1. THE MEANING OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

“I’m now a member of a Baptist Church.”

Many people utter these words with joy in their hearts that is inexpressible. They have found Christ as Savior, their sins are forgiven, and there is peace in their souls. As Christians they have obeyed the Lord’s command to them to follow Him in baptism and unite with His church, and have found great happiness in this new relationship. Many members, however, live for many years without ever seeming to learn the real meaning of membership. This should not be true. Every member should know the seriousness and sacredness of church membership. It is surprising that so many hold membership without realizing their privileges and opportunities or accepting their obligations. Surely this is not because of a determination to be indifferent. We believe they have neither been brought face to face with the real meaning of church membership nor have they had its various aspects laid on their hearts. In this article and throughout this handbook, we seek to set forth some of these things.

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest institution that the world has ever known. Christ established it during His personal ministry and is its Head (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18). He promised that He would be with it through the ages and that the gates of hell should not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18; Matt. 28:20). To it He gave the commission and the ordinances and for it He went to the cross (Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-26; Eph. 5:25). He loved the church and wants His churches to honor and glorify Him as His representatives on the earth (Eph. 5:25-27; Eph. 3:21).

The Lord’s churches have the greatest task ever assigned to any individual or group in the world’s history, the task of carrying the glorious gospel of Christ the Savior to every nation and tongue. No other commission like that has ever been given or will ever be given!

We see then that we have a great privilege in being members of Baptist churches. They are churches with a glorious beginning, a blood-written history, an illustrious present and a future as bright as the promises of God. They are churches that have held true to God’s Word through persecution and tribulation and whose members have numbered among the faithful. Truly, it is a privilege to be a member of a Baptist church!

Membership also brings us great opportunity; an opportunity for fellowship in the finest fellowship that can be found; an opportunity for Christian growth and development and training through the various departments of the church organization; an opportunity for Christian service through the work of the church in its program of service in the name of Christ to those at home and around the earth. Where else can we find such opportunity to live for God and our fellow men?

Membership places upon us inescapable obligation: an obligation to make the church and its work first in our lives; an obligation to use our time and our talents for the glory of God; an obligation to support the work with our presence, our talents, our influence and our means. A membership of worldly, careless, negligent, stunted Christians will prevent a church from accomplishing much for the Lord. The need is for every member to be consecrated, trained and enlisted in active service. We are under obligation to be the very best members possible under the leading of the Lord.

We see then that membership is a privilege and an opportunity and entails great obligations. Too many members have not learned these things and their church means little to them and they mean little to their church! Statistics showed that sixty per cent of the members of the average church were unenlisted. That condition must be changed. Won’t you help change it by making your membership really count for Christ?

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2. Goals Of LBC

1. A personal desire to continue to grow spiritually, especially God’s word. (II Peter 3:18)

2. A fervent prayer life. Attempt to attend Prayer Meeting and Bible Study. (Eph 6:18, 1 Thess 5:17)

3. A living out of the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives at work, at school, home and church. (Eph 5:18, Gal

5:22-26)

4. A global vision for the salvation of lost people. (Matt 28:19,20)

5. A burden for the lost family members, friends and neighbours. (Prov 29:18)

6. A desire to give encouragement, care and appreciation to fellow believers. (Hebrews 10:24,25)

7. A willingness to forgive. (Colossians 3:12-14)

8. A willingness to give our time, talents and tithes to the cause of Christ. (Romans 12:1,2)

9. A personal desire to live a life that please the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:22)

10. A daily anticipation of Christ’s return. (Matt 24:42)

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3. BAPTIST HISTORY

Baptist History begins with Christ and the apostles. Other churches must date their origin with men in recent centuries, but Baptist churches had their beginning during the ministry of Jesus when He formed His church out of the material prepared by John the Baptist. In this sketch, we can only give a brief outline of Baptist beginning and history through the centuries. If you desire to make further study of this subject, there are many splendid volumes available. Ask Pastor about them.

