THREE GREAT PRIVILEGES OF
GOD'S ELECT
There
are many privileges an responsibilities which the
people of God enjoy in this world, things that reflect our relationship to the
Lord Jesus Christ. But of all the privileges which our Heavenly Father has
bestowed upon his children in this world none are greater than these.
BAPTISM - CONFESSING CHRIST:
Baptism is the believer's public confession of faith in Christ. It is a public
identification with Christ and his people. It is a public vow of our commitment
to the glory of Christ. Being buried with Christ in baptism, the believer says
to all the world, "I belong to the Lord Jesus
Christ. I died with him as my Substitute, was buried with him, and have been
raised up again with him in life. Christ is my life. Henceforth, I live not for
self, not for the world, not for Satan, but for Christ." (
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP -
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST IN HIS BODY: A local church is a body of believers
voluntarily gathered in the name of Christ for the worship of Christ, the
furtherance of the gospel, and the salvation of God's elect. The fellowship of
believers in a local church is vital to our spiritual growth in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need one another! (Heb. 10:24-25).
Church membership is an avowed COMMITMENT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST (Phil.
2:1-4). As a family, we are committed to one another Church membership is COMMUNION
WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity" (Ps. 133:1). I love the fellowship of
God's people, because in the fellowship of God's people I find fellowship with
my God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt.
THE LORD'S SUPPER -
REMEMBERING CHRIST: The Lord's Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ.
It is a public ordinance in which believers picture their redemption by the death
of Christ, by eating the unleavened bread and drinking the wine. (I Cor.
11:23-30). Those who do not trust Christ dare not receive this, or any other
ordinance. They do not discern the Lord's body: the need of the incarnation,
the righteousness performed in his body, or the sacrifice of his body. But all
who trust Christ are to observe this blessed feast in remembrance of him. And
we are to observe it often. It is needful for us, so long as we are in this
flesh, to be frequently reminded of our Lord's great sacrifice for our
redemption.