Saints' Internal Responsibilities Part 1

Saints’ Internal Responsibilities (“What am I supposed to do as a member?”) I. This study focuses on the particular responsibilities of church members as a church. A. We have corporate public responsibilities that all are obliged to perform. B. We have mutual individual responsibilities in relating one to another. C. Some have special responsibilities, such as pastors or deacons (where called for). D. All are to have a service mentality. MAT 20:25-27; GAL 5:13; 2TI 2:24 c/w 2CO 4:5. 1. Those who love preeminence do not fit nor benefit the church. 3JO 1:9-10. 2. They have not the mind of Christ. PHIL 2:3-7. E. All are necessary members that have a role in the wealth of the church. ROM 12:4-8; 1CO 12:14-27. II. Corporate public responsibilities. A. We are to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. HEB 10:25 c/w 2TH 3:6. 1. forsake: To deny, renounce, or repudiate allegiance to (God, a lord, etc.). 2. Necessary absence from public worship is not a forsaking of assembling but excess unnecessary absences could constitute de facto forsaking. 3. “Church” translates ekklesia (SRN G1577), which means a congregation, assembly, a gathering of citizens from their homes into some public place (Thayer). The very concept of church is one of public convening for presentation to the Lord. ROM 12:1. 4. The prophecy of ZEC 14:8, 17-19 is interesting in this regard. a. The “living waters” days are the era of the Holy Spirit in the church. ACT 7:38. b. Jesus Christ is God tabernacled in human flesh. JOH 1:14. (1) The word here translated “dwelt” is skenoo (SRN G4637) which in its singular or plural form is most commonly translated as tabernacle(s). (2) The King is to be worshipped in the church. EPH 3:21. c. God takes the worship of His Son in the church seriously. HEB 12:28-29. B. We are to keep the memorial feast of our Savior’s sufferings for our sins (Lord’s table, communion). 1CO 5:8, 11; 11:2, 23-26. C. We are to wash one another’s feet as Jesus ordained. JOH 13:13-15. D. We are to sing congregationally to praise and teach. HEB 2:11-12 c/w COL 3:16. 1. Congregational singing is no less optional than other services of worship. 2. “But I can’t sing very well.” Then make a joyful noise (PSA 95:1); take lessons. 3. “I just sing within, like Hannah prayed within (1SAM 1:12-13).” a. How does this teach another? b. What if all “sang” this way? c. How about if I preach this way? 4. “Let those refuse to sing, who never knew our God.” (Hymn: We’re Marching to Zion) E. We are to pray together since God’s house is one of prayer. MAT 21:13; ACT 4:23-31. 1. It is appropriate for a prayer leader to say, “Let US pray...” 2. When one is leading corporate prayer, let the rest be as Hannah (1SAM 1:12-13) that there be no confusion. 1CO 14:33, 40. F. We are to participate in church disciplinary action (and restoration) as needed. 1CO 5:13 c/w 2CO 2:6-8. Saints’ Internal Responsibilities 1-5-20 Page 1 1. Excommunication of a member is not a committee action nor a pastoral action. 2. The pastor registers the charge and oversees the church court but it is the church that decides upon retaining or excluding a disobedient member. 1CO 5:3-5. 3. If the church majority insists on retaining a member whom God has declared unworthy of fellowship, the faithful who stand with God must withdraw from the church. 2TH 3:6. G. Church members are to submit to pastoral authority as exercised from the Scripture. HEB 13:7, 17. 1. The pastor is to oversee and feed according to Jesus’ will. 1PE 5:1-3. 2. The pastor answers to the same law as the brethren. ACT 23:1-5; GAL 2:11-14. 3. Bible-oriented saints have great power from Scripture. ACT 17:11. 4. The pastor makes determinations in discretionary areas where decisions must be made within the framework of God’s law since the rule is committed to him. a. This is similar to the principle of Executive Orders which are supposed to facilitate law’s enactments, not make law. b. God is the Legislator (JAM 4:12); the pastor is only His minister to see that His law is put into practice. 5. The pastor determines who should become a church member. a. He functions as the porter (One who has charge of a door or gate, esp. at the entrance of a fortified town or of a castle or other large building, a public institution, etc.; a gate-keeper, door-keeper, janitor). MAR 13:34. b. He determines who meets God’s qualifications according to His word and is obliged to baptize those whom God has declared clean. ACT 10:15, 47-48. c. As the porter, the pastor determines whether an excluded member is suited for restoration to membership. 2CO 2:6-8. d. Door-keeping is lowly work of the truly servant-minded. PSA 84:10.