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Is Church Membership Necessary?
A person who was given a copy of this sermon writes that he was impressed with its contents, but wants to know if we believe that church membership is really necessary to get to heaven.
If by the term "church membership" he refers to membership in a denomination, then such is not necessary. All denominational authorities known to this writer admit that one can be a Christian only and go to heaven without membership in any denomination. However, if he has reference to the Lord's church, the one revealed in the New Testament, then, according to God's word, such membership is absolutely necessary.
- Church-The Bride of Christ
Christ and the church are presented under the figure of a husband and wife (Eph. 5:23-26), and those in the church are said to be married to Christ (Rom.7:1-4; 2 Cor. 11:1-2). He has but one bride (church), and that bride has the sole right to wear his name (Gen. 5:2; Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:14-16). Those out of the church are not married to Christ, and they have no right to wear his name, or to claim any blessings of his estate. If one can go to heaven without membership in the Lord's church he can do so without salvation which is in the name of Christ. (Acts 4:32).
- Church - a Kingdom
Jesus applied the terms "church" and "kingdom" to the same institution. (Matt. 16:17-19. All Christians in the first century were in the church (Acts 2:47). They were also in the kingdom" to the same institution (Matt. 16:17-19). Birth puts one into the kingdom (Jno. 3:3-5). If one can be saved out of the church or kingdom he can be saved without the new birth. All outside the kingdom are in spiritual darkness (Col.1:13-14). There are but two spiritual kingdoms:
(1) Christ's kingdom (Jno. 18:36), and (2) the Devil's kingdom (Matt. 12:25-27). All responsible beings are in one or the other. One who lives and dies in the devil's kingdom cannot go to heaven.
- Church - the House of God
Paul declares that the church is God's house (I Tim 3:15). Jesus promised to build his church, and consequently did build it (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2). He is the foundation rock of the church (Isa.28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11), and to build on this foundation is to hear and do the sayings of Jesus (Matt. 7:24). Hence, the obedient are on the rock. But the house of God, the church, is built upon this rock foundation (Matt. 16:18). Therefore, the obedient the saved-are in the church. To be saved outside of the church is to be saved in disobedience, while building on the sand. (Matt.7:24).
- Church - the Family of God
The church is Gods family (Eph. 3:14-15), and all members of the church are God's children (Gal. 3:26-27). This family is entered by way of the new birth (Jno. 3:3-5). In the natural birth there is the begettal then the birth. Likewise, in the spiritual birth one is begotten of God through the Spirit's message, the gospel. After he is begotten (made a believer) he is then born of water (baptized) as taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:23; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). All children of God are in His family, the church. If one can be saved out of the church, he can be saved without the new birth, and consequently, without living the new life which follows the birth into God's family (2 Cor. 5:17), and without becoming a child of God.
- Church - a Vineyard
Jesus presents the kingdom or church as a vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16). Laborers are to go into his vineyard to work. One's labor is in vain unless that work be done "in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). But to be in the Lord is to be in the church or vineyard. The penny at the close of the day-final salvation in heaven-is given only to those who go into the vineyard and work till death.
- Church - the Body of Christ
The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). There is but one body (1 Cor. 12:2-27), and all Christians are members of that one body (1 Cor. 12:27). Redemption is in (through) the blood of Christ (Col. 1:14). But the benefits of his blood are in his body. Hence, one must get into his body (church) to reach salvation. When penitent believers are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27), they are at the same time baptized into the one body or church (1 Cor. 12:13). Salvation is in Christ (Eph. 1:3; Acts 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:10), and to be in Christ is to be in the body. Question: can one go to heaven without that salvation which is in Christ? Jesus, he is saviour of the body (Eph. 5:23). But there is no promise of salvation nor hope for those outside the Lord's church.
- Concluding Thoughts
If one can be saved and enter heaven without the church, then that makes the church of Christ unnecessary. But Jesus shed his blood to purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Eph.5:23-26) Did Jesus die for an unnecessary and worthless institution, something man can very well do without? As soon as one is saved the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:41-47). Friend, if you are not a member of the church of Christ you are not saved!!
- Church-The Bride of Christ