Church Membership

In this concluding sermon of the series, Pastor Martin addresses the practical question of how to maintain and increase the fear of God in the heart. He establishes the general principle that what God declares to be His own work in us must also be the concern of our conscious spiritual endeavors, then provides seven specific directives: be certain of an interest in the new covenant, feed on Scripture in general, meditate on forgiveness, feed on the majestic greatness of God, cultivate the awareness of God's presence, cultivate the consciousness of obligations to Him, and associate intimately with those who walk in His fear.

Pastor Martin concludes his treatment of progressive sanctification by establishing that the God-ordained normal context for the believer's growth in grace is the life and ministry of a specific local assembly walking by the rule of Scripture. He proves the assertion from pivotal passages (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Colossians 3, Hebrews 10) and the historical pattern of Acts 2:41-42, then draws three practical implications: it is a growth-stunting abnormality to be in Christ but not in his church by visible commitment, a growth-stunting irregularity to be formally committed but not integrated by practical involvement, and a growth-stunting immorality to be present in the body but harboring un-Christlike attitudes toward fellow members.