:9-10 KJV) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

a. Recognizing Christ as Lord is to recognize His authority over the individual and the church.

1.) (Mat 28:18 KJV) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (ASV power=authority)

2.) (Col 1:18 KJV) "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

3.) (Eph 1:22-23 KJV) "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

D. Repentance

1. This is a change of will and a consequent change in lifestyle that is brought about by a Godly sorrow.

2. An example is the son in Matthew 21:28-29 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. {29} He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went."

3. This repentance is brought about as mentioned by Godly sorrow. (2 Cor 7:10 KJV) "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

a. The difference is the difference in being honestly sorry for what one has done and simply being sorry that you got caught doing something wrong.

4. This godly sorrow will produce works (fruit) of repentance; (Mat 3:8 KJV) "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:"

E. Baptism

1. Mode or action of baptism is that it is a burial; (Col 2:12 KJV) "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Rom 6:3-5 KJV) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? {4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

2. Only for those that can hear, confess, repent, and believe; (Mat 28:19-20 KJV) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {20} 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." (Acts 8:37 KJV) "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 2:38 KJV) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

a.) Hence we can see that since an infant is incapable of these actions, infant baptism cannot be a valid scriptural baptism.

3. The purpose of baptism is the remission of sins; (Acts 2:38 KJV) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." To wash away sins; (Acts 22:16 KJV) "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Salvation; (Mark 16:16 KJV) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (1 Pet 3:21 KJV) "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" and to put one in Christ. (Gal 3:26-27 KJV) "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. {27} For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Rom 6:3-4 KJV) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? {4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

CONCLUSION

A. The terms then that God has set for becoming a member of His church are very simple. The rewards for obeying those terms are very great, (eternity in heaven).

B. Would you not like to become a member of the LORD's church, the LORD'S way.

C. Won't you obey the simple Gospel message?

D. Christians also need to be knowledgeable of these terms in order that we may fulfill the command of Mt. 28:19-20. (Mat 28:19-20 KJV) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {20} 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."