THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST It shall be our purpose in this study to consider a few Bible facts, and to ask some questions that might enable the reader to see for himself the importance of membership in the church of Jesus Christ. First, let us note that the Bible speaks of the church as the family or house of God, 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 3:15. How could one hope to be a child of God and not claim membership in the household or family of God? Secondly, the church is referred to in many passages as the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven, Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13, etc. Christ is the King who reigns over those who are citizens in that heavenly kingdom, Psa. 2:6-7; John 18:37. How could one hope to claim Christ as his King without holding citizenship in the kingdom over which Jesus reigns? Thirdly, the church of the Lord is viewed as His body, Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23. It is stated in very clear terms that Christ is the Head of the body, the church. He is also the Savior of the body, Eph. 5:23. By what stretch of the imagination could one claim Christ as Head and Savior without being a part of the body of Christ, which is His church? Finally, the church is viewed in the Scripture as a building made of living stones, 1 Pet. 2:5. The only foundation that can successfully be laid for such a building is Christ Himself, 1 Cor. 3:11. How could one claim to be built upon that foundation without being a part of the building? Many other such figures are used in the Scriptures to portray the importance of Christ’s church, but surely the honest seeker can now readily see his need to be a part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. To do so, one needs only to believe the gospel, repent of his sins, and be scripturally baptized, Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38; 8:36-38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5. Christ will add such an individual to His church. One does not have to join any denomination. His obedience to the commands of Christ will constitute him a member of the church of Christ, Acts 2:41, 47, the kingdom of God, John 3:5; Rom. 6:4, the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:13, the family of God, Gal. 3:26-27. --CRJ
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 20:06:29 +0000
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