Joining Philadelphia Baptist Church
Two Qualifications For Church Membership
1) Salvation
Before anyone may join Philadelphia Baptist Church they must have a profession of salvation. Baptism does not save. Doing good deeds does not save. Salvation is a work that God does in a person when he receives Jesus as Lord. At that point a person is born again and becomes a child of God.
2) Baptism
Baptism does not save. It is a picture, symbol, statement that a person is saved. It pictures Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is pictured by totally submersing a person under the water and then bringing him back up out of the water.
Three Methods Of Joining
There are three ways in which this church will accept new members.
1) Profession of Faith & Baptism
First, a person may unite with us by profession of faith and subsequent baptism. This means that a person publicly confesses to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is asking for baptism and membership in Philadelphia Baptist Church. The act of baptism identifies the believer with Christ and with His church. After baptism a person is a member.
2) Letter of Transfer
Second, a person may unite with us by a letter of transfer from another Baptist church of like faith and order. When someone requests to join in this fashion, Philadelphia Baptist Church will request a letter of transfer of membership from the candidate’s former church.
3) Statement of Faith
Third, a person may unite with us by statement. This signifies that the candidate was once a member of another Baptist church of like faith and practice but a letter of transfer is unobtainable. Philadelphia Baptist Church will generally accept a candidate’s statement about his baptism and membership in another Baptist church; however, it is important that a full explanation be given to the church concerning why a letter of transfer is unobtainable.
Five Expectations Of Church Members
Church membership is not just a religious exercise. To unite with the Philadelphia Baptist Church is to agree with our church covenant, and it is uniting with us for the purpose of glorifying God in all that we think, say, and do; endeavoring to achieve that purpose through the public worship of God, the preaching of His Word, consistently living what we preach, and by local and global evangelistic effort.
In order to do this, a church member must be faithful in church attendance, study the Bible (the learning is for living), pray daily for God’s help and leadership, faithfully give a tithe and offering to support the Lord’s work, and take an active part in this church’s ministry.
- Faithfully Attend
- Faithfully Read The Bible
- Faithfully Pray
- Faithfully Tithe
- Faithfully Witness To Others
Proverbs 20:6 (KJV) Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1) Faithfully Attend
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
2) Faithfully Read The Bible
Joshua 1:8 (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Psalm 1:1 (KJV) ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:2 (KJV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1:3 (KJV) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3) Faithfully Pray
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.
4) Faithfully Tithe
Deuteronomy 26:12 (KJV) ¶ When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Deuteronomy 26:13 (KJV) Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
Deuteronomy 26:14 (KJV) I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
Deuteronomy 26:15 (KJV) Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
Matthew
Matthew 23:23 (KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luke
Luke 11:42 (KJV) But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
5) Faithfully Witness To Others
Matthew 5:13 (KJV) ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:14 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:15 (KJV) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Philippians 2:15 (KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Luke 12:8 (KJV) Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luke 12:9 (KJV) But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV) ¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:8 (KJV) Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Timothy 1:11 (KJV) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.