The Church Covenant
AIM:
To show what the members of a Baptist Church agree to be and do as saved people organized together for the propagation of the gospel
POINT OF CONTACT:
When people join our church, what responsibilities do they immediately take upon themselves. Allow for answers. Today we are going to study these responsibilities.
INTRODUCTION:
This covenant is actually what we agree to do, when we unite with a New Testament Baptist Church. It is worthy of note that it is a Church Covenant and therefore it is for the church members to believe and subscribe to.
I. The Church Covenant
(Below is a text of the Church 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 Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God 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 devotions, to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of 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 of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage; 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 one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian 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.
II. The Teachings of the Covenant
A. The obligation of the individual is given in the first paragraph.
1. To be a saved person. Unsaved people should not become members.
2. To have received Scriptural Baptism. Those whose Baptism have not met the four scriptural requirements should not be members.
3. Such persons enter into agreement (covenant) with each other to form a church or become a member of a church.
4. Note that the local church is the "body of Christ."
B. The obligation of each individual to the church is given in paragraphs 2,3, and 4.
1. "Walk together in Christian love" (I Corinthians 13:1-8a, 13; Romans 12:9; Proverbs 10;12; Psalm 133:1; I Thessalonians 4:9; James 1:27; Ephesians 4:32; 5:1)
2. "To strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort
a. Knowledge (I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:11-16; II Timothy 2:15)
b. Holiness (Ephesians 5:25-27, 4:11; 15; II Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 1:4; 2:21,22; I Thessalonians 4:7; 5:5)
c. Comfort (I Thessalonians 4:18a "Comfort one another..." We should do those things that would bring comfort to each of our brothers and sisters in the church. cf. I Timothy 3:2 "given to hospitality." This was to be one of the qualifications of a Pastor. All of us should be hospitable to each other. There is no room in a local church for hard feelings between folks (Matthew 18:15-17) cf "Bear ye one another's burdens..." (Galatians 6:2-10) CF II Corinthians 13:11.
3. "To promote its prosperity and spirituality" (Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 5;12-14; 4:36,37; I Corinthians 1:10; 10:31)
4. "To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines"
a. Worship (I Corinthians 10:31; Hebrews 10;25; Matthew 28:18-20.
b. Ordinances ( I Corinthians 11:2 "Keep means guard" I Corinthians 11:, 24, 25); The Church is commanded to partake of the Lord's Supper. Note, "this do." The Great Commission commands the church to baptize.
c. Discipline (Matthew 18:15-19; I Corinithians 5; I Thessalonians 5:14,15; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14,15; Romans 16:17)
d. Doctrines (Jude 3, 4; Romans 16:17; II Timothy 1:13; 4:7c; I Timothy 6:20, 21; 4:16; II Thessalonians 3:6)
5. "To contribute cheerfully and regularly" (Malachi 3:8-10; II Corinthians 8:6-7; I Timothy 5:17, 18; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Luke 16:9)
C. The family obligations of church members is given in paragraph 5.
1. "Maintain family and secret devotions" (Deuteronomy 6:4-25; Note, especially verse 20 and 21; I Thessalonians 1:2; Colossians 1:3, Philipians 1:3,4)
2. "To religiously educate our children" (Deuteronomy 6:4-25; Proverbs 1:1-4:1)
3. "To seek the salvation of kindred acquaintances" (Acts 1:8)
D. The relationship of church members to each other is described in paragraphs 6 and 7.
1. "To walk circumspectly in the world" (Ephesians 5:15-17; Colossians 4:5)
2. "To be just in our dealings, faithful..., exemplary..." (James 2:2-9; 1:16,22)
3. "To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger" (Ephesians 4:15a, 22-26; Proverbs 10:18; 11:13; 20:19; Leviticus 19:16)
4. "To abstain from the sale of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage" (Hebrews 2:15; Provers 23:29-35)
5. "To be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour" (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15)
6. "To watch over one another in brotherly love" (Acts 6:1-7; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:32 - 5:2)
7. "To remember one another in prayer" (James 5:16)
8. "To aid one another in sickness and distress (James 5:16; 1:27; Galatians 6:2)
9. "To cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech" (Ephesians 4:29-32)
10. "Slow to take offense and always ready to seek reconciliation (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15-18)
E. The responsibility of the member when leaving a church is given in paragraph 8. The Bible speaks of Christians being candles (Matthew 5:14; Proverbs 20:27a). The normal and most useful place for a candle is a candlestick. The Bible teaches that a candlestick is the local church (Revelation 1:11-20).
In the New Testament churches it seems evident that there were church rolls (Acts 1:15) Also, in I Corinthians chapter 5, Paul urged the church to judge and exclude some members which would necessitate these folks belonging to that local church.
The Bible also indicates that letters of recommendation were sent to churches when a church member from a local church was going to another area (III John 12; Ephesians 6:21,22).
A Christian cannot carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word apart from the local church. Hence, we are out of the Lord's will when we are not a part or a member of a local scriptural New Testament Church.
CONCLUSION:
As a church member, are you living up to this covenant? If not, where are you failing? Answer the question on the question sheet and you will soon know.
QUESTIONS:
1. Do I really fulfill the Scriptural requirements necessary to be a member of a Scriptural Baptist Church? Eg. Am I saved and if so, have I been scripturally baptized?
2. What does the church covenant say a local church is?
3. What is a church covenant?
4. Do I love all of the Christians in my church?
5. Do I work and pray for the advancement of my church?
6. Do I have any hard feelings or unkind thoughts toward any member in my church?
7. Am I hospitable and kind to every other member?
8. Do I put my approval upon its worship services by my faithful and regular attendance?
9. Do I partake of the Lord's Supper when the church provides the opportunity?
10. Do I deem my church's doctrinal beliefs to be more similar to the doctrinal beliefs of the New Testament Church than any other?
11. Do I contribute regularly and cheerfully to the support of my church and its work?
12. Do I have a regular and private devotional time each day?
13. Does my family have family devotions?
14. Am I trying to get people saved?
15. Am I walking cautiously in the world?
16. Am I successful in not gossiping?
17. Do I abstain from the use of and sale of intoxicating beverages?
18. Do I pray regularly for my fellow church members?
19. If someone in the church would offend me, would I be strong enough to go to that one and discuss it in meekness?
20. Am I determined that if I move from this area, I will as soon as possible unite with another Scriptural New Testament Church?
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