Theology of theWestminster Confession

Adult Sunday School

2017

The Church &Communion of the Saints

WCF 25-26

The Church

Of the Church

The catholic (that is, universal) church, which is invisible, consists of all the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ its head. This church is his bride, his body, and the fullness of him who fills all in all. [WCF 25.1, MESV]

WCF25.1

The Church

An “invisible” church

• This section of the WCF teaches us that believers have vital union with Christ in his work of mediation

• The universal church consists of all God's people

• The universal aspect of the church cannot be witnessed at one time so it is referred to as the "invisible" church

• "Invisible" here captures one aspect of the existence of the church

• Church as described is always defined in relationship to Jesus Christ (true believers are united to Jesus Christ)

WCF25.1

The Church

The head of the church

• Christ is head over all things and in a special way he is head over his church. All rule in the church is under his leadership.

• Consequently church leaders must minister in his name because Christ is the sole head of the church as much as he is sole Savior

• WCF mentions not only Christ's leadership in the church, but also in faithfulness to Scripture (Eph 1:23)

• Christ the king reigning over all (kingdom); Christ as head of the church (body); and Christ the mediator (his people)

• Church is the fullness of the one who in himself fills all in all

• The church is Christ's 'spouse', his 'body', even his 'fullness'

Jesus is the “head” and Christians are the “body” of the church

WCF25.1

The Church

Of the Church

The visible church, which is also catholic (that is, universal) under the gospel (that is, not confined to one nation, as it was before under the law), would who profess the true religion, together with their children. It is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, outside of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. [WCF 25.2, MESV]

WCF25.2

The Church

Universal and visible

• Church is both universal (invisible) and visible (and universal)

•Who are in the church?• Christ's inheritance of those who were once

unbelievers, ushered into the church from all nations, is a major focus on the Scriptures

• The church consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion

WCF25.2

The Church

Professors and “their children”

• Yesterdays "professors" are today's "believers" who acknowledged and owned the one true Redeemer and assembled in Christ's name

• Church consists of "professors" and their children (not automatically Christians by this relationship)

• Children of "professing" Christians are God's before they are ours

• God takes ownership of covenant children

• Church is visible, universal and covenantal, includes believing parent(s) and their children

Covenant children are not to be treated as “little pagans”

WCF25.2

The Church

The church as kingdom, house, and family

• Church is a family and a kingdom

• However, the kingdom of God is not limited to the church but the church is certainly the kingdom of Jesus Christ

• Christ's kingdom is certainly bigger than the church but it certainly includes the church

WCF25.2

The Church

Inside and outside the church

• Who are out of the church?

• Outside of the church there is no ordinary possibility of salvation

• New Testament pattern: People joined to Christ were joined to his church

WCF25.2

The Church

Of the Church

To this universal, visible church, Christ has given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the age. For this purpose he makes these means effectual by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise. [WCF 25.3, MESV]

WCF25.3

The Church

The ministry, oracles, and ordinances

• The God ordained context for ministry is a churchly context. The church is a unique institution of which Christ is the head and it is the repository for special gifts related to the gospel.

• These gifts are for the universal visible church, for the church of Christ as a whole

• The main purpose of the "gifts" is for perfecting the saints, to make us more like the perfect man

WCF25.3

The Church

Gathering and perfecting

• When a person is brought to Christ the work has only begun to address spiritual immaturity, doctrinal error and equipping to minister

• These gifts are needed in our own lifetime, useful to the ends of the earth and the end of the world

• First truth is Jesus' command to teach and baptize all nations and second truth is Christ's assurance that he would be with his preachers and teachers until the end of time (Mt 28:19-20)

• Christ promised his presence before he ascended to heaven

The main purpose of spiritual gifts is for “perfecting” saints

WCF25.3

The Church

Of the Church

This universal church has been sometimes more and sometimes less visible. Particular churches, which are members of this universal church, are more or less pure to the extent to which the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, the ordinances are administered, and public worship is performed more or less purely in them. [WCF 25.4, MESV]

WCF25.4

The Church

The visibility of the church, and the marks of the church

• The universal church is more or less evident. There have been periods both in OT and NT when it proved very hard to see the church surviving at all.

• The Westminster Assembly was willing to calibrate the purity of a church based on the relative purity of the three marks of a church: (1) relative purity of the gospel taught and embraced in those churches; (2) administration of the sacraments; and (3) conduct of public worship.

• Proper administration of the sacraments also includes discipline

WCF25.4

The Church

Of the Church

The purest churches on earth are subject to both mixture and error, and some have so degenerated that they have become no churches of Christ at all, but rather synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall always be a church on earth to worship God according to his will. [WCF 25.5, MESV]

WCF25.5

The Church

Mixed churches

• Even the purest of churches is subject to error

• We are sinners and now we see in a mirror dimly (1 Cor 13:12)

• Some churches have so degenerated as to become no churches at all in the true sense

• But there will always be a true church on earth to worship God according to his will

No true church is totally pure, but there is such a thing as a false “church”

WCF25.5

The Church

The pope as the antichrist?

