 The church of our Lord does not occupy the place in the hearts of men that it should.  “My church is boating on the lake.”  “My church is playing 18 holes of golf on Sunday.”  Many reject the “church” because they despise “organized religion.”  “Too much hypocrisy!”  I can’t argue, because they’re right! 2 Pet. 2:1-2 2

 Even more reject the church when you talk about the one true church revealed in the NT.  The singular nature of the NT church is the Bible’s most controversial doctrine.  Generated more criticism than any other topic.  Most buy into the denominational concept of the church.  Every denomination is part of the “mystical body of Christ.”  “We may be traveling different paths, but we are all going to the same place.” 3

 People reject that salvation is found only in the one true church built by Jesus (Matt. 16:18); He is its foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), head (Col. 1:18) and Savior (Eph. 5:23).  By rejecting this teaching they rob themselves of the spiritual blessings found only in Christ!  The one true church is incomparably greater than all human institutions, whether sectarian or fraternal! 4

The New Testament Church

 God is its author; of divine not human origin!  It is God’s temple: Eph. 2:21  It is God’s dwelling place: Eph. 2:22  It is not built by man: Heb. 8:1-2  Its builder is Jesus: Matt. 16:18  It must be handled with great care: 1 Cor. 3:10-12  It alone is recognized by God as His work: Matt. 15:13  It wears God’s name: Eph. 3:14-16  It is God’s institution: 1 Cor. 1:2 6 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Christ is its Savior, head, and foundation:  Christ gave Himself for it: Eph. 5:25-27  Christ purchased it: Acts 20:28  Christ is its head: Col. 1:18  It is Christ’s body: Eph. 1:22-23  Christ is its high priest: Heb. 10:19-22a  Christ is its Savior: Eph. 5:23; Acts 4:11-12  Christ represents us in heaven: 1 Jn. 2:1-2 7 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church “The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth.” Quoted in the New York Catechism.

 It has a grand and glorious mission:  It is the “pillar and ground of truth”: 1 Tim. 3:15  Sending agency for preaching the gospel: Rom. 1:16-17; 10:11-15; Acts 13:1-3; cf. Phil. 4:15-16  Wisdom of God made known by it: Eph. 3:10-11  God is glorified in it: Eph. 3:21 8 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 All spiritual blessings are in it:  It is the “fulness” of Christ: Eph. 1:23  All “spiritual blessings” are “in Christ”: Eph. 1:3; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23  In it we are reconciled to God: Col. 1:18-20  Entrance process into church and into Christ are the same: Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 2:41, 47 9 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Membership in the NT church means:  One is a member of the “body of Christ”: 1 Cor. 12:12-13a, 27  One is a worker in the Lord’s vineyard: Matt. 20:1; 1 Cor. 3:9  One is a living stone in God’s spiritual temple: 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Pet. 2:5  One is a priest: 1 Pet. 2:9  One is married to Christ: Rom. 7:4  One is a citizen in Christ’s kingdom: Col. 1:12-13; 1 Cor. 15:24  One is a child in God’s family: Gal. 3: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Membership means enjoyment of God’s grace:  Fatherly watch, care, and protection: 1 Pet. 3:12; 5:6-7; Phil. 4:5-7; 1 Cor. 10:12-13  Fatherly provision of all needed things: Matt. 6:33-34; 2 Cor. 9:6-11; Psa. 84:11  Fatherly correction and discipline: Heb. 12:5-11; Jas. 1:2-4  Right to appeal to God as father: 1 Pet. 3:12; Matt. 7:7-11  Fellowship with the saints: Phil. 2:1-4; Ron. 12:10  Hope of an eternal inheritance: 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Gal. 3:29; Rom. 8: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Membership means a life of holiness, sanctification, and justification:  “Washed, Sanctified, and Justified”: 1 Cor. 6:11  “Called to be saints”: 1 Cor. 1:2  A “holy calling”: Eph. 4:1; 2 Cor. 7:1  A calling to “depart from unrighteousness”: 2 Tim. 2:19 12 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Local church membership: 13 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church “Since the congregation is the only unit of organization known in the New Testament for carrying forward the work of the Church, it follows that for a Christian to be in full fellowship with the Church, he must be associated with, be a part of, and amenable to a local church. There is no such thing in the New Testament Scriptures described as ‘Membership at large’ in the Church of God. Paul in his work always associated himself with a congregation of Christians (Acts 9:26-30; 13:1-3; 14:25-28).” (Cogdill, Roy, The New Testament Church, p. 38)