Baptist Beginning

Christ set up His church during His personal ministry here on earth. This was one of the things He came to do. (Matt. 16:18). Before He left the earth, He said that the work He had come to do was finished (John 17:4 and 19:30). Establishing His church was part of the work He had come to do, therefore it was established. The first members of the church were the apostles (I Cor. 12:28). This organization had all the essentials of a church. It had the gospel, an organization, a church roll, the ordinances, a commission, a treasurer, etc.
This church was a Baptist church for Baptist churches today are like it in organization, doctrine and practice. It was also organized out of material prepared by the first missionary Baptist preacher, John the Baptist (John 1:16; Matt. 3:1; Matt. 3:13-17; Acts 1:22). A church organized out of people baptized by a Baptist preacher must be a Baptist Church (I Cor. 12:28). Furthermore, Baptists alone can trace their teachings and principles back through the ages to Christ.
Churches like this first church have continued to exist from that day to the present time. Christ promised that they would not cease to exist (Matt. 16:18). Churches like the one Jesus built have existed in every age down to the present hour. Those today who claim that they have restored primitive Christianity forget that the Church that Jesus built would not have to be restored for it would not cease to exist. If it did cease to exist for a time then Christ’s promise failed, and we know that is not true!

Historians of various denominations admit that Baptists have existed through the ages since Christ. Let us notice the statement of just a few of them.

Dr. John Christian (Baptist): “I have no question in my own mind that there has been a historical succession of the Baptists from the days of Christ to the present time.” (History of Baptists, p.5.)

John C. Ridpath (Methodist): “I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as A.D. 100, though without doubt there were Baptists then as all Christians were then Baptists.” Comment: If all Christians were then Baptists, what kind of churches did they form? Baptist churches of course!

Mosheim (Lutheran): “The first century was a history of the Baptists.”

Alexander Campbell (Church of Christ, founder): “The Baptists can trace their origin to Apostolic times and can produce unequivocal testimony of their existence in every century down to the present time.”

Cardinal Hosius (Catholic): “If the truth of Religion were to be judged by the readiness and cheerfulness which a man of any sect shows in suffering, then the opinions and persuasions of no sect can be truer or surer than those of the Anabaptists; since there have been none for these twelve hundred years past, that have been more grievously punished.” (Orchard’s History of Baptists, p. 364.)

Many more similar quotations could be given but these are enough to prove that historians, even of other denominations, admit that Baptists have existed since the apostolic days!

The following table showing the origin of the various denominations is prepared from the statements of church historians:

Denomination	Founder	Place	Time
Catholic	Gregory	Rome	590
Lutheran	Luther	Germany	1520
Episcopal	Henry VIII	England	1534
Presbyterian	Calvin	Europe	1536
Congregational	R. Brown	England	1580
Methodist	John Wesley	England	1740
Church of Christ	Alex. Campbell	U.S.A.	1827
Mormons	Joe Smith	U.S.A.	1830
7th Day Adventists	William Miller	U.S.A.	1843
Christian Science	Mary Eddy	U.S.A.	1884
Nazarenes	S.F. Bresee	U.S.A.	1895

The record of the founding of every other denomination (except Baptists) can be similarly given, and as these, they would fail to meet the three conditions named. Therefore none of these can be the church that the Lord set up while He was here on the earth.

Can any church meet these three tests? Yes! Baptists can! No man this side of Christ can be named as the founder of Baptists. Nor can any date this side of His personal ministry, nor any place outside of Palestine, be set for their beginning.

Someone may say “All churches are members of the ‘Universal Church,’ therefore all churches are churches of Christ.” The answer is that there is no such thing in the Scriptures as “Universal” church. Nowhere is the word universal used in connection with the church. The only churches the New Testament mentions are local churches, and the church as an institution. A church founded hundreds of years after Christ set up His church does not become a church of the Lord simply by making the claim.

The Baptist past is glorious. The Baptist future is assured, for the Lord has promised that His churches will be here until the “end of the world.” Inspired by the unfailing devotion of our forebearers, and assured of victory by the promises of God, let us as Baptists, in this day of religious compromise and retreat, hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints, and with renewed fervor lift up the banner of Him who said, “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me.”

