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HOW DOES ONE HOW DOES ONE BECOME A BECOME A

MEMBER OF A MEMBER OF A LOCAL LOCAL

CONGREGATION?CONGREGATION?

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The two active terms in the topic are “member” and “local congregation.” The word member simply means “to be one of” or “to be part of a group.” The word a local congregation is a group of Christians of the Lord’s church worshipping in a particular place or locality such as we had in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1) and Antioch (Acts 13:1). The question now is “how did people became members of a local

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congregation in the first century?” Investigation into their practice will give us a clue as to how one can become a member of a local congregation today.

Acts 2:36-41 outlined the process of membership. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him

THE CHURCH IN THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEMJERUSALEMThe First Local Congregation In The New TestamentThe First Local Congregation In The New Testament

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both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

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40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 

Those who became members of the church heard the preaching of Peter centered on the death, burial and resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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What were they told to do? What were they told to do? Believe

What did they do? What did they do? Gladly received the word (gospel) and baptized. Acts 2:41 - 41 So then, those who had (gladly) received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

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12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. The Samaritans heard Philip preach Christ, believed, repented of their sins and were baptized into the church.

CONVERSION OF THE CONVERSION OF THE SAMARTANSSAMARTANSActs 8:12 - 13Acts 8:12 - 13

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35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the

THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCHTHE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCHActs 8:35-39Acts 8:35-39

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chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 

Philip preached to him, he believed that “Jesus is the Son of God,” thereafter he was baptized by immersion in water.

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ANALOGYANALOGYThe analogy used so far is enough to draw the steps that are required for membership of a local congregation. The steps are as follows:Hearing The Hearing The WordWordWe must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” – Rom. 10:17. In Rom. 10:14, Paul wrote – “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How

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will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher.” Thus, one must first hear the gospel before he can believe and obey it.

Believing The Believing The WordWord

The Bible clearly teaches the place of faith in salvation. One must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:16). Jesus said “...you will die in your sins; for unless

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you believe that I am He....” (John 8:24). In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Repentance is acknowledging one’s sins and turning away from them – “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had

RepentanRepentancece

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with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God” (I Thess. 1:9). John the Baptist, preached repentance - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 3:2). Jesus preached repentance – “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent,

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you will all likewise perish.”(Luke 13:3-5). Jesus commanded “...repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). One must repent of one’s sins in order to be saved – “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man

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whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31).

ConfessioConfessionn

Jesus said that we must be willing to confess Him before men if we want Him to confess us before the Father (Matt 10:32-33). One must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matt 16:16).

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Anyone who wants to be saved must be willing to confess with his mouth –“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). One must be willing to confess Him before men (Matt 10:32). “for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Rom. 10:10).

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Jesus Christ our Lord commanded baptism (Mark 16:16). In Matt 28:18-20, “18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Baptism Into Christ For The Baptism Into Christ For The Remission Of SinsRemission Of Sins

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If we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). The apostles preached baptism (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:1-5; I Peter 3:21).

One thing is clear – there is one baptism (Eph. 4:5). This is the baptism mentioned in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18 -20). This baptism is a burial in water (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12). It is an immersion – an immersion involves “...going down into the water”... and “coming up out of the

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water” (Acts 8:38-39; Matt 3:16). Therefore sprinkling, pouring or any form different from the pattern in the New Testament cannot assure salvation

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF A LOCAL MEMBER OF A LOCAL CONGREGATION?CONGREGATION?To be a member of the Lord’s church means: To be a member of the body of which Jesus is the Head (I Cor. 12:12,13; Eph. 1:21,22)

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To be a worker in the Lord’s Vineyard (Matt. 20:1)

To be a living stone in the spiritual temple of God (I Cor. 3:16; I Peter 2:5)

To be married to Christ (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27; Rom. 7:4)

To be a citizen in Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:12,13)

To be a child in God’s family (Gal. 3:26,27)

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DESIGNATIONS THE HOLY SPIRIT DESIGNATIONS THE HOLY SPIRIT USES FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE USES FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE LORD’S CHURCHLORD’S CHURCH

Each divine designation (name) expresses a characteristic that should be true of members of Christ’s church.

As As ChristiansChristiansThe New Testament refers to members of the church as “Christians” since they are followers

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of Christ. The name “Christian” was first given to the disciples at Antioch (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Pet. 4:16). The term highlights the relationship between Christ and the church. They are His followers, they live for Him and wear His Name.

As Children Of As Children Of GodGodThe members of the church are referred to as “the children of God.” They have a special relationship with God; they are His children.

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When people are baptized into Christ, they are adopted as God’s children (Eph. 1:5). In this spiritual heavenly family, God is the Father (Matt. 6:9), Jesus is the Elder Brother (Rom. 8:17) and all Christians are brothers and sisters (II Peter 3:15, I John 2:8-11).

As As DisciplesDisciplesThe New Testament refers to members of the church as “disciples” (Acts 11:26). Those who

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are committed to following Christ are disciples. Jesus told His apostles before His ascension “...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit....” Matt 28:19-20.

As As ServantsServantsMembers of the church are also described as “servants.” Those who submit to Christ and obey

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Him are servants. Paul wrote “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” Gal.1:10. Christians – those who claim Christ as their Master can no longer be masters over their own lives. They must crucify their own sinful human desires and put God’s commands first in their lives.

As As CitizensCitizensChristians are described as “citizens” of the

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kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:18,19). Those who are part of the kingdom of God (the church) are citizens – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Eph. 2:19-20).

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As As SaintsSaintsThe church is made up of saints, those who have been sanctified. Christians are people who have been set apart as God’s chosen people – “...to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1). The New Testament labels everyone in Christ – a saint. The church is even referred to as “the churches of the saints” (I Cor. 14:33).

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONWhen men obey the will of God in baptism, their sins are pardoned and God recognizes and accepts them as His own children. They are added to the body of saved and enjoy the privileges and share the responsibilities of that relationship. There is no such thing in God’s word as being saved by one process and joining the church by another.

God bless His word in our hearts in Jesus Name – amen!