How does one become a member of the
church of Christ?
The same way they did it
in the first century. On Pentecost
as recorded in Acts chapter 2, the
apostle Peter preached the very first
gospel sermon recorded in scripture.
Following that sermon about 3000 souls
were baptized for the remission of their
sins.
Acts 2:47 records exactly
how one is added to the church:
Acts 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all
the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved.
KJV
In the salvation of
man's soul there are 2 necessary parts:
God's part and man's part. God's part is
the big part, "For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift if God;
not of works, that no man should glory"
(Ephesians 2:8-9). The love which God
felt for man led him to send Christ into
the world to redeem man. The life and
teaching of Jesus, the sacrifice on the
cross, and the proclaiming of the gospel
to men constitute God's part in
salvation.
Though God's part is the
big part, man's part is also necessary
if man is to reach heaven. Man must
comply with the conditions of
forgiveness which the Lord has
announced.
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he [Jesus
Christ] became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;
Man's part is clearly
set forth in the following steps:
- Hear the Gospel.
"How shall they call on him whom
they have not believed? and how
shall they believe him whom they
have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher?"(Romans
10:14).
- Believe.
"And without faith it is
impossible to be wellpleasing
unto him; for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and
that he is a rewarder of them
that seek after him" (Hebrews
11:6). "He who believes
in Him is not condemned; but he
who does not believe is
condemned already, because he
has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God"
(John
3:18)
- Repent of past sins.
"The times of ignorance
therefore God overlooked; but
now he commandeth men that they
should all everywhere repent."(Acts
17:30). "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand. Repent, and
believe in the gospel" (Mark
1:15). "I tell you,
no; but unless you repent you
will all likewise perish" (Luke
13:5).
- Confess Jesus as
Lord. "Behold here is
water; What doth hinder me to be
baptized? And Philip said, if
thou believeth with all thy
heart thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God" (Acts
8:36-37). "Therefore
whoever confesses Me before men,
him I will also confess before
My Father who is in heaven. 33
But whoever denies Me before
men, him I will also deny before
My Father who is in heaven"
(Matthew
10:32-33).
- Be baptized for the
remission of sins. "And
Peter said unto them, Repent ye,
and be baptized everyone of you
in the name of Jesus Christ unto
the remission of your sins and
ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit."(Acts
2:38). He who believes and
is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be
condemned (Mark
16:16-17). And now why
are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the
Lord (Acts
22:16).
-
Live a Christian life.
"Ye are an elect race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for God's own possession,
that ye may show forth the
excellencies of him who called
you out of darkness into his
marvelous light" ( 1
Peter 2:9).
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