Justification for Church Membership:
The New Testament calls all Christians to formal, open, solemn, voluntary, and enduring commitment to Jesus Christ, to His truth, and to His people. Such a commitment to Christ, His truth, and His people ordinarily calls for a formal, open, solemn, voluntary and enduring commitment of church membership in a local church for the following reasons:
1. Fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission calls for church membership. According to the Great Commission of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) there is an inseparable connection between making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. The Apostles implemented this commission by gathering baptized disciples into local churches. Therefore, it was in local churches that baptized disciples were taught all that Christ commanded (Acts 2:38 -42; 1 Cor. 4:17). With the uncertain exception of the Ethiopian eunuch, the New Testament is unfamiliar with the status of believing men and women who are not members of local churches.
2. Participation in the Lord’s Table assumes church membership. Since all believing men and women are commanded by Christ to observe the Lord’s Table (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-25), and since the Lord’s Table is clearly a local church ordinance (1 Cor. 11:17, 18, 33, 34; cp.1 Cor. 1:1, 2), it follows that all Christians should belong to a local New Testament church.
3. The New Testament presents the local church as a distinct group of individuals which could:
a. be counted (Acts 2:41-42; 4:4)
b. be added to (Acts 2:47; 5:14)
c. be called upon to select leaders and representatives from among itself (Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 8:19, 23; Acts 15:22)
d. be officially gathered together (Acts 14:27; 15:22)
e. carry out church discipline by vote (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4, 13; 2 Cor. 2:6)
f. observe the Lord ’s Table as a wholly present corporate assembly (1 Cor. 11:17-20, 33-34)
There is, therefore, clear biblical justification for the existence and careful maintenance of local church membership involving formal, open, solemn, and voluntary commitment. This biblical justification compels us to use great care in maintaining a biblically-ordered church membership.
Privileges of Membership:
1. Right to the pastoral oversight and care of the elders of the church.
2. Legitimate expectation of intimate fellowship with the members of the church.
3. Participation in the Lord’s Supper.
4. Attendance at, participation in, and voting during business meetings.
5. Participation in ministries under the church’s oversight.
Requisites for Membership: Any person who professes repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who manifests a life transformed by the power of Christ, who has been baptized upon profession of his faith, who manifests a willingness to be taught and is in substantial agreement with what he or she already knows concerning the church's doctrine, who is willing to submit to its government, and who is not under the biblically warranted corrective discipline of a church shall be eligible for membership in Grace Baptist Church. (Acts 26:20; 20:21; Eph. 2:8 10; Heb. 13:17; Matt. 28:19,20).
Application for Membership: A person who desires to become a member of this church should speak to an elder to be interviewed by him. During the interview, the elder will seek to determine whether that person has a credible profession of faith in Christ, has been scripturally baptized, is in substantial agreement with the doctrines of the church, and intends to give wholehearted support to its ministries and submit to its discipline. Mastery of the church Confession (Statement of Faith) is not required of any new disciple before the church admits him into membership. Such a requirement would violate the order of Matt. 28:19, 20, which instructs us to disciple, to baptize, and then to teach the baptized disciple to observe all things Christ has commanded. It is necessary, however, that any disciple applying for membership display a willingness to be taught and be in substantial agreement with what he already knows concerning the church’s doctrine and government, and the following Basic (Essential) Doctrines will need to be affirmed:
1) I believe the Bible as contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired (God-breathed out), inerrant (without error), authoritative, and the only rule of faith and obedience.
2) I believe there is one and only one God, and He has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures as a personal being existing eternally in three persons (the divine Trinity): God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
3) I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father before all worlds, very God of very God, willingly humbled Himself in love for mankind, was born of a virgin, fully human. He lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary, atoning death on a cross. Three days later he rose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven and now intercedes for His people at the right hand of His Father. He will one day return bodily to the earth as King of kings and Lord of Lords.
4) I believe a person is saved, or justified (declared right with God), by an act of God’s free grace and not on any merit of the person. God pardons his sins and accepts him as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed (credited) to us (through Christ’s substitutionary atoning death and bodily resurrection) and received sola fide, by faith alone.
5) I believe that those who are justified will live eternally in the presence of God with all the redeemed, and those who are not justified will suffer eternal damnation in hell.
It is necessary that the proposed member understands the Basic (Essential) Doctrines given above and is in general and substantial agreement with the doctrinal beliefs of our church. To gain this purpose, the prospective member will need to become generally familiar with the Confession of this church. It is not expected that every new member (especially a recent convert) understand all the doctrines we believe, but there must be a general soundness in faith, and a humble willingness to learn God's truth, together with a determination not to sow any discord in the church with regard to any doctrinal matters in which the prospective member might be in disagreement with the church.
Congregational Responsibility: If the elders are satisfied that the applicant meets the requisites for membership, they shall announce the same to the congregation at a stated meeting of the church. The applicants name will be announced at least three (3) consecutive weeks at stated meetings of the church. This time will be allowed for objections or questions to be raised by any member concerning the applicant's manner of life or doctrine. If no objection is raised which the elders consider to be valid, the person will be publicly presented for membership at a stated meeting of the church. At that time, the applicant will be asked the following questions:
(Privileges of Membership, Requisites for Membership, Application for Membership, and Congregational Responsibility are taken from the Church Constitution, Article VI)
The New Testament calls all Christians to formal, open, solemn, voluntary, and enduring commitment to Jesus Christ, to His truth, and to His people. Such a commitment to Christ, His truth, and His people ordinarily calls for a formal, open, solemn, voluntary and enduring commitment of church membership in a local church for the following reasons:
1. Fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission calls for church membership. According to the Great Commission of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) there is an inseparable connection between making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. The Apostles implemented this commission by gathering baptized disciples into local churches. Therefore, it was in local churches that baptized disciples were taught all that Christ commanded (Acts 2:38 -42; 1 Cor. 4:17). With the uncertain exception of the Ethiopian eunuch, the New Testament is unfamiliar with the status of believing men and women who are not members of local churches.
