Our Faith Concerning The Church

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