The idea that a person “joins a church” is a common religious misunderstanding. One places membership at a congregation of the Lord’s church indicating that they are a part of that local body of Christ. In doing so they have placed themselves under that congregation’s eldership and are committed to serve in that congregation. Yet, it is very plainly taught in the scriptures that the process of being saved is the process of entering the church (Acts 2:47).
- It is taught in (Acts 4:12; 2 Tim 1:10, 2:10) that salvation is in Jesus Christ. To be in Christ is to be in the church because the church is referred to as the “body of Christ” (Col 1:18; Eph 1:22). We are placed in the Lord’s church when we are saved (Acts 2:47), and we are saved by repenting of sin and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the symbolic act that places one in the church (Gal 3:26-27).
- Paul teaches that Christ is “the Savior of the body” (Eph 5:23) and that we as His church are the bride of Christ (Eph 5:25). He washed it and sanctified it, cleansed and saved it, purchased it with His blood and redeemed it, reconciles us to God in it, and adds all the saved to it. Therefore, out of the church there is no cleansing, no blood, no redemption, no reconciliation to God and no salvation.
- The relation between Jesus and His church is similar as the relationship between the Father and the Son. (Col 1:19) says Christ is the fullness of God, and (Eph 1:22) says that the church is the fullness of Christ. Therefore, no person can come to Christ and be saved and ignore the church for the same reason that no man can come to the Father and ignore Christ. Are you a member of the Lord’s church? If you are saved then you have repented of sin and have been baptized for the forgiveness of sins and by doing so have been placed in the church. God adds us to His church. We do not join a church.