The
1689 Confession of Faith - A midweek bible study notes
Chapter
26 - Of the Church
1689.26.12 Membership with a Local Church
Recapitulation:
a. Chapter 26 is divided into two major sections: paragraphs 1-4 deal with the
universal church, while paragraphs 5-15 deal with the local churches on the
following matters:
-
Para 5: The Divine Mandate of the local churches
-
Para 6: The Membership Ordained by Christ in each local church
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Para 7: The Power and Authority Vested by Christ in each local church
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Para 8: The Government Appointed by Christ in each local church
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Para 9: The Calling and Commission of Officers in a local church
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Para 10: The Priority of the Ordained Ministry of the word in a local church
-
Para 11: The Ministry of the word by other Men in a local church
b.
The Implications of the Local Church Government (26:12-13)
-
The membership with the local church (26:12).
-
The orderly conduct in the local church (26:13).
c.
The Inter-Church Fellowship of Local Churches (26:14-15)
-
The divine mandate for the fellowship among local churches.
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The providential limitation to the fellowship of churches.
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The spiritual benefits of the fellowship of local churches.
-
The special advantages of the fellowship of local churches.
(1689.26.12)
As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and
where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges
of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to
the rule of Christ.
(1
Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6,14,15)
Membership with a local church gathered according to the mind of Christ
1.
Membership with the Local Church is a duty owed to Christ
a.
“As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches …”
-
This matter has already been stated in para 5, ''Those thus called, He commands
to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual
edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which He requires
of them in the world.”
-
Para 6: “The members of these churches are saints by calling…”
-
Para 8, “A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to
the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members…”
-
The confession of His Lordship and the duty of subjection to the rule of Christ
necessarily requires all believers to join a local church gathered according to
the Lord's mind. Obedience to Christ starts here – baptism and admission into a
local church.
b.
The present paragraph states explicitly what is already assumed before, namely,
the duty of uniting oneself to a local church and be subjected to the
government of a biblically constituted local church appointed by Christ.
-
“All believers”: all who bear the name of Christ as their Lord and Saviour,
none excepted.
-
“… are bound” are required, under obligation, commanded by Christ, a duty owed
to Christ.
-
“… to join themselves…” The onus is on them to do what is expected of them; the
church of Christ is not expected to beg them to join. All believers, those who
bear His name as Christians. ought to see it as their duty and devotion to
Christ they confess as Lord and Saviour.
-
“… when and where they have opportunity so to do…”: here is a concession and an
acknowledgement of being providentially hindered, for various reasons.
-
See the membership with a local church as a duty and privilege, make the
opportunity to do so and then render the obedience to honour Christ. The Lord
inquires, “How much time do you need? What will it take? Settle them, and work
towards it!”
-
The monstrosity of “freelance” believers who are not in membership of a local
church, answerable and accountable to no one, is unknown in Scripture.
- A
churchless Christian is a MISNOMER!
2.
Membership is admission to the privileges of a local church of Christ
“…
so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church… according to the rule
of Christ”
a.
Membership with the local church is spoken of as admission into the privileges
of the church. Exclusion or ex-communication would mean exclusion from the
privileges of the church.
-
“all that are admitted”: whether male or female, poor or rich, whatever social
status… members are of equal standing as
far as privileges of a church are concerned.
b.
What are some privileges belonging to members of a local church of Jesus
Christ?
3.
Membership is willing and voluntary subjection to the rule instituted by Christ
“…
all that are admitted… are *also* under the censures and government thereof,
according to the rule of Christ.”
a.
Privileges and accountabilities go hand in hand. Joining the membership
automatically implies voluntary subjection to the government appointed by
Christ in the local church.
-
Rights and responsibilities are the two sides of the membership coin in a
church of Jesus Christ.
b.
“are also…” in addition to the admission unto the privileges of a church…
-
“the censures and government thereof…” the blessings of oversight instituted by
Christ in His church… through the ministry of the word, exhortation,
admonition, rebukes, correction, appeals, censures, etc.
-
“… according to the rule of Christ”: have no fear; this is a restriction upon
the nasty inclination of some to lord over the Lord’s heritage; the censures
and government in the church must be those according to the rule of Christ.
c.
Membership is BOTH obligatory and voluntarily
-
Obligatory because it is plainly commanded by Christ.
-
Voluntary because no one may be coerced against his conscience to unite with a
church.
====
A
concise and helpful definition of a local church: -
“A local church is a
congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized upon a credible profession
of faith, and voluntarily associate together under a special covenant for the
maintenance of worship, the truths, the ordinances, and the discipline, of the
gospel according to the word of God.”
- A local church is not a loose-knit of professing Christians but a covenanted society committed to the teaching and practising of all that Christ has commanded. It is a society in covenant with the Lord and with each other.
Christ, the Head of His church, has set the rules for both the admission into and the exclusion from His church.
