Larger Catechism
Q.64. What is the invisible church?
A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head [d].
[d] Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Ver.22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ver.23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Larger Catechism
Q.65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?
A. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory [e].
[e] John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ver.6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25
I. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all [a].
[a] Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Ver.22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ver.23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ver.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ver.32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Larger Catechism
Q.62. What is the visible church?
A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion [w], and of their children [x].
[w] 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ver.10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. Ver.11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. Ver.12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. Ver.28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations. Ver.29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. Ver.30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. Ver.31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Psalm 45:17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Ver.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
[x] 1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Romans 11:16 For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25
II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion [b]; and of their children [c]: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ [d], the house and family of God [e], out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation [f].
[b] 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. Ver.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ver.10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. Ver.11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. Ver.12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
[c] 1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Ezekiel 16:20 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, Ver.21 That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?
Romans 11:16 For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
[d] Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
[e] Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
Ephesians 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
[f] Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
End of Lesson, Day 115
For Further Study:
CHAPTER XXV. - Of the Church - Commentary by Gordon H. Clark
Chapter XXV. Of the Church - Exposition by Robert Shaw
Chapter 25: Of the Church - Commentary by A.A. Hodge
Posts
Generally, a great collection of Kingdom verses to buttress these propositions! Church and Kingdom equated! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBut WCF II last phrase--"out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation", with Acts 2:47 as the proof text, does this just reemphasize the point that just being a member of a Church does not mean you are saved?
Church and Kingdom equated! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIs this sarcasm?
When the theologians equate the two, they usually limit Christ's Kingdom to the four walls of the institutional church. They don't want responsibility for anything going on outside the church, Mon.-Fri.
being a member of a Church does not mean you are saved?
Unsaved, unregenerate, unbelievers can be members of the visible church, but they are not members of the invisible Church. I think Acts 2:47 is talking about those who truly were being saved, but you can't infer from that verse that there might be someone in the church who was not saved.
Matthew 13 proves that Christ is King over a Kingdom that includes unbelievers (tares, etc.).
Kingdom as Government/Empire/NewWorldOrder - A Checklist in progress