349 – The Church Covenant Introduced

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY IV LESSON # 49

CHURCH COVENANT AND ARTICLES OF FAITH – THE CHURCH COVENANT

INTRODUCTION:

1. This Church Member’s Handbook is a most concise and comprehensive document.
2. Thousands of Baptists died for claiming these contents.
3. Some of you have never read it and fewer have studied it.
4. I have taught but never preached through it.
5. Yet by membership in a Baptist Church we are bound to it
6. This series exposes to what and to what extent we are bound.

I. MEMBERSHIP’S FIRST REQUIREMENT – CHRISTIAN PROFESSION

1. Who we have received: The Lord Jesus Christ. (Act 2:34-36

)
2. How we accept Him: Lord, God’s Christ, our Savior.
3. Why we receive Him: Led by the Spirit to saving faith.

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR WATER BAPTISM

1. Upon a definite profession of our faith. (Act 8:36-37

)
2. The entrance into the Lord’s church. (Act 2:41

)
3. Recognition of all persons of the Godhead. (Mat 28:19

)

III. AWARENESS OF THE COVENANT’S SOLEMNITY

1. Before God and His holy angels! (what witnesses)
2. In the presence of this assembly. (human obligation!)

IV. THE NATURE OF THIS COVENANT

1. Solemnly and joyfully. It is voluntary yet fully binding.
2. A mutual covenant with men: obligated to each other.

V. THE LOCAL CHURCH IS RECOGNIZED AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

1. Universal church error: Each local church part of the body.
2. Baptist position: The local church is the body of Christ.
3. Bible position: Church at Corinth the body of Christ. (1Co 12:13

)

Berean Baptist Church