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4. YOUR NEXT STEP IN CHRIST

A. YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE SAVED

The first thing the Devil is going to try out on you is to attempt to make you doubt your salvation. When Satan came to Eve in the Garden of Eden, his first tactic was to cast doubt upon what God had said. Genesis 3:4

You do not have to guess you are saved. God has written it in His Word whereby you can know beyond any doubt that you are now a child of God. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW that ye have ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”.

You have not received Christ on the basis of your feelings. You are not saved on the basis by feelings or good works. For it is “by grace are ye saved, through faith”. Our salvation is based on entirely on God’s word. I know that I am saved because the Bible says so. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt

CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou SHALT BE SAVED”.

The Bible told me I was a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “ For all have sinned…”. The Bible tells me that God loves me and Jesus died for my sins. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” says John3:16.

The Bible told me that if I would receive Jesus Christ into my heart as Lord and Saviour by faith, He would make me a child of God. John 1:12. Romans 10:13 says, “For WHOSOEVER SHALL call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”.

As best as we knew, just like you, we believed what God said. We called upon the Lord, asking forgiveness, and asking Him to come into our hearts. We did all that He asked us to do in His word. We are sure He kept His promise. He saved us on the basis of His Word. If you have made such a committal to Christ, you need never doubt that you are saved forever. John 3:15.

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B. B. GOD KEEPS YOU SAVED

Just as God saved you – without any help from you or anyone else – it is also God who keeps you saved without help from you or others. John 10:27-29 says, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them ETERNAL life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is GREATER than all, and NO MAN is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand”.

It is impossible to lose your salvation. In Hebrews 10:14, we read, "For by one offering He hath PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified”. If you have truly been saved, you have been born into the family of God. This is what Jesus was talking about in John 3:1-7. It is impossible to be unborn.

It is true that we can sin. We can lose the joy of our salvation. But salvation cannot be lost. Psalms 89:30-34. Ecclesiastes 3:14 declares, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be FOREVER…”. Whatever God does is forever. There are those who think that such a belief will lead to ungodly living. Not so!!! When God truly saves a person, the Holy Spirit comes to live in his heart. Paul proclaims, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. When a man becomes a new person in Christ, he no longer wants to live the old way. He will no longer love the things of sin. He is regenerated.

It is wonderful to know that we are secure in Christ. You cannot be saved today and lost tomorrow for the Bible says, “If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE…” John 8:36. If a person who professes to be saved has no desire to change from the old worldly and wicked life, then in reality, he was never born again. We can know this because the Bible says, “By their fruits ye shall know them” Matthew 7.

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C. BAPTISM IS YOUR FIRST STEP

The first thing God wants you to do, now that you are saved, is to confess Him before men. Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whosoever therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father, which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father, which is in Heaven”. That is why you now need to be baptized.

Baptism has nothing to do with your salvation. As we have already shown, you are just as saved now as you will ever be. However, baptism is the way of saying to the world, “I am buried with Christ – I no longer live – I have risen from the dead – I am a new person in Christ”. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again from the dead on the third day.

This is the gospel -– the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. As we are buried in the waters of baptism, and raised again from the waters –- we are saying to the world – “I have experienced in my heart what the gospel truly means”.

More than that, God has commanded us to be baptized. “… teach all nations (people), baptizing them…” says Matthew 28:19. If we refuse to be baptized, we are saying ‘no’ to God’s commandment. In the book of Acts in the New Testament, you will find that every convert was baptized immediately after they were saved. Be sure to get started out right. Follow your Lord in water baptism right away.

Many Christians miss the blessing because they fail on this first commandment. It is important to do things God’s way. Someone will say, “I was baptized before I was saved. Isn’t that good enough?”. We are afraid not. You see, baptism is never mentioned as being applied to one before their salvation. In God’s Holy Word, baptism is administered AFTER the individual accepted Christ.

After all, baptism is a picture of what has already happened in our heart. Therefore, it is impossible to be baptized scripturally until you have first been saved. One must not get the cart before the horse, so to speak. Being baptized before you are saved is just going down into the water a dry sinner and coming up a wet sinner.

Someone else may say, “Well, I have been sprinkled”. It is also very important to ‘Do’ things God’s way. Sprinkling is NOT found in the Bible. Jesus, our most Blessed Saviour, was immersed – Not sprinkled.

