How To Become A Member of the Church
I. The Testimony of Christ:
1. Must be born again (Jn. 3:3-5).
2. Must be converted (Matt. 18:1-3).
3. The Great Commission (Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20; Lk. 24:44-49).
II. Testimony of the Apostles:
1. Saved by foolishness of preaching (I Cor. 1:21).
2. Must hear in order to believe (Rom. 10: 14-17).
3. Must believe or die in sin (Jn. 8:24; Mk. 16:16).
4. Must repent and be converted (Acts 3:19; Lk. 13:3, 5).
5. By faith baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).
6. Purify souls by obedience to truth (I Pet. 1:22).
7. Made free from sin by obedience to doctrine (Rom. 6:17, 18).
8. Must be led by Spirit (Rom. 8:14).
9. Must be washed, justified, sanctified (I Cor. 6: 11; 1:2).
III. Taught by Figures:
1. The New Birth (Jn. 3:3-5).
a. Begotten (I Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:18; I Cor 4: 15).
b. Born ofwater and Spirit (Jn. 3:5; Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 2:38-41).
2. Marriage to Christ (Eph. 5:23-30; Rom. 7:4).
a. Acquaintanceship (Jn. 6:44, 45).
b. Love (I Jn. 4:19).
c. Ceremony (Gal. 3:26-27).
IV. Exemplified:
1. Pentecostians (Acts 2):
a. What they heard: death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ (Acts 2:22-34).
b. What they were told to do: Believe beyond a doubt, repent and be baptized in the name of
Christ (Acts 2:36-38).
c. What they did: gladly received the word and were baptized (Acts 2:41).
d. Its consequences: remission of sins and gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
e. Added to the Church (Acts 2:41-47).
2. Samaritans (Acts 8:12):
a. Heard Philip preach Christ, believed, when they believed they were baptized
3. The Corinthians (Acts 18: 1 8):
a. Heard, believed, and were baptized.
4. Every conversion in the book of Acts is but a repetition of this same story. The plan
Was: hear, believe, repent, confess faith in Christ, be baptized into Christ.
Conclusion:
When men obey the will of God their sins are pardoned and God recognizes andaccepts them as His own children. They are added to the body of the saved and enjoy the privileges and share the responsibilities of that relationship. There is no such thing taught in God's Word as being saved by one process and joining the Church by another.
Questions For Discussion:
1. Give the testimony of Jesus conceming becoming members of the Church.
2. Name the conditions of salvation as announced by the apostles.
3. How does one purify his soul? How is he made free from sin? And how did Paul state the matter
to the Corinthians?
4. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of Christ?
5. Give the elements of the new birth.
6. Name the requisites of being married to Christ.
7. State how these principles were exemplified in the second chapter of Acts.
8. NOW show how this was manifested by the Samaritans and the Corinthians.
9. Give some other cases in Acts not here mentioned.
10. Now show that the same process that makes one a Christian also makes him a member
of the Church..