The FaithFul of God

The FaithFul of God

Baptist Doctrine 2
Part 1
How Members Are Received Into A Church
Key Verses: Acts 19:1-10; Ephesians 2:8-22
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
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Ephesians 2:8-22
 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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There are only two docstrines that are essential to a New Testament Church. Other doctrines are important, preciouse, but only two are essential to a New Testament church. They are the WAY OF SALVATION and the WAY OF BAPTISM.
Matthew 28:19-20– The Great Commission makes this clear.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Therefore for one to become a member of a TRUE New Testament Church they must fulfill the necessary requirements of salvation and baptism.
It is most likely that in the apostolic age when there was but “one Lord,one faith, and one baptism,”
Ephesians Chapter 4:5 and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by the very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him/her with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In the sense, “baptism was the door into the church.” Now, it is different; and while the churches are desirous of receiving members, they are rightly wary and cautious that they do not receive unworthy persons. The churches therefore have candidates come before them, make their statement, give their “experience”, and then their reception is decided by a vote of the members. And while they cannot become members with baptism, yet it is the vote of the body which admits them to its fellowshio upon receiving baptism.
As the church of Christ is a voluntary organization:
A. No one can force someone to join a church
B. The church cannot compel anyone to join
C. The church, however, is not optional with a believer
D. The believer is under a moral obligation-obedience to Christ.
Baptist Doctrine 2 Part 1 How Members Are Received Into A Church
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