Identity Mark Number Two: THE TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH.

What were the terms? Well, in John 3, and verse 5, Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” To be born of the Spirit is to be born OF the instruction given by the Spirit. To be born of water is to be baptized in water according to the direction of the inspired Word of God. When that occurs, one is forgiven of his sins. And in Acts 2, and verse 47, that person is added to the people of God. God does that.

We used to illustrate it this way, and perhaps it’ll still work: Suppose that John [Phillis] believes that I am a crack shot with a rifle. Now, I don’t think he does, but if he did… And he would hold a block of wood up here, and I stand at this wall and shoot a rifle aimed at that block of wood, which would get through first? Would it be the hole, or would it be the bullet?

“Well, it would have to be the hole!”

“How did the hole get there without the bullet to…?”

“Oh, well, it must be the other way. It must be the bullet!”

“Well, how did it get through without the hole?!?”

“Oh, I don’t know!”

The truth is: They both get through at exactly the same split second!

Now, in being saved and being added to the church, BOTH OCCUR AT EXACTLY THE SAME MOMENT. One is added to the church at the moment he becomes a child of God! He becomes a member of the church at the moment he / she becomes a brother or sister in Christ. In that activity of obedience to Jesus Christ, one is saved; one is made a child of God; one is added to the body and becomes the recipient of every promise that God has bestowed concerning and upon those who obey His Will. That’s how you became a member of the church in the 1 st Century. That’s how you do now.

“Well, didn’t they vote?”

“No.”

“How many believe that brother Saul should be….? Ah, I’ve got ten hands raised over here. How many have we got over there? Just five. Can’t have you Saul.”

Didn’t happen like that. The moment a person was saved, he or she was IN the church.

Identity Mark Number Three: THE ORGANIZATION AND PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.

Its purpose was to glorify God, to spread the Gospel and to do the good works that God has ordained. It was not a political institution. It was not some kind of a civic club. It was not a self-help or support group that said, “All right. We’re going to support all the people who have xyz.” Now, members of the church may be involved in support groups of all types of a legitimate nature, but that’s NOT what the church as a body was dedicated to.

Now, it had these grand purposes; how was it organized? Well, Philippians 1, verses 1 and 2, you have elders, deacons and brethren. That’s what you have. No presidents?!? No. No popes?!? No. Just elders and deacons and saints! And they, under Christ, constitute the organization AND they fulfill the purpose that Christ has given them.