Church Membership: What It Means
I. To Be A Member of the Church of Our Lord Means:
1. To be a member of the Body ofwhich He is the Head (I Cor. 12:12, 13, 20, 27; Eph. 1:21-23).
2. To be a Worker in the Lord‘s vineyard(Matt. 20:1).
3. To be a living stone in the Spiritual Temple of God (I Cor. 3: 16; I Pet. 2:5).
4. To be married to Christ (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27; Rom. 7:4).
5. To be a citizen in Christ's Kingdom (Col. 1:12, 13).
6. To be a child in God's family (Gal. 3:26, 27).
II. Membership in the Church of Our Lord Means the Enjoyment of the Rich Provisions of
God’s Grace For His Children:
1. Fatherly watch-care and protection (I Pet. 3:12; 5:6, 7; Phil. 4:5-7; I Cor. 10:12-13).
2. Fatherly provision for all needful things (Matt. 6:33; II Cor. 9:6-1 1; Psalms 84:11).
3. Fatherly correction and chastisement (Heb. 12:5, 13; Jas. 1:2, 3, 12).
4. Right of appeal to God as a Father (I Pet. 3:12; Matt. 6:9).
5. Fellowship With the Saints (Phil. 2:1-4; 4:14-18; Rom. 12:10).
6. Hope of an Eternal Inheritance (I Pet. 1:3-5; Gal. 3:29; Rom. 8:14-17).
III. Membership In the Body of Christ In New Testament Days Meant a Life
of Holiness, Sanctification and Justification:
1. "Washed, Sanctified, and Justified“ (I Cor. 6:11).
2. “Called to be Saints" (I Cor. 1:2).
3. A "Holy Calling" (Eph. 4:1).
4. To "Depart from Unrighteousness" (II Tim. 2: 19).
Questions For Discussion:
1. What does it mean to be a member of the Church?
2. Give meaning of the relationship expressed in Division I of the Lesson.
3. Specify some of the rich provisions the Lord has provided for those in the Church.
4. Why does the Lord chastise his children?
5. What is the fulness of the relationship existing between God and his own?
6. What is the condition of all before becoming children of God?
7. What kind of life does the New Testament demand of Church members?
8. HOW did Paul speak of the former and latter state of the Corinthians (I Cor. 6:11)?
9. Define the word "Saint."
10. Are all Christians saints?.