Should We Practice Church Membership?

The NT indicates that the church should practice what we call church membership. The church knew who its members were and were not by what they believed and how they lived. While this practice may look more formal or informal from one congregation to the next, it is a practice that exists to one degree or another in every healthy, biblical church. Below are a few strands of evidence from the NT that together make a strong argument for church membership.

Lists: The early chu

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Some Reminders on Forgiveness

Colossians 3:12–13 uses the language of clothing in reference to virtue. In short, we clothe ourselves with Christ (cf. Romans 13:14), and, more specifically, we “put on” virtues like “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” We are also to “put on… bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.” The Lord’s forgiveness of us is our example for how to forgive one another. 

“Bearing with one another” assum

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Our Definitive and Progressive Sanctification

Union with Christ breaks the power of sin, diminishes its practice, empowers righteous living, and ensures progress therein. This transfer of power from sin to Christ definitive, and the believer simultaneously begins his progress in practical sanctification. 

A number of passages bear out these truths. First, in Romans 6, “our old self was crucified with Him” in order that “we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, 6). On this basis, Paul commands us to consider o

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At the Tomb at the Resurrection and Thereafter: A Summary of Matthew 28:1–10, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–12, and John 20:1–18

Early on the first day of the week, it was still dark, and the light had not yet come up. Jesus lay where it was even darker and quieter than outside. Jesus’ body had known no physical decay (cf. Ps 16:10–11). Whether in the tomb or at His resurrection, He had been healed of all but His five wounds (cf. John 20:20, 27). Then, He arose!

Jesus somehow maneuvered out of His linen cloths and left them lying in the tomb. He removed His face cloth, folded it up, and set it in a p

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Living Wisely in a World of Woe

The prophet Isaiah once spoke of Israel and Judah as worthless vineyard with nothing good to show God (Isaiah 5:1–7). God looked for the fruit of justice and righteousness and found the opposite instead (cf. Isaiah 5:7). Among God’s many “woes” against the nation for her sins (Isaiah 5:8–30), God stated, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). What God said then is what He could say to America today. It’s sad that it’s so easy to point out examples o

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A Parable of Christ and His Church

From 1 Corinthians 12:12–26, Ephesians 4:15–16, and Colossians 2:18–19.

Once upon a time, there was a heavenly Head. It cleansed a body for itself with blood and would remove the remains of filth in time. The Head guided the body with its authority, spirit, and words. The body listened to the Head, held fast, and grew stronger every day. Individual parts worked in harmony, wisdom for angels to see—hands and feet, eyes and ears, joints and ligaments and all. The body would w

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The Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, Worship, and Rest

A Day to Worship: From Saturday to Sunday: In the Old Testament, God created for six days and rested on the seventh. He also blessed this seventh day and made it holy (Genesis 2:1–3). Later, God commanded Israel to remember the Sabbath day by setting it apart for rest and worship, “a Sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:8–11; cf. Leviticus 23:3). This day was also to be a sign of God’s covenant with His nation (Exodus 31:12–17).

In the New Testament, the church had a da

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Is Going to War Ever Just?

Russia is mauling Ukraine, a painful sight to watch. What should America do? We instinctively desire justice and want to cry to our leaders, “Send in the troops!” But the answer is not so simple. At the moment, many countries are attempting to help Ukraine through negotiations and compromise or are using economic measures to deter Russia from its war. These countries applaud Ukraine’s defense of its people while attempting to avoid war for themselves. When is it just for a

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A Caricature and Critique of the Theologies of Praise & Worship and Contemporary Christian Music

The theology of Praise & Worship music began in the mid- to late-1940s. As a congregation obeyed the command to praise God (Heb 13:15), He would come down and inhabit their praises (Ps 22:3b), just as He inhabited the tabernacles of Moses and David. King David was often described as the prototypical worshiper. This theology was continuationist from the outset and expected sign-gifts to occur once God’s presence came down. Members might to clap, dance, shout, speak in tongu

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God Created Everything in Six Days and Rested on the Seventh

Many theologians have attempted to bend one knee to the so-called science of evolution and another to the Bible by somehow fitting millions of years into Genesis 1–2.

Some claim that Genesis 1–2 is poetry, fancifully telling us that God created all things. This overarching point is good enough, and the details need not be literal, especially if evolution and its millions of years can thus be inserted into these chapters. Science swallows the text. Why not go one step furthe

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Holiness and Separation from Disagreeing Brethren

We have seen that we must separate from unbelievers who claim to be Christians and from Christians whose disobedience contradicts their faith. This week we will consider separation due to disagreement and separation from sin and the world. 

Sometimes Christians disagree with one another over people or what to do. It is not a matter of unbelief or disobedience, but their disagreement practically limits their fellowship and cooperation to a degree. For example, Barnabas and P

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Holiness and Separation from Disobedient Brethren

Last week, we saw that Scripture commands us as a local church not partner with unbelief. If we find that sister churches or missionaries walk away from the gospel, we should separate from them and avoid such people, as difficult as that may be. This week, we look at separation from disobedient brethren. 

Three key verses from the passage in 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 teach us to be “set apart as a local church from all affiliations, fellowship, and cooperation from professing

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Holiness and Separation from Unbelievers

Our church confession calls for holiness and separation in three ways. This article and others to follow will remind us of what we believe and explain the Scriptures behind these beliefs. 

Some of the Scriptures cited in our church confession indicate that we must be “set apart as a local church from all affiliations, fellowship, and cooperation with those who deny the cardinal doctrines of the true Christian faith.”

First, 2 Corinthians 6:14–17 states this: 14 Do not be une

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Finding Hope Even in the Grief of Losing Life

Facing the loss of one’s life can be painful. On the night before His death, Jesus sobbed “loud cries and tears” in the garden and “offered up prayers and supplications… to Him who was able to save Him from death” (Heb 5:7; cf. Matt 26:36–46). 

Losing a loved one is painful as well. Sometimes the news of someone’s passing can be too much to bear. When the sinful Phinehas died and the ark of the covenant was captured, upon hearing the news, his father Eli fell over from grie

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Enough! (Part 2 of 2)

Last week, we considered from Philippians 3:4–11 and 4:11–13 that contentment is found in Christ. When we know Him, His righteousness, His power for living, and have hope in the coming resurrection, it is enough. We can never say “it is enough” because of something earthly, whether it be our position or the possessions of this life. 

Continuing on, this week is just a short consideration of one further point. 

Paul knew his life and future with Christ was enough. Take his wo

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