The Door to the Local Church
My high school Bible teacher would say, "In the same way that standing in a garage does not make you a car, so standing in a church on Sunday morning does not make you a Christian." He is correct.
You will never be a car, but you can become a Christian. However, being a Christian does not, by default, make you a member of a local church. When Paul says you are members one of another (Rom 12:5), that has meaning between specific people. So, RIC is people who are together in the gospel of Jesus and are committed to one another and united in the mission of the local church.
How do you get into the local church?
In Acts 2:37-41, Peter gives us three things that bring us into the local church.
Repentance: Having recognized and confessed your sin before God, you turn from your ways and give him your life.
Faith in Jesus, the Son of God: You believe that in Jesus Christ. Therefore, God does not condemn you for your sin, but sees you clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. You strive to live by this faith.
Up to this point, you are now a Christian, saved by God's grace, sure of heaven. However, that doesn't yet make you part of the local church.
Baptism: In baptism, you are saying to the local church, "I am one of you! I died with Christ and now live in Him! I am a new creation, just like you!" This physical action is the mechanism God gives the local church to witness and welcome that believer's entrance into the body (Acts 2:41).
The local church is made up of those who have repented of their sin, trusted in Jesus, and been baptized. Jonathan Leeman says it this way:
A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances. - Leeman, Membership, 52.
It has been my joy to get to know several individuals who have applied for membership and others who have been preparing for baptism. Praise God that this Sunday, we will welcome nine new members into this local church.
Join us as we celebrate God's work in the life of his church!
Loren