It is impossible to show forth a picture of the burial and resurrection of Christ without going underneath the water just as Christ went underneath the earth. Romans 6:3-5 says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection”.

In Colossians 2:12 we read that we are “Buried with Him in baptism…”. When someone is buried, you don’t sprinkle a little dirt over him, nor do you pour a pitcher full of dirt on him. NO! But rather, they are covered with dirt. Bible baptism must be by immersion. Be sure that you go all the way with God. He went all the way for YOU!!!

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D. D. BIBLE READING AND PRAYER

Just as you need physical food in order to sustain physical life, so you need spiritual food to maintain spiritual stamina.

Now that you have been born into the family of God, you need to grow spiritually into adulthood. The apostle Peter tells us to “desire the sincere milk of the Word…”. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…”. John 5:39 Jesus said, “Search the Scriptures…”. We are told concerning the Bible that we are to “read therein all the days of our life, that we may learn to fear the Lord our God…”, God said this in Deuteronomy 17. We are also told to “meditate therein day and night…”. In the book of Acts we read to “search the scriptures daily”. In 1 Timothy 4:13 it says, “Till I come, give attendance to reading…”.

The Bible is the perfect, verbally inspired Word of God. The only way for a Christian to grow into a healthy child of God is to develop a daily HABIT of reading the Bible.

We suggest that you read the gospel of John first. Read it a couple of times then go to Genesis and read straight through. Set your goal high. One can read the entire Bible in less than a year. All that must be done is to read (4) chapters a day. You could have one at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed. That’s easy, isn’t it?

We, unfortunately, know many Christians, saved for many years now, who have NEVER read the Bible through. As you develop this Bible reading habit, several things will happen in your life.

First, God will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from God’s word.

Secondly, as you learn more about the Bible, God will use you to bless others. You can NEVER be a profitable servant of God until you become a Bible student.

Along with your Bible reading, learn to spend much time each day in prayer. Bible reading is God speaking to you and prayer is you speaking to God. Fellowship with God is the most important activity of the Christian. Don’t ever forget this fact. No matter how busy or active you get in your life, fellowship and prayer to your Heavenly Father is the most important thing in your life.

Daniel, the great prophet of the Old Testament, prayed three times a day. And at times, his prayers were two to three hours long. My, how we need some Daniels in our church. Jesus often would spend an entire night in prayer. Jesus said in Luke 18:1 that “men ought always to pray…”.

There is nothing too great and nothing too small to take to the Lord in prayer. If you need employment, pray. If you need a life partner, pray. If you have financial needs, pray. If you need bodily healing, pray. If trials oppress you and burdens distress you, pray. Learn to have conversation with your Father. Then also learn that prayer is to become the very breath of your spiritual life.

Be deeply appreciative of all the goodness of God. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Not only should we thank Him, but also praise the Lord. Give Him the worship and adoration of your heart. Give God the glory and honour that is due Him for His mercy endureth forever. May we suggest that in addition to adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication; we should learn to tarry in His presence. In other words, when you get through talking, wait quietly before the Lord. Let Him speak to your heart. This is, indeed, true communion, and as a result of this divine fellowship, you will be strengthened to go forth into the world and live for Jesus. Take time to wait on God.

Jesus said, “Watch ye, therefore, and pray always” Luke 21:36. If you are not sure or need help in praying, we would be delighted to help you.

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E. E. CHURCH ATTENDANCE

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” says the writer of the book of Hebrew 10. This verse says that every time the church door is open and there is something that concerns YOU going on, YOU are to be there. (If not providentially hindered).

Get into the Sunday School class for You and grow with other Christians. Jesus went often to the Temple and many times, He would teach. Jesus is to be our example in everything. Therefore, we would like to extend a very friendly invitation to YOU to join our church.

We believe the Church was started by Jesus Himself. And the institution, called the church, shall never fail. Our church teaches nothing except the Bible and use no other text book but the Bible.

“And the Lord ADDED unto the CHURCH daily such as should be saved” Acts 2:47.

