The Church of God and of Christ

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Ephesians 1, 2; Lord's Day 21
Psalters: 239, 330, 131, 408
  1. The object of faith.
    1. The Church is an object of faith (“I believe”) - the same faith we have in God and in Christ.
    2. As an object of faith, the Church is composed of only true believers, from the beginning to the end of the world.
      1. The Church has three aspects: triumphant, militant, and latent.
      2. Even the Church militant (elect believers at any given time in history) is also an object of faith
    3. It is called the Church “of God” (Acts 20:28; I Cor. 1:2; II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; I Tim. 3:5,15) and “in God” (I & II Thess. 1:1).
    4. Implications.
      1. Its existence, nature and calling are determined by the Scriptures, not the ideas or judgments of men.
      2. The Church always exists (Belgic. Conf, art. 27).
  2. Jesus is the Head of the Church; which is His body.
    1. The figure of the “body” is that of a living organism with one life in all the parts, beautifully put together.
    2. Of the Body, Christ is the Head.
    3. So close is the the relationship of the church to Christ that the church is called the “fulness of Christ” (Eph. 1:23).
  3. Implications derived from this intimate relationship.
    1. Christ works all things “to the church,” i.e., for the church (Eph. 1:22).
    2. The church and each member must always live in the consciousness of total dependence of her Head.
      1. In Christ, our Head, we attain fulness, collectively and individually (Col. 2:10).
      2. Every need of the church and of each member is fulfilled with and by Christ.
    3. Thus the church and we its members are to strive to do the will of our Head.