New Testament Church Membership
The church of Jesus Christ is the Israel of God (Is 49:3, 6; Gal 6:16). Following the incarnation of the Son of God (Jn 1:14), as the Son of Man, God’s chosen people became beneficiaries of a permanent indwelling Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11). It is this Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, who is gathering Christ’s church into one holy nation of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 5:9).
The Bible, God’s holy Word, teaches us to picture Christ’s called-out people (ekklesia) as individuals of a corporate whole (Rom 12:4–5; 1 Cor 12:12–14). For instance, the human body is one whole unit, but it is made up of many body parts (Rom 12:4). Each has a different name and function. No body revels in a diseased or severed part. Thus, each member of the body is vital and valued.
The Holy Spirit, sent from the Father and the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26), gathers the members of Christ’s body across history and from around the world. Not one soul predestined to adoption into God’s family has ever been lost or stolen (Jn 10:28–29; Rom 8:35–39; Eph 1:4–5). God gives each of His adopted children the right to call Him, “Father (Rom 8:15, 23; Gal 4:6; 1 Jn 3:1, 10).”
The adoption process is spiritual. The spiritual orphan we might say, “is given a new lease on life.” He or she is born again of the Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). A new creature in Christ is conceived as an entirely new creation (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15). A new heart is given by God (Ezek 36:26) and a new mind is also manifest (1 Cor 2:16). In fact, we might say that those who are born of God are now possessed by a new Spirit, that is, the Spirit of Christ (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).
The first instance of the now abiding Spirit is called, “baptism.” The soul of God’s elect redeemed is baptized by the Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38; 10:47; 11:16). All that changes for this new child of God is a product of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. Both the gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4) and the fruit of the Spirit become evident (Gal 5:22–23).
Positionally, the soul is transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s Beloved Son (Col 1:13). From walking in the darkness of sin, the child of Light now shines with the Light of Life (Jn 8:12; 12:35; Eph 5:8). The Apostle Paul wrote the church at Galatia, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…(Gal 2:20).” The internal transformation, by His doing (1 Cor 1:30), is complemented by the external transfer. We are in Him, and He is in us.
The Christian soul has abandoned the world (1 Jn 2:15–17), having been baptized into the church (1 Cor 12:13). This baptism of the Holy Spirit that baptizes the worldling into a member of Christ’s body is like a tree branch being grafted into a new (True) Vine (Jn 15:1). The life of God in Christ begins to flow from Christ to the new believer, as life-giving sap moves out from the vine into each living branch that is grafted into the vine.
There is another picture of church membership that is helpful, illuminated by the Apostle Paul in His epistle to the Ephesians. A spiritual temple is being built by the Spirit of Christ (Eph 2:20–22). The Christian is identified as a single stone being cut and crafted for his or her unique spot in the great edifice. In fact, all the living stones have their place, and one day the temple building project will be complete.
When God chooses to salvage a worthless, dead stone (Eph 2:1), He brings it to life (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13) and then conforms it (Rom 8:29) to fit into the spiritual temple He is building. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). After all, He chose each one before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4; Rom 11:5; 2 Thess 2:13) and wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 13:8; 17:8). These were appointed to life (Acts 13:48) — new, abundant, and eternal (Jn 10:10, 28–29; Rom 6:4).
The token of church membership is the Holy Spirit given as a pledge of matrimony (2 Cor 5:5). Like an engagement ring, the Spirit is given as a promise, even as a gift of love poured out in the hearts of Christ’s betrothed (Rom 5:5), whom He loved and gave Himself for (Eph 5:25), when He died on the cross (Rom 5:8).
The death of Christ, His precious blood shed, is the purchase of His church, which He bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet 1:18–19). He redeemed God’s elect, given to Him by the Father to be His beloved bride (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; Eph 5:22–33), who is pictured in robes of white (wedding dress), washed in His blood (purification of sin).
Just as a husband and wife become one (Gen 2:24; Eph 5:31), so Christ and His church are one (Jn 10:16; 17:22). Christ is the head (Is 49:3; Col 1:18) and His body of people (Is 49:6) are His prized possession (Ex 19:5; Dt 7:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9), the people of His pasture (Ps 100:3), holy and blameless before Him (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22).
Yet another picture of church membership is the imagery of the sheep and their shepherd (Ps 23; Jn 10). The sheep who belong to the Good Shepherd hear His voice and follow Him (Jn 10:4, 16). For these, He laid down His life (Jn 10:11, 15) and for this reason they trust Him. These will not follow an imposter, the hired hand, who has no care for them (Ezek 34; Jn 10:5).
Sheep are not considered a threat by any other animal, but in the end, the terrifying picture is the wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:16; 14:10). This is the dread Champion (Jer 20:11), the warrior King, who is to come on the last day (Rev 19:11–21). He is coming to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). His kingdom will have no end (Dan 2:44; 6:26; Lk 1:33), for His is an eternal reign of righteousness (2 Pet 3:13).
Who are the members of Christ’s church? We will know for sure on the last day when all people conceived in history and from around the earth will be resurrected from the dead (Jn 5:28–29). For most, it is a bodily resurrection to judgment with the sentence of eternal punishment in the hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:11, 14–15). These are they who were not elect (Rom 9:13, 22), nor were they redeemed. They were not given the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). Hence, they did not belong to Christ, which is why they did not believe in Him (Jn 10:26).
Some had heard the Gospel, but they had no place for God’s Word in them (Jn 8:47), which is why they had no love for God in their hearts (Jn 5:42). God did not set His love upon these in election, redemption, or regeneration — according to His sovereign will (Jn 1:13; Rom 9:22). In other words, He did not have mercy upon them (Rom 9:15, 18), in order to serve His purposes in justice, judgment, and wrath. In this, He is glorified.
Church members are those who fought the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12), wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17). The double-edged sword found them when a sent preacher proclaimed Christ and Him crucified (Rom 10:13; 1 Cor 2:2; Col 1:28; Heb 4:12). The Spirit-filled man of God heralded the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16–17), and the Word gave the elect ears to hear and the gift of faith conjoined with the grace of repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom 10:17; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29).
Having received the life of God in their souls, this resurrection life will do the same for their bodies on the last day (1 Cor 15). This is the resurrection to life, whereby church members will be given indestructible life in glorified bodies (Rom 8:30; Heb 7:16). The separation of wheat (church members) and tares (unelect, unredeemed, unregenerate, unbelievers) will finally be stark in contrast.
In summary, the Bible makes clear through a variety of images that show the contrast of the righteous and unrighteous before the resurrection of the dead on the last day. The imagery of a human body, of tree grafting, of temple building, of family, of marriage, of a shepherd and flock, and a soldier at war. All of these serve to show the church member in relationship to Christ.
In conclusion, Christ has promised to build His church, giving a prophetic word of assurance as to His perfect success (Mt 16:18). Christ was 100% successful in His life, death, resurrection and now in mediation. All who come to Him, He will in no wise cast them out (Jn 6:37), promising to never leave nor forsake them (Heb 13:5).
Therefore, church membership is about one’s current status in relationship to Jesus Christ. Have you been grafted into Christ? Have you received His Spirit and His Word? Are you assembled with a local body of called-out believers? Are you following the teachings of the prophets and apostles (Bible)? Do you pray and bear witness in the power of the indwelling Spirit? Do you love and boast in Christ, alone, who you unashamedly claim died for you?
If you answered “yes” to all of these questions then you are a member of Christ’s church, sharing in communion and the one baptism brought about by one Spirit who positioned you in His one church (Eph 4:4–6). The fact of your church membership will be made quite visible on the last day. Are you ready for that?
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 29, 2021
