“Join the church of your choice!” is a well-intentioned remark that lacks biblical authority. While admission requirements vary from one religious organization to another, the Bible says nothing about joining the church of our choice.
The church began on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus. On that occasion, Peter and the rest of the apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to multitudes of Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Harvest (Ex. 23:16). The message presented that day convicted the people of having crucified the Messiah. The sermon was interrupted by those who wanted to know what they needed to do about their sin. Peter responded to their question, saying, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38). Then, in verse 41, we are told that “those who had received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Penitent believers who were baptized were added to the Lord’s church. In fact, verse 47 goes on to say that “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Man cannot establish entrance requirements or initiation rites for being added to the Lord’s church. While we can join various religious denominations, we cannot join the Lord’s church. God adds to His church every penitent believer who is baptized for the forgiveness of sins. We are not voted into the church, God adds us to His church. God’s church is comprised of all who have done what God has said to do in order to accept God’s grace by faith. As indicated in Acts 2:38, saving faith includes repentance and baptism. Later in the New Testament, Paul spoke to how the Corinthian brethren had entered into the body of Christ, saying, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). The one body into which they entered was the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
We can all be a part of God’s church. But, we can’t join it! Only God can add us to His church and He does so only as we submit to His requirements for salvation. Why not be added to the Lord’s church today and be numbered among the saved?
–Glen Elliott–