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F. THE MONEY QUESTION

Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the STOREHOUSE, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven, and POUR YOU out a BLESSING, that there shall NOT be room enough to receive it”. Here, we are taught that God expects us to offer Him a tithe. We would like to deal with four questions about tithing that need to be answered.

a) What is a “TITHE” ? We find that tithing is not new. It is not a device for the church to “get rich”. But rather, tithing was done as far back as Abraham, Genesis 14:20. In Hebrews 7:2 we read, “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all…”. So we find that a “tithe” is a “tenth part of all” that we have. We believe this not only includes money but also your time and everything you possess.

b) Where are we to bring the TITHE ? In Malachi again, we read that we were to bring the tithes “into the STOREHOUSE”. In the Old Testament we see that the ‘storehouse’ was also called the Temple. Today, it is called the church. We are to offer our tithes to the local, fundamental, Bible-believing church. If we claim to love the Lord then we will love the things that He loved and help in the support and furtherance of these things. “As Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it” Ephesians 5:25.

c) When are to offer our TITHE ? Let us now look at 1 Corinthians 16:2. It says, “Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come”. That means on Sunday, we are to go to church and worship God and offer Him our tithe.

d) Who is to offer a TITHE ? 1 Corinthians 16:2. It says, “… let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…”. God says EVERYONE!!! That means ME and it means YOU!

As you learn the grace of giving, you will find that you cannot outgive God. It is impossible! We must learn to put God first. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and ALL these things shall be ADDED unto you”.

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G. G. LET GOD USE YOU

You undoubtedly have friends and relatives who have never accepted Christ. By living a changed life before them, and by witnessing to them as God gives opportunity, you can be used to win them to Christ.

After all – this is now your main purpose in life, to lead others to Jesus. Mark 16:15 says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to EVERY creature”. Invite your family, friends, and those with whom you work or study with to attend church with you. Be sure to tell them what God has done for YOU.

Wisdom should be used in witnessing for the Lord, looking to Him for the right words to speak at the right time.

Also, you may have talents that can be used for the Lord. Perhaps you sing, or can teach, etc. Remember that we are to be men and women zealous of good works, not in order to get to heaven, but because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, and now we want to show our love for Him. No matter how much or how little you think you can do, there is always something that you can DO for God and the church.

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H. H. THINGS THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with UNBELIEVERS: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and TOUCH NOT the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

It is a MUST that Christians live a separated life and a clean life. Once a man is converted, it is important for him to stay away from the wrong kind of friends. Although we want to win our friends to Christ, we cannot afford to hurt our testimony by taking part in things that are not right.

A saved man must immediately PUT AWAY ALL use of alcoholic beverages. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” Proverbs 20:1.

He will also be wise to do away with any use of tobacco. It will damage your health. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile (harm) the temple of God, him shall God destroy…”.

Christians should have clean habits and go to the right places. A Christian has NO business on a dance hall floor or at the movies. He should not be involved with QUESTIONABLE things. God says come out from among these things and be separate from them. This does not mean you are to be a hermit. We are still to be friendly as possible. But -– our purpose NOW is to win them to the Lord. We cannot do it by living a sinful and carnal life.

You may think, “Well, how do you know that these things are a sin?”. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “that whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God”. God gets no glory out of a Christian who smokes, drinks, dances, curses, and attend the movies. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and, doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17.

Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”.

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I. I. THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Now that you are a child of the King of kings, the devil will do all he can to mess you up. You have gone against his damnable advice and accepted the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. You are now his enemy and he is out to ‘get you’. There are going to be many discouragement, trials, disappointments, disgusts along the road to heaven. But be not upset!

James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various) temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience”. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is FAITHFUL, who will not suffer (permit) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Another thing to watch for is that Satan will try to get you to ‘compromise’. God says not to compromise, but rather, to be separated. Be very careful. “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8. However, “Ye are of God, little children… GREATER is HE that is in YOU, than he that is in the world” 1 John 4:4.

Dear friend, be true to God at all cost! Put Him first place in your life! Enjoy your Christian life with the Lord and look forward to Christ’s coming!

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” Jude 24-25.

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