A querist asks, “I’ve heard several TV evangelists state that after an individual gets saved they should make an effort to join a good church. My question is, Does an individual have to belong to a church in order to be saved?”
According to the inspired Scriptures, the Lord “adds” those individuals to "the" church “as should be saved” (Acts 2:47 KJV). Therefore, the church consists of saved individuals because “He [Christ] is the savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).
"The" body is "the" Lord’s church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24) made up of “saved” individuals (Acts 2:47 KJV). The church “He purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 KJV). There is only “one” body (Ephesians 4:4). The saved [Christians] — those who have been baptized “into Christ” (Galations 3:27; cf. Romans 6:3-4), are members of that one body “in Christ” (Romans 12:5). Therefore, Christ is the Savior of only one body or church — His church (Matthew 16:18), “the” church of which we [Christians] are members (Romans 12:5).
The answer to the querist’s question then is “No.” An individual cannot belong to “a” church in order to be saved, but an individual does have to be added to “the” Lord’s church (Acts 2:47 KJV; Ephesians 1:22-23), the "one" spiritual body mentioned in Ephesians 4:4, in order to be saved (Ephesians 5:23).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
According to the inspired Scriptures, the Lord “adds” those individuals to "the" church “as should be saved” (Acts 2:47 KJV). Therefore, the church consists of saved individuals because “He [Christ] is the savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23)."The" body is "the" Lord’s church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24) made up of “saved” individuals (Acts 2:47 KJV). The church “He purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 KJV). There is only “one” body (Ephesians 4:4). The saved [Christians] — those who have been baptized “into Christ” (Galations 3:27; cf. Romans 6:3-4), are members of that one body “in Christ” (Romans 12:5). Therefore, Christ is the Savior of only one body or church — His church (Matthew 16:18), “the” church of which we [Christians] are members (Romans 12:5).
The answer to the querist’s question then is “No.” An individual cannot belong to “a” church in order to be saved, but an individual does have to be added to “the” Lord’s church (Acts 2:47 KJV; Ephesians 1:22-23), the "one" spiritual body mentioned in Ephesians 4:4, in order to be saved (Ephesians 5:23).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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