Bellefield family,
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27
Faith in Jesus Christ means being united to him and becoming part of his body, that is, all those around the world and throughout the ages whom God has called to himself and given new life by his Spirit. Scripture calls this body the Church. Jesus Christ “is the head of body, the church” (Colossians 1:18), and we are “individually members of it”.
What does it mean to be a ‘member’ of the Church?
First–and most importantly–it means to be united to Jesus Christ. If you are someone who confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord and places your trust in him alone for your redemption then you are a part of his body, which is the Church.
It also means being united to other believers in a particular place. Paul addressed the letter we call 1 Corinthians, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
This shows that the Church universal (believers from every time and place) finds its expression in local congregations (e.g. Corinth), where believers gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and service.
Being part of Christ’s Church, then, means belonging to Jesus Christ and also being intentionally associated and aligned with other believers. Becoming a member of a local congregation is a way in which both of these things are exhibited.
This Sunday we will begin a three-part New Members’ Class (see below for details). Whether you are new to the Christian faith–or to Bellefield–or not, this will provide time to learn more about who we are and what we believe. At the end of the course, you will have the option to join as a member at Bellefield. If you’ve never taken this step, or would like to find out more of what it means and why it matters, then I invite you to participate in this class. For more information or to register, please contact the office.
I pray this finds you healthy and well.
Grace and peace,
Josh
