is church membership biblical?

This Sheep Was Born [Again] There
It was the the Lord Jesus, the good shepherd (cf. Psalm 23) who says in John 10 that the "sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name," (John 10:3). Jesus Christ is Yahweh -- the same God who spoke that he came for his sheep in Ezekiel 34:11-16 (cf. John 10:3-16).

It has been the consistent model of God's redemptive history that he would know each of his covenant people and that they would know him -- and know each other (Genesis 1-2; Numbers 1:1-2). The Exodus narrative shows the Lord appointing leaders to for his people (Exodus 18:21; Deut. 1:13-15). And in the New Testament, God has given under-shepherds to shepherd, tend, and lead his people (1 Peter 5:1-5; see 1 Timothy 3:1ff, Titus 1:5ff).

The Psalmist helpfully states, "The LORD records as he registers the peoples, 'This one was born there.' Selah," (Psalm 87:6).

Church membership is the new covenant way that the Lord can cause sinners to be born again, turning goats into sheep so that his under-shepherds of the church can recognize, "This sheep was born [again] there."

The New Testament and Church Membership
Where does the New Testament explicitly state, imply, or necessitate church membership as the normative, healthy model for the local church?

• Matthew 18:15-17, "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
  • Who is the identifiable gathered group of believers who are fitted and able to deal with unrepentant sin if not the members of that body? Or do we tell it to any old church in the area? Church discipline requires in-house family matters (members; cf. 1 Cor. 5:12-13).
•  Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
  • What group of Christians is a pastor accountable for if not those who is regularly entrusted with, interacting with, and tending like a shepherd? The same group of believers that regulalry sees his life and hears his preaching (Hebrews 13:7).
• Acts 2:37-47 shows that as the Lord gave the growth to those whom he saved, Luke shows us that they recorded the number.
  • This same body was involved in choosing the deacons (Acts 6:1-6) as a congregation, and it is these for whom their leaders are to care for as God's flock (cf. 1 Peter 5:1-5).
• Romans 16:1-16 may as well be the church roster for those in Rome that Paul knows by name.
• 1 Timothy 5:3-16 cannot be obeyed or useful if there is no specific group of members to be "enrolled" in to qualify for church-member care

Matt Chandler helpfully summarized, "Local church membership is a question of biblical obedience, not personal preference.