Faith Concerning The Gathering of the Church
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
2/23/2014 AM
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Text:
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Isaiah 43;
Lord's Day 21
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Psalters: |
350, 87, 368, 182 |
- The fact.
- Not man, but the Son of God gathers (builds), defends, and preserves the church as it is manifested on earth.
- The Lord Jesus added daily to the church (Acts 2:47); He is the Shepherd and He is the Door (John 10:14,7,9).
- Election is the Father giving us to Christ and Jesus? death determines the membership of the church.
- It must be a divine work, not human: a wonder of grace.
- History shows how the Son of God gathered His Church.
- Early in history (2500 years) the church had the form of families (including children and servants) under fathers.
- Later the nation of Israel was constituted the visible church (for 1500 years), limited to one nation almost exclusively.
- In the New Dispensation the church matured to a distinct existence and to a universal existence (2000 years).
- The manner in which the Church is gathered: by God's Word and Spirit, and in the line of generations.
- The Shepherd, gathers and preserves by calling His people internally and efficaciously.
- The exalted Son of God calls externally through the means of the external preaching of the Word.
- What makes the external call to be internal and efficacious is His Spirit.
- Christ gathers and preserves the one church, the spiritual seed of Abraham (Rom. 4:11,12; Gal. 3:7-9).
- Only the children of the promise are counted for the seed, not the children of the flesh (Rom. 9:6).
- He usually gathers in the line of generations, the natural or creative way (Gen. 17:7; Isa. 43:5; Acts 2:39; Deut. 6:6-8).
- Also the church is identified as the pillar and ground of the truth, which defends and preserves the members (I Tim. 3:15).
- God graciously assures His children of their membership so they say, "I am and forever shall remember a member."
- This assurance is not always equally present (Canon I-16; V-11).
- The reasons for a lack of assurance.
- The presence of doubt does not alter our unchangeable membership in Christ's body (Canons V-6,7).
- Assurance springs from faith in God?s promises and from the testimony of the Spirit witnessing with our spirit (Canons V-10).
- The heavenly Father does not leave His adopted children wondering about their status with Him (Canons V-11).
- Assurance is maintained through the means of grace and through sanctification (II Thess. 2:13).