About Lesson
The final step in becoming a member at Ithaca is getting up the front on a Sunday with the other prospective members and answering in the affirmative to the following questions (which are the same questions we ask when an adult comes forward for baptism):
Questions relating to what you believe:
- Do you believe in the eternal Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, one God in three persons?
- Do you believe in and submit to God’s verbally inspired Word: the Scriptures, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, which are utterly authoritative and without error in the original writings?
- Do you believe that you are a sinner, deserving of eternal punishment, and that you can do nothing to earn God’s favour by your own efforts?
- Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s one and only remedy for your sin, and the only provision for your salvation?
Questions relating to your faith in Jesus Christ:
- Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, and do you recognise him as your Saviour and King?
- Are you repenting of your life of sin in the power of the Holy Spirit?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to pursue the Lord Jesus Christ through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and the practice of spiritual disciplines?
Questions relating to your commitment to this church:
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to regularly participate in the life of this church by attending weekly services and church events?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to use the resources God has given you, including your time, talents, spiritual gifts and finances, for this church?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to love and serve your brothers and sisters who make up this church, resolving conflicts where they arise, and forgiving others here as God has forgiven you?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to submit to the discipline of God by receiving righteous and loving discipline when approached biblically by your fellow believers here?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to submit to the elders and other appointed leaders of this church and diligently strive for unity and peace within this church?
- Will you endeavour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to leave this church well if the time comes, informing us of your plans, and seeking our prayers and blessing?
The congregation is then asked this question is relation to you:
- Will you, in the power of the Holy Spirit, accept these new members into our fellowship, loving and serving them, seeking peace and unity with them, praying for them, showing patience and kindness and the other fruits of the Spirit with them, and forgiving them when they wrong you, as God has forgiven you, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord?