The Doctrine of the Church VIII

Review : Church Membership

Reasons People Don't Join

• I don't want to be disciplined
• I don't want accountability
• I don't want to serve
• There are hypocrites here
• I'm not perfect
• It's just God and me and we don't need the local church

Biblical Response

• Follow the Head
• Seek membership
• Reaffirm your commitment
• If there is Scriptural & doctrinal error find a like faith church and join it

What Constitutes a “Real” Church

• How can we tell if a church is True Church and not a counterfeit?

  • Lutheran
  • Calvin
  • Roman Catholic

• What is the defining comparison? Thoughts?

  • The Gospel?

• What is the difference between a Bible Study and a Church?

• Officers

• Administering the Sacraments

Baptism

What is Baptism?

• The word literally means to immerse

• Baptism is an a symbolic picture of our union with Christ's death, burial and resurrection

• Who should be baptized?

  • The NT would seem to indicate that those who are believers should be baptized

• What about Infant Baptism?

• Is Baptism needed and what does it really do?