Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47
When was the last time the company of believers you fellowship with held a membership drive? You can’t remember? And neither can I. And that’s a good thing, because membership drives are not the Biblical way that Assembly membership is build up. If we follow the pattern of the very first Christian company in Jerusalem, we will see by today’s text that it is the Lord Who adds the members.
Who does the Lord add to the Assembly? Those who are saved, says our text. In verse 41 of this chapter we see the pattern – gladly receiving the Gospel, baptism, and being added to the Assembly. We know that salvation is of the Lord. His Holy Spirit brings sinners to repentance and faith in Christ. And He continues His work in the hearts of the new believers by guiding them to obey their Lord in the ordinance of baptism. He then teaches them that they must assemble with fellow believers according to the Word of God.
God will never add unbelievers to His Assembly. They don’t belong there. They cannot appreciate the fellowship of the Lord’s people in the things of God while they reject His Son. Nor will God add the unbaptized to His Assembly. In addition to all of its other meaning, baptism is a sign that the believer is willing to be obedient to the Word of God. And there is no room in God’s Assembly for disobedient believers.
How wonderful when God adds to His Assembly! He adds joyful and obedient believers. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/aey5aG5Gi5g