Church Membership

GRACE COVENANT CHURCH AFFIRMATION OF MEMBERSHIP

The New Testament demands of all Christians formal, voluntary and enduring commitment to Jesus Christ, to His truth and to His people. A true Christian's commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ must include and is inseparable from his commitment to Christ's truth and to Christ's people by membership in a local church for the following biblical reasons:

1. Fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission requires church membership. According to the Great Commission of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) there is an inseparable connection between making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them. The Apostles implemented this commission by gathering baptized disciples into local churches. It was therefore in local churches that baptized disciples were taught all that Christ commanded (Acts 2:38-42, 1 Cor. 4:17). With the uncertain exception of the Ethiopian eunuch, the New Testament knows nothing of believing men and women who are not members of local churches.

2. The New Testament presents the local church as a distinct group of people who could:

a. be counted (Acts 2:41-42; 4:4)
b. be added to (Acts 2:47; 5:14)
c. be called upon to select leaders and representatives from among itself (Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 8:19, 23; Acts 15:22)
d. be officially gathered together (Acts 14:27; 15:22)
e. carry out church discipline (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4, 13; 2 Cor. 2:6)
f. observe the Lord's table as a wholly present corporate assembly (1 Cor. 11:17-20, 33-34).

This biblical warrant compels us to maintain a biblically ordered church membership.

Because God makes his covenant with believers and their children, also an unbelieving spouse being sanctified by the believing partner (I Cor. 7:14), membership in Grace Covenant Church will be reckoned by household where this is applicable, and by individual commitment where it is not. Membership commitment includes the following:

a. Profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10);
b. A manner of life consistent with profession of faith (Matt. 7:22-23);
c. Acknowledging the ultimate authority of Holy Scripture (2 Pet. 3:16-17);
d. Lawful baptism in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19);
e. Faithful support of the ministry of GCC, also financially (1 Cor. 9:7-14);
f. A permanent residence in this geographical area (Eph. 1:1);
g. Willing submission in all things lawful to the gov. of GCC (Heb. 13:7,17).

Mastery of church confessions is not required of any new disciple before he is admitted to church membership. Such a requirement would violate the order of Matt. 28:19,20, which instructs us to baptize and then to teach the baptized disciple to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. It is necessary, however, that any disciple applying for membership manifest a willingness to be taught and substantial agreement with what he already knows concerning the church's doctrine and government.

Desiring to be a member of Grace Covenant Church, We/I hereby:

(I) Profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died, was buried and rose again as the only grounds for our salvation.
(II) Confess before God that I believe that the Bible is His inspired Word and as such is the ultimate authority for faith and life.
(III) Promise to adorn the Gospel in my life by walking according to the law of God in full reliance upon his grace and in the power of his Spirit.
(IV) Agree to submit myself to the government of Grace Covenant Church according to the Holy Scriptures.

Printer-friendly version