A Healthy Church - The Implications of Conversion

Along The Way : Conversion & Membership

(Written by Kevin A. Hall   04.14.17)

In God’s great plan, His will was to achieve His goals through a people separated unto Himself. Israel was given this calling in the Old Testament. The Church now bears this responsibility. The baton has been passed if you will to us with His command “You will be my witnesses”. The promise of a “new heart, new creation, and a new covenant was fulfilled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ” (Schreiner, T). Tom says the saving work of God promised in the Old Testament is encapsulated in the term “Kingdom of God” in the New Testament” and is therefore the process through which the unbeliever enters the kingdom – Conversion. Membership in God’s kingdom is impossible without Conversion (Mark 10:17-31). 

A person must repent and believe. Eternal life belongs only to those who have been converted. This is bottom-line of what we teach and preach. Conversion should influence our programs, our lives and organizational structures. Conversion is our business.

Because we are a body being “fitted together”, lively stones being built up with Christ as the foundation, Church Membership is necessary. It is through a community of believers that God can effectively show His love to the world and to believers. The community of believers, built through Membership, is God’s witness that pulls the unbeliever in via Conversion. Membership is biblical. “It is through the community of believers that we mature and this maturity through edification cannot be properly achieved in isolation” (Cottrell, 453). Simply put, We Must Attend Church! Membership by TV or internet is not enough. We need each other to become mature in Christ.

 John Folmar (9Marks) says “It is in Membership that we can effectively “examine ourselves” as the Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 13:5. The believer also has access to church discipline, an essential part of growing in their faith. Through the study of and the preaching/teaching the Word of God, we are reproved, rebuked, corrected and provided with training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Lastly, Membership makes us “official Jesus Representatives” (Leeman, 9Marks).

References:

https://www.9marks.org/article/journalconversion-new-testament/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

https://www.9marks.org/article/journalimplementing-membership-existing-church/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

https://www.9marks.org/article/journaltwelve-reasons-why-membership-matters/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

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