A Saved Membership

1THESS. 1:1-4

Subject: A Strong Church 

Theme: The Church of the Thessalonians is a positive example because of its leadership, members, teaching, service, and God’s work among them. The Thessalonians provide us with a wonderful model to imitate.

Introduction:  

That the membership of a New Testament Church would be comprised of saved individuals should be a given…right? Yes, you would think so…. It makes sense to me that many different peoples at very different places in their personal spiritual journeys would darken the doors of a church. The worshiper, the seeker, the curious, the seasoned, the churched, the recent convert and even the skeptic may all have their occasions for attending a church service. To be sure all are wanted, and the church would rejoice to welcome any and all visitors to a given worship service. For a church to sustain a warm and welcoming environment is completely consistent with godly character and a desire to serve the community for Christ’s sake.

The issue I raise is that of ignoring the need for a genuine conversion experience, the requirement of biblical baptism, and the expressed submission to the Spirit of God’s leadership to unite with a specific body of believers. Commitment is a dirty word in the 21^st Century, but God still requires real commitment in conversion, baptism, and church membership. Every believer should have a basic conviction that the Spirit of God led them and placed them in a local church body. Every NT church should have a standard requirement for becoming a church member. The most fundamental requirement is salvation—conversion—candidates for baptism and membership must be people who know the Lord Jesus as Savior.

This is not a recent emerging view, Paul addresses the Church at Thessalonica as saved people who were growing in their commitment to Jesus Christ. First recall some observations from previous articles about a Strong Church Model.

Lesson:

I.  A Strong Church Has Faithful Ministers.  Vs 1, 2

1Thes 1:1, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus… 

II. A Strong Church Exists in the Sphere Of God’s Power. Vs 1

1Thes 1:1, … unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

III. A Strong Church Engages in Energetic Service.  Vs 3

1Thes 1:3, Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

  

IV. A Strong Church Has a Saved Membership.  Vs 4

1Thes 1:4, Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. How can one know he is truly saved?

Paul refers to the church members’ “election of God.” They were genuinely saved folks who were committed to Christ and his church at Thessalonica. They were even suffering some persecution because of their sincere witness and authenticity. These believers were chosen by God; they belonged to the Father who called them unto himself. 

This is the marvelous teaching of election, a doctrine that has confused some and confounded others. A seminary professor once said, “Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you may lose your soul!” (Wiersbe)

In the following thoughts I want to note the simple truth that church members are saved people. No, they are not perfect; in fact, in order to be saved they had to admit their sinfulness. It is here that we witness the ministry of God in a believer’s conversion. Note three vital facts:

1.     The Fact That God Has Chosen us in Grace (Eph 1:4-6).

a.       What Election Is.

                                                               i.      That salvation begins with God, and not with man, all Christians will agree. “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16 see also Matt 9:12-13). The lost sinner, left to his own ways, does not seek God (Rom 3:10-11; 1Cor. 2:14); God in His love seeks the sinner (Luke 19:10; John 6:44, 65).

                                                               ii.      Election teaches that God does choose men to salvation (2Thess. 2:13-14). It addresses believers as those who are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Pet. 1:2).  It teaches that people can know whether they are elect by their response to the gospel: those who hear and believe are elect (1Thess. 1:4-7).

                                                              iii.      The fact is the same Bible teaches election and free salvation to all who will receive it. Both doctrines are found in a single verse: “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The first half of the verse speaks of God’s sovereign choice; the last half extends the offer of mercy to all. (MacDonald)

2. What Election Is Not.

                                                               i.      On the other hand, the Bible never teaches that God chooses men to be lost.  The fact that He chooses some to be saved does not imply that He arbitrarily condemns all the rest.  He never condemns men who deserve to be saved (there are none), but He does save some who ought to be condemned.  Compare Rom. 9:23 to 9:22.  God prepares vessels of mercy to glory, but He does not prepare men for destruction: they do this for themselves by their unbelief. God simply respects their decision. (Wiersbe)

                                                              ii.      The doctrine of election lets God be God. He is sovereign, that is, He can do as He pleases, although He never pleases to do anything unjust. If left alone, all men would be lost. Does God have the right to show mercy to some?

                                                            iii.      But there is another side to the story. The same Bible that teaches sovereign election also teaches human responsibility. No one can use the doctrine of election as an excuse for not being saved. God makes a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; Rom. 10:9, 13). Anyone can be saved by repenting of his sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if a person is lost, it is because he chooses to be lost, not because God desires it.

                                                            iv.      This poses a difficulty for the human mind. How can God choose some and yet offer salvation freely to all men? Frankly, this is a mystery. But the mystery is on our side, not on God’s. The best policy for us is to believe both doctrines because the Bible teaches both. The truth is not found somewhere between election and man’s free will, but in both extremes. W. G. Blaikie summarizes:

Divine sovereignty, human responsibility and the free and universal offer of mercy are all found in Scripture, and though we are unable to harmonize them by our logic, they all ought to have a place in our minds. –MacDonald, William: Believer's Bible Commentary

2.     The Fact That the Chosen are Changed by Grace.

a.       The Way We Were Chosen. How did God choose his people? (Eph. 1:4)

                                                             i.      Before All Creation—“before the foundation of the world.” The time of God’s election is indicated to be before He created the universe, so that our salvation is wholly of His grace and not on the basis of anything we ourselves have done.

