Examination / Reception of Church Members

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents the first disclaimer: Trinity Baptist Church has no delusion that its membership procedure is 100% foolproof. He provides three reasons: God has not promised such…

The analogy of disclaimers on products or advertisements is used to introduce the two disclaimers Martin will make about the church's membership procedure, managing expectations.

You're not going to give what is not promised and you don't promise what you're not giving. And I want to give two clear disclaimers. And I know if human nature does not undergo some radical transformation between now and the time I'm done, there will be people going out early forgetting these disclaimers, but at least I'll have some witnesses that I made them. And the two disclaimers are these.

4:16 - 4:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents the first disclaimer: Trinity Baptist Church has no delusion that its membership procedure is 100% foolproof. He provides three reasons: God has not promised such…

Martin uses the idea of needing omniscience to read hearts and know God's elect as an analogy to explain why a 100% foolproof membership system is impossible for humans.

What would we need as a church to have a one hundred percent foolproof system that the only ones on the membership roll were truly regenerate? We'd need to be omniscient. We'd need to be able to read. I promise that God's going to make us omniscient, be able to read hearts and see the role of his elect.

6:10 - 6:32 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In fact, one apostle, the apostle Paul knew that such people were in the midst of all a membership list when he was leaving the church at Ephesus. He says, I know that after my departure not only will wolves come from wi…

The 'sad history of the grievous excesses' of zealots who went beyond God's Word in their pursuit of a 100% regenerate church is cited as a reason against foolish delusions of a foolproof system, leading to 'spiritual shipwreck'.

What fools we would be to think we could come up with such a system. In fact, one apostle, the apostle Paul knew that such people were in the midst of all a membership list when he was leaving the church at Ephesus. He says, I know that after my departure not only will wolves come from without, but perverse men will rise up from among your own selves. Now that's biblical realism. But there's a third reason why we have no such delusion that we have a hundred percent foolproof system, and that is we have, Fosher, the sad history of the grievous excesses which have always followed when men though...

8:03 - 9:11 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first core element of their procedure: making a conscious effort to discern a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus…

The analogy of a doctor making a patient aware of their needs before applying medicine is used to explain that God first makes a sinner aware of their sinfulness before saving them.

question of repentance toward god jesus when repentance involves jesus involves trusting christ to be saved from sin personal guilt membership interview we don't put words in people's mouths and to tell us of person's sinfulness for without they certainly are not at the essence of saving faith also call his name jesus for he should say this people from their students the first thing he does with any center that he's going to stay from his sins is making the

18:13 - 19:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first core element of their procedure: making a conscious effort to discern a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus…

Martin uses the examples of quoting the Athanasian Creed or giving a detailed statement of soteriology to illustrate that a 'minimal understanding' of Christ's person and work is required, not advanced theological knowledge.

Nazareth is none other than the incarnate Jehovah, sovereign Lord, and now the exalted messianic Lord at the right hand of the Father, someone must understand that and believe it and confess it to be saved, therefore we in a membership interview are not only listening for and seeking to receive from the person, if there is in their heart a felt awareness of personal guilt and sinfulness, but a standing of the person and work of Christ as the divine answer to human sin and guilt, there can be no falling upon the Lord, there can be no true call out from fundamental knowledge of who he is and wha...

21:36 - 22:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first core element of their procedure: making a conscious effort to discern a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus…

Martin recounts an experience in a membership interview where applicants claimed to be saved by Christ but could not explain how, illustrating the need for a minimal understanding of Christ's saving work.

the order, that would be cruel and unbiblical, but we do think of the person and work of Christ as the divine answer to human sin and guilt, there can be no falling upon the Lord, as the divine answer to human sin and guilt, we've had people in a membership interview say well I'm saved by Christ, but when we say in what way did Christ save you, and they could not put together in the most elementary way a statement concerning their being saved and his perfect life, his substitutionary death, his literal resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and we've done everything but s...

22:59 - 23:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first core element of their procedure: making a conscious effort to discern a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus…

The vivid metaphor of 'done everything but stand on our head and whistle Yankee Doodle backwards' is used to describe the elders' efforts to elicit a clear profession of faith from an applicant, highlighting the difficulty when it's not genuinely present.

the order, that would be cruel and unbiblical, but we do think of the person and work of Christ as the divine answer to human sin and guilt, there can be no falling upon the Lord, as the divine answer to human sin and guilt, we've had people in a membership interview say well I'm saved by Christ, but when we say in what way did Christ save you, and they could not put together in the most elementary way a statement concerning their being saved and his perfect life, his substitutionary death, his literal resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and we've done everything but s...

