Q20. How Persons Become a Church of Christ

Quest. 20. By what means do persons so called become a Church of Christ?

Answ. They are constituted a Church, and interested in the rights, power, and priviledges of a Gospel-Church, by the will, promise, authority, and law of Jesus Christ, upon their own voluntary consent and engagement to walk together in the due subjection of their souls and consciences to his authority, as their King, Priest and Prophet, and in an holy observation of all his commands, ordinances, and appointments (Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:18, 19; Acts 2:41, 42; Exodus 24:3; Deuteronomy 5:27; Psalm 110:3; Isaiah 44:5; Isaiah 59:21; Ephesians 4:7, 8, 9, 10; 2 Corinthians 8:5).

Explication.

That the Lord Christ has constituted such a Church-state as that which we enquire about, has been proved already. To a Church so constituted, he has also by his word and promise annexed all those priviledges and powers, which we find a Church to be entrusted withall. This he has done by the standing and unalterable law of the Gospel, which is the Charter of their spiritual society and incorporation. Neither are, nor can any persons be interested in the rights of a Church any otherwise, but by virtue of this law and constitution. This therefore is first to be laid down, that the sole moral foundation of that Church-state which we enquire after, is laid in the Word, Law, and appointment of Christ. He alone has authority to erect such a society, he is the builder of this house, as well as the Lord over it (Hebrews 3:3, 6). Neither without it, can all the authority of men in the world appoint such a state, or erect a Church, and all acceptable actings of men herein, are no other but acts of pure obedience to Christ.

Furthermore, we have declared that the Lord Christ by the dispensation of his word and spirit, does prepare and fit men to be subjects of his Kingdom, members of his Church. The work of sending forth the means of the conversion of the souls of men, of translating them from the power of darkness into light, he has taken upon himself, and does effectually accomplish it in every generation. And by this means he builds his Church (Matthew 18:20). For to all persons so called, he gives command that they shall do and observe whatever he has appointed them to do (Matthew 28:20), in particular, that they profess their subjection to him, and their obedience, in joining themselves in that state wherein they may be enabled to observe all his other laws and institutions, with the whole worship of God required therein. Being converted to God by his Word and Spirit, they are to consider, how they may now obey the Lord Christ in all things. Among his commands, this of joining themselves in Church societies wherein he has promised his presence with them (Matthew 18:20), that is to dwell among them by his word and spirit (Isaiah 59:21), is the very first. This by virtue of that command and promise of his they are warranted and enabled to do, nor do they need any other warrant. The authority of Christ is sufficient to bear men out in the discharge of their duty to him. Being then made willing and ready in the day of his power (Psalm 110:3), they consent, choose, and agree to walk together in the observation of all his commands. And hereby do they become a Church. For their becoming a Church, is an act of their willing obedience to Christ. This obedience is an act of their wills, guided by rule; for this also is necessary that they proceed herein according to the rules of his appointment afterwards to be unfolded. And herein, upon their obedience to the commands of Christ, and faith in his promises, do believers by virtue of his Law, and constitution, become a Gospel Church, and are really and truly interested in all the power, rights and priviledges, that are granted to any Church of Christ. For in this obedience they do these two things which alone he requires in any persons for the obtaining of an interest in these priviledges. First, they confess him, his person, his authority, his law, his grace. Secondly, they take upon themselves the observance of all his commands.

Thus did God take the children of Israel into a Church-state of old. He proposed to them the Church obedience that he required of them, and they voluntarily and freely took upon themselves the performance of it (Exodus 24:3). And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgements, and all the people answered with one voice, and said, all the words which the Lord has said, will we do. So Deuteronomy 5:7, and hereby they had their solemn admission into their Church-state, and relation to God. And the like course they took when ever there was need of renewing their engagements (Joshua 24:18, 21, 22). And the people said we will serve the Lord, for he is our God; and Joshua said to the people you are witnesses against your selves, that you have chosen the Lord to serve him, and they said we are witnesses. This was the covenant, that was between God and that people which was solemnly renewed, so often as the Church was eminently reformed. Now although the outward solemnity and ceremonies of this covenant were peculiar to that people, yet as to the substance and nature of it in a sacred consent for the performance of all those duties towards God and one another which the nature and edification of a Church do require, it belongs to every Church as such even under the Gospel.

And this is the way whereby believers or the disciples of Christ, do enter into this state, the formal constituting cause of any Church. This account does the Apostle give of the Churches of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:5). And this they did, not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. Before the performance of other duties, and in order thereunto, they first gave themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, or took upon themselves the observance of his commands and institutions, which is the intendment of that expression. Among these commands one was that they should give up themselves to the Apostles' doctrine, rule and government in the order by Christ prescribed, that is in Church order. This therefore they did by the will of God, according to his will, and appointment. This description does the Apostle give of the way whereby the believers of Macedonia were brought into Churches. It was by their own obedience to the will of God, consenting, agreeing, and taking upon themselves the observation of all the commands and institutions of Christ, according to the direction and guidance of the Apostles. So did the believers at Jerusalem (Acts 2:41, 42). Being converted by the word, and making profession of that conversion in their Baptism, they gave up themselves to a stedfast continuance in the observation of all other ordinances of the Gospel.

Besides the Church is an house, a Temple, the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15), the house of Christ (Hebrews 3:6), the Temple of God (Ephesians 2:21, 22). Believers singly considered are stones, living stones (1 Peter 2:5). Now how shall these living stones come to be an house, a Temple? Can it be by occasional occurrences, civil cohabitation in political precincts, usage or custom of assembling for some parts of worship in any place? These things will never frame them into a house or Temple. This can be no otherwise done but by their own voluntary consent and disposition. Ephesians 2:19, 20, 21, 22: You are fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, grows to an holy Temple, in the Lord; in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit. Ephesians 4:16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the body to the edifying of it self in love. From these and sundry other places, it is manifest, that the way and means of believers' coalition into a Church-state, is their own obedience of faith, acting it self in a joint voluntary consent to walk together in an holy observation of the commands of Christ, from where the being and union of a particular Church is given to any convenient number of them by his Law and constitution.