The nature of the church has already been alluded to in the previous section, but to make it clear: the church is composed of a regenerate membership. Russell Bow correctly states that easy church membership is an inadequate substitute for genuine conversion.[1] More accurately, understanding church membership as a conversion is not only inadequate; it is blatantly backward from the biblical instruction. Qualification for church membership always begins with repentance of sin and faith in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.[2] Not only can there be no real joy in church membership, but there can also be no true membership unless the membership has been gained on a profess of Christian experience.[3]

In his epistles to the churches, the apostle Paul frequently refers to the members of the local churches as ἅγιος (haggios). Many English translations translate this word as saints. The word means holy ones.[4] While holy could mean those who have moral purity, the context of some of the epistles suggests another use. It is more likely the idea of those who are sanctified by consecration to God.[5] The compendium of the New Testament makes it clear that the only way to become a haggios is to become a follower of Christ. Since Paul addressed the churches as gatherings of the holy ones, it should be inferred that the membership of the church consisted only of those who were saved.

Church membership involves a further act of confession. Historically and scripturally, baptism is the sign of entrance into the New Testament church.[6] Baptism is not simply a precursor to church membership; it confers membership.[7] It is the initiating sign of an oath, not only to God but to a covenant body of believers. It is like the sign of circumcision for Israel in the Old Testament.[8] Sadie Crawley describes baptism as the door into the church.[9] Bobby Jamieson picks up on this image referring to participation in the Lord’s Supper. He wrote that one cannot participate in the family meal unless one has entered through the front door.[10] Mark Dever identifies the administration of these two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as one of the marks of a local church.[11] Choosing Christ means choosing the community of Christ as inaugurated through baptism.[12] In the Lord’s Supper, church members renew their pledge to Christ and to one another.[13]

The Bible frequently speaks of the church in pictures. It is to say not so much what the church is, but what the church is like.[1] Scripture speaks of the church in three primary metaphors.

Although this term is used only in four of Paul’s letters, it is one of the most frequently identified. John Hammett claims it is from this image that the term member is derived.[1] In two instances, Paul uses the metaphor to speak to the nature of the church to Christ. Jesus is described as the head of the church. This implies a regenerate body that has recognized Jesus as Lord. Paul writes this to say that the church is subordinate to the will of Jesus and is connected with His mission.

Paul also used this metaphor to describe the way the church is composed and the way the members relate to one another. The institution of the church was founded by Jesus as a closely-knit fellowship so intimate and interdependent that it is called a body.[2] Due to the contemporary focus on the personal relationship with Jesus, many Christians don’t realize the depth of the secondary relationship that Christ establishes between individuals and the church.[3] It is both a duty and privilege for every saved person to unite with a local church.[4] Jesus has made the Christian a member of the body of Christ.[5]

In two of his epistles, Paul spoke of the church as the temple of the Holy Spirit. This speaks again to the regenerate, post-Pentecost nature of the church. The Spirit fits together the living stones[1] into a dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit, on the foundation of the Scriptures, with Christ as the cornerstone.[2]