2. Participation in the Lord’s Table assumes church membership. Since all believing men and women are commanded by Christ to observe the Lord’s Table (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-25), and since the Lord’s Table is clearly a local church ordinance (1 Cor. 11:17, 18, 33, 34; cp.1 Cor. 1:1, 2), it follows that all Christians should belong to a local New Testament church.
3. The New Testament presents the local church as a distinct group of individuals which could:
a. be counted (Acts 2:41-42; 4:4)
b. be added to (Acts 2:47; 5:14)
c. be called upon to select leaders and representatives from among itself (Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 8:19, 23; Acts 15:22)
d. be officially gathered together (Acts 14:27; 15:22)
e. carry out church discipline by vote (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4, 13; 2 Cor. 2:6)
f. observe the Lord ’s Table as a wholly present corporate assembly (1 Cor. 11:17-20, 33-34)
There is, therefore, clear biblical justification for the existence and careful maintenance of local church membership involving formal, open, solemn, and voluntary commitment. This biblical justification compels us to use great care in maintaining a biblically-ordered church membership.
Privileges of Membership:
1. Right to the pastoral oversight and care of the elders of the church.
2. Legitimate expectation of intimate fellowship with the members of the church.
3. Participation in the Lord’s Supper.
4. Attendance at, participation in, and voting during business meetings.
5. Participation in ministries under the church’s oversight.
Requisites for Membership: Any person who professes repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who manifests a life transformed by the power of Christ, who has been baptized upon profession of his faith, who manifests a willingness to be taught and is in substantial agreement with what he or she already knows concerning the church's doctrine, who is willing to submit to its government, and who is not under the biblically warranted corrective discipline of a church shall be eligible for membership in Grace Baptist Church. (Acts 26:20; 20:21; Eph. 2:8 10; Heb. 13:17; Matt. 28:19,20).
Application for Membership: A person who desires to become a member of this church should speak to an elder to be interviewed by him. During the interview, the elder will seek to determine whether that person has a credible profession of faith in Christ, has been scripturally baptized, is in substantial agreement with the doctrines of the church, and intends to give wholehearted support to its ministries and submit to its discipline. Mastery of the church Confession (Statement of Faith) is not required of any new disciple before the church admits him into membership. Such a requirement would violate the order of Matt. 28:19, 20, which instructs us to disciple, to baptize, and then to teach the baptized disciple to observe all things Christ has commanded. It is necessary, however, that any disciple applying for membership display a willingness to be taught and be in substantial agreement with what he already knows concerning the church’s doctrine and government, and the following Basic (Essential) Doctrines will need to be affirmed:
1) I believe the Bible as contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired (God-breathed out), inerrant (without error), authoritative, and the only rule of faith and obedience.
2) I believe there is one and only one God, and He has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures as a personal being existing eternally in three persons (the divine Trinity): God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
3) I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father before all worlds, very God of very God, willingly humbled Himself in love for mankind, was born of a virgin, fully human. He lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary, atoning death on a cross. Three days later he rose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven and now intercedes for His people at the right hand of His Father. He will one day return bodily to the earth as King of kings and Lord of Lords.
4) I believe a person is saved, or justified (declared right with God), by an act of God’s free grace and not on any merit of the person. God pardons his sins and accepts him as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed (credited) to us (through Christ’s substitutionary atoning death and bodily resurrection) and received sola fide, by faith alone.
5) I believe that those who are justified will live eternally in the presence of God with all the redeemed, and those who are not justified will suffer eternal damnation in hell.
It is necessary that the proposed member understands the Basic (Essential) Doctrines given above and is in general and substantial agreement with the doctrinal beliefs of our church. To gain this purpose, the prospective member will need to become generally familiar with the Confession of this church. It is not expected that every new member (especially a recent convert) understand all the doctrines we believe, but there must be a general soundness in faith, and a humble willingness to learn God's truth, together with a determination not to sow any discord in the church with regard to any doctrinal matters in which the prospective member might be in disagreement with the church.
Congregational Responsibility: If the elders are satisfied that the applicant meets the requisites for membership, they shall announce the same to the congregation at a stated meeting of the church. The applicants name will be announced at least three (3) consecutive weeks at stated meetings of the church. This time will be allowed for objections or questions to be raised by any member concerning the applicant's manner of life or doctrine. If no objection is raised which the elders consider to be valid, the person will be publicly presented for membership at a stated meeting of the church. At that time, the applicant will be asked the following questions:
- Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner, justly deserving God’s wrath, and without hope apart from his sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the only Savior of sinners, and do you rest on his death and righteousness alone for your salvation?
- Do you promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will live a life worthy of a follower of Christ?
- Do you submit yourself to the Constitution of this church?
- Do you promise to faithfully support this church including its worship and work and submit to its government to the best of your ability?
(Privileges of Membership, Requisites for Membership, Application for Membership, and Congregational Responsibility are taken from the Church Constitution, Article VI)