22:59 - 23:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines the first core element of their procedure: making a conscious effort to discern a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus…

The historical label 'Brownists' (a 'naughty name' for those seeking a pure church) is mentioned to illustrate how people might dismiss the church's commitment to regenerate membership with derogatory titles.

Now, are we to be called brown? That's a naughty name for a group, you see, that did try to have a, quote, perfect church. And when you start talking about the things we're talking about immediately, people throw titles around. Oh, you're a bunch of brownists.

34:36 - 34:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The promiscuous driving sorts of persons who've been baptized their infancy into a participation of all church privileges. Is a prophet. Nation of the holy institutions of Christ.

An extended quotation from John Owen is used to demonstrate that the church's standards for membership are not extreme but consistent with historical Reformed thought, outlining requirements like competent knowledge, subjection to Christ's authority, self-denial, confession of sin, constant performance of religion, and abstinence from sin.

No, it isn't. Listen to John Owen speaking for the churches of his own day that were committed to follow the word of God when he takes up the whole question of church membership. Who should be admitted into the church? Let me just give you a few of the headings as he answers this question.

36:01 - 36:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He says when we lower the standard of admission beneath this biblical standard. What do we do? He said we take the churches of Christ and we turn them into temples of Satan.

A quote from John Owen, warning that lowering membership standards turns 'churches of Christ' into 'temples of Satan,' is used to underscore the gravity of maintaining biblical standards.

This is grievous that he had to say it in his day and we have to say it in our own. He says when we lower the standard of admission beneath this biblical standard. What do we do? He said we take the churches of Christ and we turn them into temples of Satan.

38:26 - 38:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He says when we lower the standard of admission beneath this biblical standard. What do we do? He said we take the churches of Christ and we turn them into temples of Satan.

A reference to Benjamin Griffiths' treatise 'Concerning an Orderly Gospel Church' is used to show that other historical figures also emphasized high standards for church membership, supporting the church's current procedure.

Dear people. This is no extreme position in the lovely little treatise called concerning and orderly gospel church by Benjamin Griffiths. There's a whole. Section and on that take time to read it under what is required of those who would enter into the membership of the church.

38:46 - 39:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second core element is discerning if the applicant has a basic understanding of and capacity to assume the responsibilities, privileges, and liabilities of church membership…

The vivid image of being carried 'from a worship service to the graveyard' is used to illustrate the severe liability of joining the church, referencing God's judgment on Ananias and Sapphira.

Because they had just had a fresh lesson of one of the great liabilities of joining the church. If you ain't real God might kill you.

40:28 - 40:37 Read in full sermon

The point: If you do not like the church's established chain of command and rules, go elsewhere rather than staying and 'sniping at our heels'.

The church is likened to a 'volunteer army' where, once joined, the conduct, codes of warfare, and chain of command are already established by the 'Star General, the Lord Jesus,' emphasizing submission to Christ's authority and church rules.

To change the imagery, this is a volunteer army.

50:33 - 50:36 Read in full sermon

The point: If you do not like the church's established chain of command and rules, go elsewhere rather than staying and 'sniping at our heels'.

Martin recounts an anecdote about a non-member complaining about church matters, having heard it from a member who lacked the 'guts' to speak to an elder directly. This illustrates the unbiblical and cowardly behavior of complaining behind the scenes.

What a grievous thing to have a non-member say to an elder. That he's had members come and complain about certain things going on in the church. And they've never had the guts to come to an elder and speak to face-to-face the elders. You know, some of you are very, very bold cowards.

51:28 - 51:46 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have a complaint about the church, be man enough to come and face the elders with the Word of God, rather than being a 'bold coward' who complains to non-members.

Martin describes the elders as approachable, laughing, picking up kids, and hugging, to counter the excuse of intimidation for not approaching them with complaints.

I don't know a bunch of men less intimidating than this bunch of elders. We laugh with you. We pick up your kids. We let them slobber all over our jackets.

51:55 - 52:03 Read in full sermon