Church Covenant: What Is Required Of Church Members ? Part 1
1 Cor. 12:18-27 ,Acts 11:25-26
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Congregation stand and read covenant:
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
What is a covenant ? A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between members of a church that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel in brotherly affection.
Joke:
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ’Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
The covenant that we have just read is the covenant for most every baptist church. It is the covenant of The Rock Baptist Church ! And if this is the covenant of this church, then we should abide by it. We should be responsible to it, and accountable to each other !
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at scripture, and at this covenant, to see what is required of the members of this according to the word of God, and the churchs covenant.
This morning I want us to look at the first paragraph.
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
I. The People Agreeing
This covenant is an agreement or a promise made between a group of people. These people are.....
a. Led by the Spirit.
This covenant is for those who have been led by the Spirit of God to believe on Christ. Did you know that you can’t even come to Jesus on your own ? If the spirit of God did not draw you, you would not come.
No one has ever been saved apart from the convicting work of the Spirit of God ! We believe in a regenerated church membership ! What does that mean ? It means that our church membership should not contain folks who believe in a work your way to heaven theology, or baptismal regeneration. We don’t want folks joining this church who are unsaved !
This church covenant is for those who have been led of the Spirit of God ! Do you believe that ?
b. Professed faith in Christ.
Why do folks join the church ? Various reasons.
I know some folks that have joined certain churches for political reasons. They want to be involved so it’ll look good on their political resume. Heard of a local guy who belonged to a church, and when he ran his campaign ad, he included that info........yet the pastor of the church hadn’t seen him at church in years !
There are folks who join the church for family reasons ! The mentality of some is........My granddaddy helped to hold the lumber, and hammer the nails that hold this bldg. together. All my folks have gone to this church, and I want my name on the roll too. It’s like a family tradition ! Now they ain’t nothing wrong with family traditions ! But don’t join the church to keep a family tradition, because it want get you to heaven !
I would imagine there are some folks that have joined churches just to get noticed ! Listen, if you are a member of this church, you should be saved, and if you’re not you ought to get saved this morning. I’m sure on our church roll there are a bunch of folks that have never been converted. How do I know ? Because I ain’t never seen some of them. I don’t believe that lost folks should join the church, and I don’t believe that saved folk should stay home from it ! Amen ? Listen, I’ve been at this church for over 3 years now, and I’ve still got church members that I ain’t seen. I wouldn’t know them from Adam’s housecat if they walked in the door ! Something ain’t right about that picture ! A church member should be saved, and if their saved, they ought to be in the house of God, and if they ain’t.....something ain’t right ! This covenant is for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ !
c. Baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Joke: A man is stumbling through the woods totally drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol, whereupon he asks the drunk, "Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk answers, "Yes, I am."So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him up and asks the drunk, "Brother, have you found Jesus?" The drunk replies, "No, I haven’t found Jesus." The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again for a little longer this time. He again pulls him out of the water and asks again, "Have you found Jesus, my brother?" the drunk again answers, "No, I haven’t found Jesus."By this time the preacher is at his wits end and dunks the drunk in the water again -- but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds and when he begins kicking his arms and legs he pulls him up. The preacher again asks the drunk, "For the love of God, have you found Jesus?" The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?
That’s a funny story, but it brings a point to mind.
You need to find Jesus......know him personally before you’re baptized. Salvation preceeds baptism ! As a baptist church, we require people to be baptized in order to become a member, but I want to make sure that you understand that baptism will not save you...will not wash away your sins........it is only the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanse us of our sins. What is the importance of baptism, and why should a person be baptized ?
Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a outward expression of what Christ has done in our hearts. It is for identification purposes ! A saved person by being baptized is identifying himself or herself with Christ through baptism.
Story: Ivan the Great was tsar of Russia during the 15th century. He was a brilliant military strategist who used this to unite Russia. However, he had become so consumed by his military career and campaigns that he had never married, and thus there was no heir to the throne. His concerned advisors gained permission to search for a suitable wife, and after a careful search, it was agreed that Ivan would marry the daughter of the King of Greece. There was a condition placed upon this marriage. Ivan must become a member of the Greek Orthodox church. Ivan indicated that he was willing to do so, and so a priest was sent to Moscow to instruct Ivan in the Orthodox doctrine. Once this was done, Ivan along with 500 of his most skilled soldiers made their way to Athens. Upon arrival in Athens Ivan was to be baptised into the Orthodox church. His soldiers who had always been loyal to their leader asked to be baptized along with him. After a crash course in the Orthodox faith, they too were ready for baptism. Ivan and his 500 soldiers were thus baptized in a mass baptism which was attended by huge crowds from all over Greece. Can you imagine that scene ?
Wouldn’t it have been exciting to see such a sight ?
Yet, if Ivan and his soldiers did not come to faith in Christ prior to baptism, then their baptism was absolutely worthless. Baptism want save you ! If you go down into the waters of Baptism unsaved, you will be no closer to God, no closer to being saved when you come up !
The people for whom this church covenant is intended is those who have been led by the Spirit of God to salvation in the Lord Jesus, and as a result of that salvation have followed the Lord in believers baptism.
II. The Presence Affirming.
Notice the witnesses to this covenant.
a. Before God
When we sign important documents, we are almost always required to have a witness to that signing. Their signature certifies that they witnessed our signing, and that the signature on the document is ours, and thus we are accountable. Let me tell you this covenant is one that is witnessed by God ! It is one that we have acknowledged before him that we will do, and keep. I believe we are accountable before God for those things that we promise to him.
Let me tell you that God is a promise keeping God. He keeps his covenants. He is good to his word. What he has spoken he will perform. God expects his people to be a promise keeping people ! He expects us to keep the covenants that we make ! He expects us to do what we have said that we will do.
Don’t make a promise to God that you do not plan on keeping ! He will hold us accountable !
b. Before Angels
c. Before each other.
The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which one should have the present. "Who is the most obedient?" he asked. "Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?" Five small voices answered in unison. "Okay, dad, you get the toy."
The church covenant is an agreement that we have entered into before God, before his angels, and before each other. We are witnesses of each other.
We should thus hold each other accountable, and be encouraging in our keeping of this covenant !
III. The Participants Attitude
a. with Solemnity
This covenant is one that should be entered into with seriousness. It is not something to take lightly. They are not just mere words on a piece of paper. This is our church covenant. It is a promise to God, and to each other as to what we believe, and how we should behave. It is a promise before God as to how we shall treat each other !
b. with joy
Though this covenant is a serious matter, it is one that should be entered into and exercised with joy. This covenant binds us together as a church. It commits us to be accountable, and responsible to and for each other. It is for our own as well as the church’s well being. Thus, it should be entered into, and exercised with joy. There is nothing more joyful than believers worshipping, working, and fellowshiping together. That is what this covenant promotes !
c. with unity
This covenant encourages unity, and cooperation.
We are all members of the body of Christ who have trusted him as Lord & Savior, and we as a local assembly of that body are to work together in unity, and harmony to advance the work of God.
