The Church as a Safety Net

The body of Christ is made up of saved, baptized and regenerate Christians.

It is the responsibility of the church to verify and examine the testimonies of those seeking membership.

This protects the unity of the church and the testimony of the church to the unsaved world.

Unfortunately, there are false Christians in every church.

They sound great, but their heart doesn’t match.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:Isaiah 29:13

Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.Jeremiah 12:2

They are unmoved by the preaching of God’s Word.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.James 1:22

The fruit of their life is corrupt. The fruit of the Spirit is absent in their life and the fruit of the flesh is on display.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.Matthew 12:33-35

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21

Many times they leave the church and pursue the world.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.1 John 2:19

While individuals should not pass judgment on the salvation of others, at times the church will need to do so.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.Matthew 18:15-17

If the person is saved, we need to confront and restore.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Galatians 6:1

If the person is unsaved, we need to confront and plead for repentance.

The local church should contain grace-filled, blood-bought Christians who desire for Jesus to be glorified by the holiness of His church.