1.       The doctrine of election teaches that we are saved only because of God’s grace and mercy; as believers we are not saved by our own merit.

2.       Election and predestination focus on God’s purpose or will (Eph. 1:5, 9, 11), not on ours. God does not save us because we deserve it but because he graciously and freely gives salvation. We did not influence God’s decision to save us; he saved us according to his plan. Thus, we may not take credit for our salvation or take pride in our wise choice (Rev. 17:8). (Wiersbe)

                                                            ii.      He chose us in Christ, not in ourselves (Eph 1:3). There is the positional aspect of the truth, in Him: it is in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus that all God’s purposes for His people are brought to pass.

b.      The Reason We Were Chosen.

                                                             i.      We have a clear purpose of holiness: to be “holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph. 1:4).

1.      In the Bible, election is always unto something. It is a privilege that carries a great responsibility. The purpose is that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

2.      This purpose will not be completely realized until we are with Him in heaven (1 John 3:2), but the process should be going on continually in our lives down here.

3.      Perhaps we all should pray, “Lord, make me holy now, since this is Your eventual purpose for me. Amen.”

                                                             ii.      We have a clear motive of love.  Love fits well with holiness and blamelessness, for this would denote a balance between holiness and love. God is love and believers, because of God’s electing love, should manifest love with holiness. 

                                                            iii.      We have a certain appointment to share the glory of Christ. 

1.      2Thess. 2:14, Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      God called us to salvation by using the gospel as it was preached. God’s purpose in doing so was that we might one day share the splendor and honor that Jesus Christ now enjoys, seated at the right hand of the Father (2Thess. 1:10-12).

3.      For the “obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here the apostle peers into the future and sees the ultimate outcome of salvation—to be with Christ and be like Him forever. J. N. Darby captures the thought in his beautiful hymn:

a.      And is it so—I shall be like Thy Son?

Is this the grace which He for me has won?

Father of glory, thought beyond all thought!

In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!—Believer's Bible Commentary

3.     The Fact That People Believe and are Fruitful.

a.       Paul Knew That These Believers Were Among the Elect.   But How Did He Know?

                                                               i.      He Knew Because They Received the Gospel (1Thess. 1:4).

1.      II Th 2:13-14, But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2.      Eph 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

3.      It strengthens a church greatly when every member is truly saved and has evidence in their lives of genuine salvation. Assurance is essential to spiritual strength.

                                                             ii.      He Knew Because of Their Christian Service (1Thess 1:3).

1.      1Thes 1:3, Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

2.      A genuine conversion should always lead to good works! Titus 3:8, This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

2. Is the Sinner Forced to Respond to God’s Grace Against His Will?

                                                              i.      No, we responded through an act of our choice and will (Jn. 1:11-12). Certainly, this must be in the context of God’s Spirit and the Word of God working in the heart convicting and persuading us.  But, this is not in any way irresistible grace (Matt. 23:37).

                                                             ii.      It is the sinner who must exercise faith (Isa. 45:22; John 3:15, 16; Rom. 1:16; 10:11-13; 2Pet. 3:9; 1John 2:2).

                                                            iii.      The mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility will never be solved in this life. Both are taught in the Bible (John 6:37). Both are true, and both are essential.

Conclusion:

Yes, this is a great model of a strong church.  We would be wise to follow their example of:

I. Serving as faithful ministers

II. Existing in the sphere and power of God

III. Engaging in energetic service

IV. Sustaining a saved membership

So, again these were truly saved folks. While they belong to the local community they had a personal faith encounter with Jesus Christ that made them a part of God’s family. Being a member of God’s family subsequently led to joining Christ’s body—the Church at Thessalonica. Only saved individuals could become members. Yes, anyone can attend a church and benefit in many ways, but membership is exclusively for those saved, and biblically baptized converts, who follow the Spirit’s leadership to unite or join the church. It is a specific commitment. If you have never made this commitment as a saved person, then you need to. I did not say all churches are the same; I did not say the church you consider must be perfect. There are no perfect churches, but trust God’s Spirit to lead you to join the church of his desire for you. He places the members in the body.

What should we look for when considering a home church? Look for a church with leaders serving as faithful ministers of Christ. Join a congregation that understands it exists in the sphere or God’s power and grace. The church’s first identification and obligation are to Christ and not the community. Choose a church that manifests the characteristics of working in faith, serving in love, and enduring because of hope in Christ. A place that makes much of Jesus Christ, proclaims the entire Bible, develops committed witnesses and disciples, emphasizes the importance of walking in the Spirit, and reaches out to its community and the world with the Gospel is worth considering. Join, learn, grow, and serve with the people of God.

In light of our calling, pursue this spiritual ideal. Recognize that we are in constant danger of being swept downstream by the currents of our ungodly culture. We are also prone to let the truths we know and the relationships we enjoy with God grow cold. We need to vigorously pursue what we have been taught from God’s Word. Refuse to succumb to the danger of slipping backward in your Christian experience because of the pressures of your trials and the daily negative influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Pursue this goal of becoming strong churches with a saved membership.