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What is the church?
The church is a _____________________________ (1 Peter 2:9, Eph. 5:25)
The church is a _____________________________ (1 Cor. 12:12)
The church is a ___________________________ (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
Biblical justification for membership: 1 Cor. 5:1-2, 12-13; 12:26; 2 Cor. 2:6
Why should every born-again believer join a church in membership?
- We are not only reconciled to ________________ but are also brought into fellowship with His ______________________. (Eph. 2:19)
- We are _________________ to fit somewhere in the ________________ and we must all work together for ______________________.
(1 Cor. 12:18, 21; Eph. 4:11-12, 16b)
- We are built ______________________ into a holy dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Eph. 2:21-22)
Why should a church only receive born-again believers as members?
- It is ______________________ to deceive someone into believing they are part of God’s ______________________ when they are still separated from Christ...having no hope and without God. (Eph. 2:12; 1 Cor. 5:5)
- Only genuine believers are capable of working ______________________ in the body and building it up in love. (Eph. 4:15-16)
- The _______________________ is only __________________ because God possesses and dwells within its members. (2 Cor. 6:14-17, Matt 5:13)
God established His people, the body of Christ, the holy temple, to which
every believer is called to commit in membership and which is to stand distinct from the world _______ ________ _________.(Ezek 36:26-27; Luke 22:20; Ezek. 36:22, Matt 5:14-16)