As some of you are aware, I am an ordained minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. For the past four years, I have had the privilege of teaching a class of my fellow ministers from our Church Discipline at our annual Church School Convention. Our Discipline is a document that contains our Articles of Faith and bylaws. This year I chose to teach on how our denomination admits members. Below is a skeletel outline of the teaching.
1. ADMISSION BY LETTER
a. Courtesy
Each church owes the other the courtesy of sending a letter or asking for a letter.
b. Connection
By presenting a letter, the prospective church member is expressing a desire to connect with a church of like faith.
c. Continuation
The letter enables a prospective church member to join another church without a break in membership.
d. Commendation
The letter is basically a note of commendation which certifies the person’s character and standing with their previous church.
2. ADMISSION BY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
a. Communication
A person without a letter should clearly communicate to their new church an account of their conversion and Christian life. If this is not clearly communicated, then the church in which they desire membership has no basis to admit them.
b. Confession
The new member should make a public confession of faith in Christ (not to become a Christian because they have already trusted Christ as Savior and Lord) before the church they wish to join.
3. ADMISSION BY BAPTISM
a. Candidacy
The person seeks admission in the universal Church and the local Church. He is a seeker.
b. Confession
The Bible is clear that before one is saved he must confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The word confession simply means to agree with the Word about who Jesus Christ is. (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 16:16)
c. Conversion
Conversion occurs when one believes the Gospel. Dr. Lorraine Boettner defines the Gospel as, “The good news about the great salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled sinful men to a holy God.” Mark Dever says the Gospel is about how God “graciously sent His Son to die the death we deserved for our sin, and He has credited Christ's acquittal to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection.”
d. Ceremony
1. ADMISSION BY LETTER
a. Courtesy
Each church owes the other the courtesy of sending a letter or asking for a letter.
b. Connection
By presenting a letter, the prospective church member is expressing a desire to connect with a church of like faith.
c. Continuation
The letter enables a prospective church member to join another church without a break in membership.
d. Commendation
The letter is basically a note of commendation which certifies the person’s character and standing with their previous church.
2. ADMISSION BY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
a. Communication
A person without a letter should clearly communicate to their new church an account of their conversion and Christian life. If this is not clearly communicated, then the church in which they desire membership has no basis to admit them.
b. Confession
The new member should make a public confession of faith in Christ (not to become a Christian because they have already trusted Christ as Savior and Lord) before the church they wish to join.
3. ADMISSION BY BAPTISM
a. Candidacy
The person seeks admission in the universal Church and the local Church. He is a seeker.
b. Confession
The Bible is clear that before one is saved he must confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The word confession simply means to agree with the Word about who Jesus Christ is. (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 16:16)
c. Conversion
Conversion occurs when one believes the Gospel. Dr. Lorraine Boettner defines the Gospel as, “The good news about the great salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled sinful men to a holy God.” Mark Dever says the Gospel is about how God “graciously sent His Son to die the death we deserved for our sin, and He has credited Christ's acquittal to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection.”
d. Ceremony
Baptism is a ceremony, a Christian rite. Properly administered, it is to follow conversion. Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward work of grace. This inward work of grace is the salvation of an undeserving sinner who has placed his trust in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. (Matthew 28:18-19)
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