 Subjection to elders of local church:  Elders to exercise oversight of local church: 1 Pet. 5:1-5  Members obligated to obey the elders : 1 Cor. 4:6; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Participation in the work of the local church:  Prepared for every good work: Titus 2:11-14  Bear fruit : Jn. 15:1-8; Lk. 6:44  All have a share in the local work: Eph. 4:16  Our work, must be our work: Gal. 6: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Preservation of unity, peace, and harmony of the body:  Must not contribute to division: 1 Cor. 1:10  No hierarchy in the church: 1 Cor. 12:12-26  Avoid anyone causing division: Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Jn  Personal obligation to pursue unity: Eph. 4: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Preservation of purity of the church:  Christ died to establish its purity: Eph. 5:25-27  We must maintain this purity: 2 Tim. 2:19-22; 6:11- 12a; 4:12; 5:22b; Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 3:6 17 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Bearing fruit insofar as the mission of the church is concerned:  It’s the reason we’re united with Christ: Rom. 7:4  Prerequisite to be in fellowship with the Lord: Jn. 15:1-8  Each member shares in this mission: Eph. 4:16; 1 Thess. 1:8 18 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Essentiality of the church seen in Christ’s attitude toward it:  He valued it enough to purchase it: Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25; Phil. 2:5 19 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Cannot be “in Christ” without being in the church:  Can’t be joined to the “head” without being in “the body”: 1 Cor. 12:27; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:21-23  Christ is the King, the church is His kingdom: 1 Tim. 6:15; Col. 1:13, 18; Eph. 5:24  Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride: Eph. 5:23-32; Matt. 19:5-6; Rom. 7:4 20 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 To be “in Christ” is to be in His body (church):  We become near to God: Eph. 2:13  Cleanses our conscience: Heb. 9:14  Washes us from our sins: Rev. 1:5  Redeems us: Eph. 1:7  Cleanses us of sin: 1 Jn. 1:7  But, Christ purchased church with His blood: Acts 20:28  Therefore, to be “in Christ” is to be in His “body,” is to be in His church. 21 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 All “spiritual blessings” are “in Christ”: Eph. 1:3  Church is the “fullness of Christ”: Eph. 1:22-23  If the church is the “fullness” of Christ, and all “spiritual blessings” are “in Christ”; then all “spiritual blessings” must be in what makes Christ full, the church! 22 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Members of Christ’s church have their names enrolled in heaven: Heb. 12:22-23  If not enrolled in heaven, then lost: Rev. 20:15  Salvation is “in Christ”: 2 Tim. 2:10  Christ is Savior of the church: Eph. 5:23  If those in the church “are registered in heaven” and have obtained “salvation…in Christ” and Christ is “Savior of the body” (church); then only members of His church are saved! 23 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Same process/conditions saving one from sin, makes one a Christian and adds one to the church:  Faith and baptism produce salvation: Mk. 16:15-16  Faith and baptism puts one into Christ: Gal. 3:26-27  Faith and baptism adds one to the church: Acts 2:38, 41, What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Testimony of Christ:  Must be born again: Jn. 3:3-5  Must be converted: Matt. 18:1-3; Lk. 13:3  Must obey the Great Commission: Mk. 16:15- 16; Matt. 28: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Testimony of the apostles:  Foolishness of preaching: 1 Cor. 1:21  Must hear God’s word: Rom. 10:14-17  Must repent and be converted: Acts 3:19; 17:30  Must be baptized: Gal. 3:26-27  Must obey the truth: 1 Pet. 1:22  Most obey doctrine: Rom. 6:17-18  Must be led by the Spirit: Rom. 8:14  Must be washed, justified, sanctified: 1 Cor. 6:11; 1:2 26 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Teaching by figures:  New birth: Jn. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:18; 1 Cor. 4:15; Jn. 3:5 (cf. Acts 2:38-41, 47; Gal. 3:26-27)  Marriage to Christ: Eph. 5:23-30; Jn. 6:44-45; Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 4:19; Rom. 7:4; 6:3; Gal. 3:27 27 What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Examples:  Pentecostians: Acts 2  Samaritans: Acts 8:12, etc.  Corinthians: Acts 18:4, 8, etc.  Ephesians: Acts 19; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3: What It Means To Be a Member of the Church

 Being a member of the New Testament church is a very profound and unique thing:  Entirely different than membership in a “Christian” denomination, either Catholic or Protestant.  Entirely different than being a member of one of the world’s religions (e.g., Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, etc.).  Entirely different than membership in any “organized religion” or secular civic organization.  Is not necessarily synonymous with being a member of a group calling itself “Church of Christ.” 29

 Can’t become a member by “joining” any church, regardless of its name. Can only be saved by becoming a member of the New Testament church:  Hear the gospel: Rom. 10:17  Saving faith: Heb. 11:6; Jn. 8:24; Jas. 2:19  Confess faith in Christ: Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37  Repent of sins: Acts 17:30; 2:38  Baptized: Mk. 16:16; Matt. 28:19; Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 2:38, 41, 47  Remain faithful: Col. 1: