One result of sin on the human heart is a constant desire for independence. As sinful humans, we want to be free. We don’t want to sign contracts for our cell phone service. We want a way ‘out of’ marriage if we grow dissatisfied with our spouse. We don’t want to stay at one job too long or else we’ll get bored. In short, we only want to really commit to one person–ourselves.

Deciding to follow Jesus Christ means a fundamental commitment-change. First, you have to de-commit to yourself. This is what Jesus means when he says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). But deciding to follow Jesus also commits you to His Body, the Church, and more particularly, following Jesus should commit you to a local church. One way to see how much God’s Word talks about the individual Christian’s need to be committed to a local group of Christians is to see how many times the phrase, “one another” is used in the New Testament (around 130!). For example, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Most of these commands are written to local churches to express the responsibilities these members have towards ‘one another’.

Up until the past seventy years or so, most Gospel-believing, Bible-preaching churches had a document called a “church covenant” which spelled out church members’ responsibilities towards one another. At Grace Bible Church, we want to obey Jesus by not just loving Him, but also loving His body, the church, and we believe one important tool to achieve that end is this church covenant.

I am a Christian. I acknowledge that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. My biggest problem in this world is my own sin. The only way to avoid God’s just wrath is to place faith in Jesus Christ, believing his sacrifice on the cross will pay for all my sins. Realizing this, I have made a conscious decision to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
I agree with Grace Bible Church’s Confession of Faith.
I understand the Bible teaches that a Christian should be baptized. If I haven’t yet been baptized, I will submit to this command from Jesus.
I understand the Bible teaches that a Christian should be a member of a local church, under the care of a set of elders.
I will strive to trust my elders as those appointed by God to shepherd me while at the same time, searching the Scriptures to make sure their teaching is biblical.
I will strive for peace in the body through my actions and prayers and will resist taking part in any gossip or unloving thoughts or behaviors.
I will strive to serve this church body with any gifts the elders recognize as helpful for the building up of the body.
I will strive to take care of my own soul. I won’t neglect gathering together with this church family. I won’t neglect Bible-reading and prayer, as I understand these disciplines to nourish me spiritually and help keep me from sin. I will welcome fellow church members to point out patterns of sin in my life and will hear them patiently and graciously. I understand that in the case of my own prolonged, unrepentant sin, I’m submitting myself to the process of corrective church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15, and Titus 3:10-11.
I will strive to give spiritual care to my fellow church members. I won’t neglect gathering together with this church family. I will regularly pray for my fellow church members. I will rejoice when fellow members rejoice and weep when they weep. When I notice a pattern of sin in a fellow church member, I will, after thought and prayer, point it out in a spirit of gentleness and for the case of any fellow member found to be in prolonged, unrepentant sin, I will participate in the process of corrective church discipline. I will be quick to offer free forgiveness to my fellow church members when they sin against me
I will strive to give material care to my fellow church members. I’ll give monetarily to this church regularly, cheerfully and sacrificially in proportion to my income. When the need arises, I’ll share my resources—my time, my money, my things, and my abilities—with fellow church members who need them more than I do.
If I decide the Lord is calling me to leave this church, I will talk the decision through with my elders. I will join another Bible-preaching, Gospel-believing church as soon as possible and will let Grace’s elders know which church I join.
I will submit to the Word of God as the final authority on all issues..