The Meaning of Church Membership

Colossians 3:1-17

GOLDEN TEXT: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”—I Corinthians 12:27

TODAY’S lesson is one of outstanding importance to all who are endeavoring to be true followers of the Master. The “meaning” of church membership can be viewed from two standpoints. First, let us consider it from the standpoint of its object, or purpose. The Golden Text sets this meaning forth very beautifully and very clearly, although only the Spirit-enlightened can grasp the full import of what is meant. “Ye are the body of Christ,” says the apostle.

For four thousand years, God had been promising the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. The early church had accepted Jesus as the foretold One; but not until the mystery which had been hidden from ages and from generations had been revealed was it known that Jesus alone was not the complete fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies. To illustrate the matter, the apostle uses the head and body of a man, telling us that Jesus is the head, and the church is the body of THE Christ.

This opens up a wonderful field of thought. God’s promises were to the effect that through the Christ all the families of the earth were to be blessed with life and happiness in an earthly paradise. This great work was to be accomplished by means of a thousand-year reign of the Messianic Kingdom. If the complete Messiah, or Christ, includes the church as His body members, then it is obvious why the nations have not yet been blessed by Messiah’s Kingdom. It is because the Messiah, the Christ, is not yet complete.

The second standpoint from which the meaning of church membership may be viewed is that of how it should affect the lives of those who are striving to be faithful members of the true church whose names are written in heaven. This “meaning” is clearly shown in the Scriptural lesson—Colossians 3:1-17. The first four verses of this lesson set forth the true philosophy of the Christian life, and by analyzing them carefully we find that it is much more than merely adhering to a high moral standard, and much more, too, than being devotional and reverential. We say that the Christian life is “more” than these things, because we cannot be Christians without being devotional and reverential, and without adhering strictly to a high moral standard.

But the Christian life goes far beyond these elementals. It has to do, first of all, with being dead with Christ—“planted together in the likeness of His death.” (Rom. 6:3-5) Christ died that we might have life, and that all mankind might have life. What does it mean, then, that His followers must die with Him? Paul explains that their death is in the likeness of His death. Christ died as a sacrifice for sin, not because He was a sinner. Romans 6:10 says, “For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.” Jesus’ death “unto sin” was sacrificial—a sin-offering.

Can Christians die like that? Yes! Romans 6:11 continues, “Likewise”—that is, in the same manner—“reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Here then is the reason why, instead of receiving perfect life when we accept Christ, we are given the opportunity to die with Him—it is because God authorizes us to “reckon” it as a sacrifice for sin. We know that we have nothing to offer to God that could really be thus accepted, but we would be denying the efficacy of the Ransom if we said that its merit could not make up for our deficiency, thus enabling God to count us as perfect, and our bodies “holy and acceptable” as a “living sacrifice.”—Romans 12:1

This is wondrous grace, indeed! But it becomes even more wonderful when we realize that by dying with the Master, sacrificially, we may also live with Him in glory, honor, and immortality. Romans 6:10 further declares of Jesus that “He liveth unto God.” The next verse says of His followers, who are dying sacrificially with Him that they too are “alive unto God,” but with these, this is only possible “through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Living unto God as thus described by the apostle means to live for Him and to be committed to the accomplishment of His purposes. It means also to dwell with Him on the divine plane of life, at His right hand. Jesus was exalted to this high position following His resurrection.

The apostle speaks of our already being “risen with Christ.” This is not a reference to the actual resurrection of the church, nor does it imply that there is no literal resurrection, and no literal exaltation to glory, honor and immortality. Just as there must be literal sheep in order to, have symbolic sheep, so the great realities of the literal life-giving powers of the first resurrection are here used symbolically to illustrate the Christian’s present walk in newness of life.

The power of Christ’s resurrection is already helping the Christian in every time of need. So far as possible, the Christian has already become dead to earthly things, and is seeking those things which are above. Thus the literal resurrection becomes a beautiful illustration of what should already be taking place in the lives of those who are dead with the Master, and whose lives are “hid with Christ in God.”

As we put off the old man with his deeds, we are to put on the new man. This means, briefly, and in plain language, that the Christian who is dying with Christ, and who is inspired with the hope of living with Him, will daily display more and more the qualities of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering and forbearance. He also will put on love, which, as the apostle says, is the “bond of perfectness.” Moreover, in the heart of all such there will rule the peace of God. Also, the Word of Christ will dwell in them richly in all wisdom; and they will be actively engaged “admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in their hearts unto the Lord.” And all that such do will be done “in the name of the Lord,” with gratitude to God through Christ, their living head.—Colossians 3:12-17

QUESTIONS:

What is God’s purpose in the calling and preparation of the church?

What is the doctrinal meaning of being dead with Christ?

In what sense are Christians now risen with Christ?

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