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In order to receive the benefits of being a
member of the Lord's church, one must first become a member. In this
study we'll briefly review a few of the benefits of membership in the Lord's
body and how one becomes a member.
Benefits of membership
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Spiritual blessings. Paul
tells us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ (Ephesians
1:3). What spiritual blessings exist outside of Christ?
None! Every spiritual blessing is available only to those in
Christ. Paul tells us that we are one body in Christ (Romans
12:5). We know from our earlier study that the church is the body,
and the body is the church. Therefore one may exchange "one
church" for "one body." In Romans 12:5 Paul states that
we are all one church in Christ. Since the individual members of
Christ's body are all one church in Christ, and all spiritual blessings are
in Christ, then all who are members of His church have access to all
spiritual blessings. On the other hand, if one is not a member of the
one church in Christ one has no access to any spiritual blessings. The
next question you should be asking is, "How does one get in
Christ?" The answer: One must put Him on. How does one
put on Christ? In baptism (Galatians
3:27). Is one in Christ before baptism? No. Is one in
the church before baptism? No. Does one have access to any
spiritual blessing prior to baptism? No. For a further study on
the spiritual blessings available in Christ, please consider the gospel.
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Salvation. We read in Acts
2:47 that "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being
saved." (NKJV) Who did the Lord add to the church? Those who
were being saved. If one was not being saved, did the Lord add them to
His church? No. Did the Lord exclude any people who were being
saved from addition to His church? No. If you were being saved,
He added you. So we see in this verse that salvation is found exclusively
in the one church established by Jesus. If one is a member of a church
not established by Jesus, is that one saved? No! Luke uses
the definite article ("the") in Acts 2:47. He didn't say,
"and the Lord added to a church daily those who were being
saved." The use of the definite article tells us which church the
saved belong to, and it tells us which ones they don't! They
have been added to the Lord's church and none other.
We've mentioned only 2 of the benefits of
membership in the Lord's church. But consider the significance of the
two we've discussed. No spiritual blessings are outside His church, and
one cannot be saved without being a member of the church built by
Jesus. These are benefits any reasonable person would crave. But
how does one become a member of His church? Please return to Acts
2:47. How did Luke tell us those who were being saved became
members of Christ's church? They were added. How do many
(if not most) religious organizations grant membership today?
Prospective members join the organization. Let's consider the
importance of the difference between being added to and joining
a church. If I'm added to some organization, who has the final
authority granting my membership? It's not I! Some person or
persons has been given authority to determine who is fit to become a member
and who isn't. However, if I join an organization I do so under
whose authority? Mine! I decide if the group is right for me, and
declare myself a member if I feel it is. In the Lord's church I cannot
declare myself fit to join the other members of His body. Jesus decides
if I meet the qualifications. If I do, then He adds me to the
membership roll of His body. What qualifications does He require?
One must be saved. But how do I know if I'm saved? I have to look
to the requirements for salvation. But where do I find these
requirements? In the Bible. If I have met the requirements for
salvation then I know I have been added to His church. Again
consider how Jesus adds every saved person to His church. If I'm
saved, I've been added. On the other hand, I can know that I'm not a
member of His church. If I've followed some pattern for salvation other
than that we have recorded in the scriptures
then I know I'm not saved and therefore am not a member of His
church. In such a state I have no access to any spiritual blessing.
It's beyond the scope of this study to
consider the first principles one must obey to receive forgiveness of
sins. Please link to my study on salvation
should you have any questions.
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