Hour 1: Returning to guest host on this Dividing Line broadcast I was able to walk through numerous New Testament texts which only make sense in the light of formal Church membership.
Hour 2: Having previously established that formal Church Membership is a biblical mandate and requirement, I then discussed what it entails as God’s intended blessing for disciples of Christ.
Hour 3: The Guardrail of the Creeds: While never rising to the same authority as sacred Scripture (which alone is the word of God), the ancient creeds and confessions of the Church have served the people of God through the ages as concise and precise summaries of what the Bible teaches on very vital matters. These include, amongst others, the doctrine of God, the person and work of Christ, how a man is justified in God’s sight as well as the doctrine of last things (eschatology). On this Dividing Line, I taught on the practical value of the ancient Creeds and Confessions of the Church.
Church membership is an unavoidable attribute of the Elect. The organizational structure of the fellowship as specified in the bible serves the purpose of care and feeding of the elect. Evangelism serves the purpose of collecting the elect. There are always administrative details involved, we’re glad that God provides that gift as well. The third rail that must be avoided is legalism. It’s so easy to fall into , and then make justification for after having done so.
1Co_4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
Creeds can be helpful, but we must also be careful about becoming legalistic about those as well as our traditions. Examine everything.