First, God must call or draw you to Christ (John 6:44-45, John 6:65). Then you become a member of God's Church when "the Spirit of God dwells in you," as Paul put it. He explains that "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).

Paul also wrote, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized [immersed, inserted] into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13). That "one body" is "the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27). Christ's "body . . . is the church" (Colossians 1:24).

How does one receive God's Holy Spirit? As was explained in the last chapter, once a person believes the Bible, has repented of his sins and has been baptized "for the remission [forgiveness] of sins," he will "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38) through the laying on of hands of God's ministry. Receiving the Holy Spirit sets apart or sanctifies the convert as a new child of God. That is why the Bible frequently refers to members of God's Church as saints (1 Corinthians 1:2)—that is, those sanctified or set apart to God.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians, "For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). God's forgiveness cleanses us of sin, and the indwelling of God's Spirit imparts God's righteousness. This is how we become saints or spiritual virgins betrothed to Christ.

At the return of Christ, the saints will be raised in a resurrection to eternal life and glory (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Revelation 20:6). The "marriage of the Lamb" to His betrothed Bride will then take place (Revelation 19:7). The Church of God will then enter the Kingdom of God!