Our Faith Concerning The Church
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/17/2012 AM
|
Text:
|
Isaiah 43;
Lord's Day 21
|
Psalters: |
350, 321, 237, 379 |
- What It Is
- The church of Jesus Christ is an object of faith ? the same faith we have in Jesus.
- As an object of faith, the church is composed of only true believers from the beginning to the end of the world.
- It is the church ?of God? (Acts 20:28; I Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9.
- It is chosen by God in election (compare I Cor. 1:2 with Eph. 1:1,4,5).
- It is built by God through Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:18).
- Its earthly manifestation takes place by it being ?called out? of the world and into conscious fellowship with God.
- The manner in which Jesus gathers His church is through His Word and Spirit.
- He alone knows whom God has elected and for whom He died.
- Jesus, the Shepherd, gathers by issuing an internal call which efficaciously gathers and preserves.
- He calls by speaking and His sheep hear His voice (John 10:4,5,14,16,27).
- The Word He speaks is mighty, calling the elect out of darkness into His light (I Peter 2:9).
- Jesus singles out the means of preaching and sacraments in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19).
- The Bible describes preaching as the fountain from which the Church springs: Rom. 10:17; I Cor. 1:21; I Pet. 1:23-25.
- Jesus calls and sends preachers through the instrumentality of the church: Rom. 10:15; Acts 13:1-4; 14:26,27.
- The result of Jesus gathering and defending is the visible manifestation of the church in particular places (I Cor. 1;2).
- Implications of Christ?s gathering of the church.
- That it is His work assures me that ?I am and forever shall remain a member? of her.
- The ones being saved are made to be a part of the church (Acts 2:47).
- The church must ever live in the consciousness of her total dependence of Christ, Her head.
- It is only in Christ that we collectively and individually attain fulness (Col. 2:10).
- Every need of the church is fulfilled with and by Jesus Christ.