2. How to Become a Member of the Church of Christ"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) Introduction: Becoming a member of any organization requires following the guidelines for membership. For example… –To be in the NBA now requires one year of college and, of course, being drafted or making a team. –Being a member of DQ’s Blizzard of the Month club requires buying a blizzard and getting a card punched. Similarly, being a member of a church requires respecting the guidelines for membership. The question is…what are those guidelines? To become members of many denominational churches individuals must… –Be baptized as infants. –Go through the “confirmation” process as teens or adults. –Agree to the church’s official creed, statement of faith, manual or discipline. –Just “join the church” by telling somebody. –Be ceremonially baptized to be added to the church’s membership (not for “remission of sins”—Acts 2:38). Many blindly accept these terms without checking in their Bibles. The body of Christ should not be run by any other authority but Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17). The authority of Jesus Christ is found in His words and the words of His apostles and we cannot go beyond these teachings (Jn. 12:48; 14:26; 16:13; 17:17; 2 John 9-11). The words of Jesus and His apostles were written in God’s Word—the Bible (2 Peter 1:16-21). Thus, if we learn about being a member of Christ’s body—it should be in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16,17). What do the Scriptures teach about how to become a member of the body of Christ? I. Members of the Church in Rome A. In Romans 12:4,5 Paul says, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” 1. Clearly, the members of the church in Rome are in the body of Christ. 2. But, how did they become members in the first place—what did they have to do? 3. We must turn to Acts 2 to find out how those from Rome became members of the body of Christ. B. The Bible teaches by example as much as it teaches by direct command…let’s consider it. 1. On… “the day of Pentecost…there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:1,5). 2. This included “…visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes” (Acts 2:10). C. First, consider what this group was taught. 1. The life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:22-24). 2. The Lordship of Jesus Christ (v. 36). D. Second, consider their reaction to the preaching. 1. They were “cut to the heart” and were ready to obey (v. 37). E. After their belief, notice what they are commanded to do. 1. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (v. 38). 2. Be saved (v. 40). F. Finally, observe what they did. 1. Received his word and were baptized (v. 41). 2. They were added to the membership by the Lord when they obeyed the Lord’s commands (vs. 41b, 47). G. The book of Romans offers more information about how the Romans were added to Christ. Romans 6 teaches… 1. they were “baptized into Christ Jesus” (v. 3). 2. they were “baptized into His death” (v. 3,4). 3. They were to “walk in newness of life” (v. 4). 4. They were to “no longer be slaves of sin” (v. 6). H. Their belief, repentance and baptism is summarized in verse 17, “…you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” II. Members of the Church in Corinth A. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul refers to those in Christ as “members” as well. 1. He writes, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). 2. Again, how did these Corinthians become members of the body of Christ? Can we look to the Scriptures for an answer? 3. Can we become members in the same way these individuals became members of Christ’s body? B. On Paul’s second journey he “departed from Athens and went to Corinth” (Acts 18:1). 1. Once he is joined by Silas and Timothy he “testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ” (v. 5). 2. After many oppose him Paul starts teaching in the house of a man named Justus (v. 6,7). 3. Then, verse 8 says, “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” C. We know that this was the same church Paul was writing to because he says in 1 Corinthians 1:14, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.” 1. Many try to conclude from this verse that baptism is not part of being added to Christ. 2. Yet, clearly Paul baptized Crispus, Gaius and Stephanas (vs. 16). 3. Even if he did not baptize the other Corinthians, the book of Acts tells us they were baptized (18:8). D. Later in Paul’s epistle we find more information about becoming members of Christ’s body. 1. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” 2. They were “all baptized into one body” (12:13). III. Members of the Church in Ephesus A. Paul also reminded the Ephesian church, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30). 1. How did these Ephesians become members of Christ’s body, His church (Eph. 1:22,23)? 2. Acts 19 teaches us many of these Ephesians were initially baptized into John’s baptism. 3. Yet, Paul makes it clear that this is not how one becomes a member of Christ’s body. 4. In other words, our baptism can be for the wrong purpose or reasons. B. Acts 19:4,5 says, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” 1. The church at Ephesus were baptized correctly so they could do it by the authority of Christ! 2. Paul tells the Ephesians that the church is cleansed “with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). 3. Clearly, the… i. “washing of water” is a reference to baptism. iii. And “by the word” is a reference to our spiritual rebirth through our obedience to God’s Word. IV. Members of the church of Christ A. In John 3, Jesus once told Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (3:3). 1. How did you become a member of your family? 2. You were born into it. 3. How do you become a member of Christ’s family? 4. Christ says, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). B. How are we born of the water? 1. Romans 6:4, “…we were buried with Him through baptism into death…” 2. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “…we were all baptized into one body…” 3. Ephesians 5:26, “…with the washing of water…” 4. Colossians 2:12, “…buried with Him in baptism…” 5. Jesus Christ, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16). C. How are we born of the Spirit? 1. 1 Peter 1:22-23, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” 2. Believing and obeying the words of the Spirit, the truth, is how we are born of the Spirit. 3. We are “born again” through the incorruptible testimony of the “word of God.” Conclusion: What does the Bible say about becoming a member of the body of Christ? Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17). Believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16). Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38). Confess your faith (Romans 10:10). Be baptized into Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Follow God’s plan and become a member of Christ’s family, wearing Christ’s name today!
by Joshua R. Welch |
Last Updated: 10/04/08
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