Membership questions...Bible reading week 37, day 3

Today is an in between devotional and we will be back to Zechariah chapter 10 on Friday.  We will look at some questions that the overseers look at when someone comes to give their testimony for consideration for membership in our church.  These 5 questions are great for us to evaluate what we believe about Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

1.  Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

This first one allows us to state our position as a sinner in need of a Savior.  Our predicament is sin that needs repentance and also recognizing of God's displeasure or wrath against it.  If a step is not taken here in response to God's mercy, we are without hope.

2.  Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

The second question establishes our view of who Jesus is and what He alone is able to do.  He is the Son of God.  He is the only salvation provider.  He gave His life as an offering so that we could be forgiven of our sin and provided with eternal life.  Our provision is Jesus Christ and we have put our faith in Him and Him alone.

3.  Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ.

We move from justification (salvation) to sanctification (holy living).  We rely on the Holy Spirit to understand God's Holy Word on how we are to live.  We are in submission to Him.  We seek to obey and be ever growing in those things that God loves.  The event of salvation is now transferring into the process of living out that salvation from day to day in our God honoring actions.

4.  Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability.

The place we work out our salvation, our sanctification, is with God's family.  We are making a vow of participation in worship and service.  We are entering the process of discipleship with others who are doing the same.  We actively join others in worship of God and we actively join others in service of God through its proclamation of the Gospel.

5.  Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

This last vow is all about submission.  We have the privilege to be connected to a local body of believers of Jesus Christ not only to worship and serve but also to be accountable to in relationship to our spiritual growth.  The government and discipline of the Church, set to the principles given to us in the Word, are administered to its members and we are putting ourselves under that provision of God.

So we acknowledge, we repent, we grow, we support, and we submit.  Or in light of our mission statement, we have come to know Jesus, we seek to grow in Him, we follow the command to go, and we display His love to others that they may know Jesus and the circle goes around and around.  These statements of faith are crucial in knowing a potential member's experience and intention.  I also think these statements of faith are also beneficial for members already to question if this is what we are doing now.  Let us pray.

"Lord, we do acknowledge our sin and need of a Savior.  We repent and receive forgiveness.  We rise in obedience to be sanctified by living out holy lives that glorify You.  We join up with others, Your family, who are doing the same.  We submit to Your use of the church to keep us on the straight and narrow.  May these be our continuing vows.  Amen."

Pastor Adam