Attributes, Marks, Purity The Church Pt 2: Attributes, Marks, Purity

Grudem: "the community of all true believers for all time." Recap 1. What is the church? Reymond: "all the redeemed in every age who are saved by grace through personal faith in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ" Grudem: "the community of all true believers for all time." 2. Distinction between invisible and visible church. 3. Mission: Great Commission: make disciples: reach/teach. 4. Purity of the church: WCF 25.5 "The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will." Jesus taught that in the organized church there would always be people who thought they were Christians and passed as Christians, some indeed becoming ministers, but who were not renewed in heart and would therefore be exposed and rejected at the Judgment (Matt. 7:15-27; 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50; 25:1-46). The “visible-invisible” distinction is drawn to take account of this. It is not that there are two churches but that the visible community regularly contains imitation Christians whom God knows not to be real (and who could know this for themselves if they would, 2 Cor. 13:5).

The Attributes, Marks, Government of the Church It is customary to characterize the church on earth as “one” (because it really is so in Christ, as Eph. 4:3-6 shows, despite the great number of local churches and denominational groupings), “holy” (because it is consecrated to God corporately, as each Christian is individually, Eph. 2:21), “catholic” (because it is worldwide in extent and seeks to hold the fullness of the faith), and “apostolic” (because it is founded on apostolic teaching, Eph. 2:20). All four qualities may be illustrated from Ephesians 2:19-22. There is a distinction to be drawn between the church as we humans see it and as God alone can see it. This is the historic distinction between the “visible church” and the “invisible church.” Invisible means, not that we can see no sign of its presence, but that we cannot know (as God, the heart-reader, knows, 2 Tim. 2:19) which of those baptized, professing members of the church as an organized institution are inwardly regenerate and thus belong to the church as a spiritual fellowship of sinners loving their Savior. Jesus taught that in the organized church there would always be people who thought they were Christians and passed as Christians, some indeed becoming ministers, but who were not renewed in heart and would therefore be exposed and rejected at the Judgment (Matt. 7:15-27; 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50; 25:1-46). The “visible-invisible” distinction is drawn to take account of this. It is not that there are two churches but that the visible community regularly contains imitation Christians whom God knows not to be real (and who could know this for themselves if they would, 2 Cor. 13:5).

Attributes of the Church Intro: 1. Doctrinal error after apostles/Early church wanted determine attributes that define the true church: Nicene Creed (325/381): We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

I. One: There was, is, and always will be only one church—one people of God—who since the fall are united to Christ, and who are called to unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A. Only one church: Joh 10:14-16 "14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." Eph 4:4-6 "4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all…" See also Eph 2:11-16 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

C. Things that undermine unity? 1. Sectarian spirit B. The call to unity Joh 17:20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me..." C. Things that undermine unity? 1. Sectarian spirit 1Cor 1:10-13 "I appeal to you, brothers…that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? …" Phil 2:5-9; 4:1-3

2. False doctrine Jud 1:3-4,19-20 "…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ…19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…" 3. "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." a. Essentials: Bible, God, Man, Christ, Salvation b. Non-essentials: sacraments, church government, eschatology, etc.

II. Holy: the church is set apart by God from the world to die to sin and live unto righteousness and to make disciples of the nations. III. Catholic: the church is universal, being found worldwide. IV. Apostolic: the church is built upon and must submit to the divinely inspired teachings of the apostles.

The Marks of the Church: Preaching of the Word, Faithful Administration of the Sacraments, Administration of Church Discipline

I. The Word: Faithful preaching and receiving of the Word of God. 2Ti 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word…3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Col 1:24-28 "…I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known…28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Col 1:29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works w Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

III. Church discipline: II. The sacraments: faithful administration of baptism and Lord's Supper. Godfrey: "The sacraments visibly display the very heart of the Gospel. Baptism shows that we are saved only by the washing away of sin in Jesus, and the Lord’s Supper shows that Christians live only through the body and blood of Christ offered as a sacrifice on the cross." III. Church discipline: A. Formative: preaching/sacraments, means of grace B. Corrective: correct unchristian behavior. 3 Goals: 1. The honor of God’s name. 2. The purity of the body of Christ. 3. The restoration of the offender. C. Three stages of corrective discipline: admonition, suspension, excommunication Positive: "members are encouraged, built up, and strengthened through God’s appointed means and appointed messengers" Godfrey: "Discipline is necessary in the church according to the Belgic Confession (Article 32) to preserve harmony, unity, and obedience. Where such discipline is missing, the church is not recognizable as a holy community.

Church Government Type Churches Where Practiced I. Forms Church Government Type Definition Churches Where Practiced 1. Episcopalian/Hierarchical Rule by a hierarchy of bishops. Roman Catholic; Episcopalian 2. Presbyterian/Representative Rule by a plurality of elders. Presbyterian and other Reformed churches 3. Congregational/Democratic Rule by the congregation. Baptist, Pentecostal, many non-denominational churches

II. Why Presbyterianism? It's the Biblical form of gov't: A. Presbyterian churches seek to follow the pattern of church government seen in the NT, which was itself based on the pattern of the synagogues. B. 3 general classifications of officers:   1. Ministers: Word and sacrament; govern. 2. Ruling Elders: Govern church 3. Deacons: Ministries of mercy C. Bahnsen: "The office-bearers in the church are nominated and elected by the members of the congregation (e.g. Acts 6:5-6), but must also be examined, confirmed and ordained by the present board of elders (Acts 6:6; 13: 1-3; I Tim. 4: 14)." - Info drawn from New members guide - All ministers are also considered elders, although not all elders are ministers. Ministers are sometimes called teaching elders; the lay elders are called ruling elders.  

2. The Presbytery: governing body of the regional church. D. The Scriptures also teach a connectional principle of church government. In the Presbyterian system, assemblies of ministers and elders serve as councils with real authority over all the churches represented. (Acts 15). There are three such councils (church courts):   1. The Session: governing body of local church: lead pastor, any associate pastor(s), REs. 2. The Presbytery: governing body of the regional church.   3. The General Assembly: governing body of the entire PCA/coordinates our joint ministries and to settle issues which arise. Meets annually. Marston: "All its members are parts of the mystical body of Christ. (I Cor. 12:13, 27; Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:23-27; Col. 1:18, 24; Matt. 7:21-23; 25:1-12; John 15:1.)"

E. Members of the church have the right to appeal disputed matters in the congregation to their elders for resolution, and if the dispute is with those local elders, to appeal to the regional governing body (the presbytery) or beyond that, to the whole general assembly (Acts 15). The decisions of the wider governing bodies are authoritative in all the local congregations (Acts 15:22-23, 28, 30; 16:1-5).