There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome be its head in any sense. [WCF 25.6, MESV]

• The historic WCF text continues the sentence:

• … “but is, that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the church, against Christ, and all that is called God.”

• Bible proof-texts the Westminster Assembly provided (Mt 23:8-10; 2 Thess 2:3-4, 8-9; Rev 13:6)

• Edited in 1903 by American Presbyterians to remove language that provided "antichrist" labels to the Pope

WCF25.6

The Church

Of the Communion of Saints

All saints - who are united to Jesus Christ their head by his Spirit and by faith - have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory. And, being united to one another in love, they participate in each other's gifts and graces and are obligated to perform those public and private duties which lead to their mutual good, both inwardly and outwardly. [WCF 26.1, MESV]

WCF26.1

The Church

Union with Christ

• Teaches that believers have vital union with Christ in his work of mediation and as a consequence of vital union with Christ that believers also have communion with each other and in each other's gifts and graces

• Shifts from the topic of headship of Christ with his whole church to the union of Christ with every Christian

• States how we are united to Christ, in what way we fellowship with him, and how we are to find communion with the saints

All saints are savingly united to Jesus Christ

WCF26.1

The Church

Sharing in the grace of Christ

• Once united to Christ we cannot but have fellowship with him

• We not only share in the grace of Christ but we share in his grace by sharing in his sufferings, his death, resurrection, and glory

WCF26.1

The Church

Communion with the saints

• If all Christians are united to Christ, then that in Christ we are united to one another

• It is to him that we are joined and held together, and together we speak the truth in love and are built up in love (Eph 4:15-16)

• This communion of the saints in gifts and graces is so important that the Holy Spirit is given for the common good (1 Cor 12:7)

To be united to Christ necessarily results in unity with other Christians

WCF26.1

The Church

Christian communion in community

• Because we are in union with Christ and in communion with each other, we are obliged to perform public and private duties for our mutual good taking care of the Christians around us

• Christian communion is not simply occupied with the inner man, it also cares about the outer man

• This love for each other cannot be restricted to what we have; it needs to encompass who we are

Our communion with Christ informs our communion with each other

WCF26.1

The Church

Of the Communion of Saints

It is the duty of professing saints to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God and in performing such other spiritual services as help them to edify one another. It is their duty also to come to the aid of one another in material things according to their various abilities and necessities. As God affords opportunity, this communion is to be extended to all those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus. [WCF 26.2, MESV]

WCF26.2

The Church

The worship of God

• Teaches that this communion entails certain mutual duties and obligations among believers

• Explains how we are to hold communion with one another in and out of the boundaries of corporate worship

• Part of our profession of Christians is to maintain fellowship and communion in all that we do and have and are

• We are especially bound to maintain a holy fellowship and a holy communion both with God and with each other

WCF26.2

The Church

The tendency to drift from worship

• While many Christians have a taste of heaven in Lord's Day worship (communion with God and communion with each other), there has always been a drift in the Christian church away from active, corporate worship

• Word of God has actively warned Christians against neglecting to meet together and directs us instead to be always encouraging one another (Heb 10:25)

• In all of these spiritual services to God there is a spiritual service offered to each other

Mutual edification should be one of our goals as we worship

WCF26.2

The Church

The “outward things”

• One overflow of this communion in worship is a communion in goods

• This communion in goods is to be extended to all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus (2 Cor 8:9; Acts 11:29-30)

• The communion of the saints extends beyond the confines of our church or locality. It is to be an expression of the overflow of Christ's love for all his people, among all his people.

WCF26.2

The Church

Of the Communion of saints

The communion which the saints have with Christ does not make them in any way partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or in any respect equal with Christ. To affirm either is irreverent and blasphemous. Nor does their fellowship with one another as saints take away or infringe upon any person’s title to, or right to, his own goods and possessions. [WCF 26.3, MESV]

WCF26.3

The Church

No possibility of divinization

• The union and communion with Christ which are enjoyed by believers• does not mean that they become divine, or equal with

Christ

• nor does the communion of believers with each other destroy the right of private property

• Clarifies the limits of union and communion with Christ and his people

• The communion that we have with Christ is with Christ as our mediator, not with Christ in his being

• We do not share in Christ's divine qualities and we are not equal with Christ in any respect

WCF26.3

The Church

No requirement for communalism

• There are also limits to the parameters so our communion with one another

• Scriptures both exhibit and require saints sharing with those who are in need

Communion does not require communalism!

WCF26.3

The Church

Summary of key pointsWCF25-26

• Jesus is the “head” and Christians are the “body” of the church

• Covenant children are not to be treated as “little pagans”

• The main purpose of spiritual gifts is for “perfecting” saints

• No true church is totally pure, but there is such a thing as a false

“church”

• All saints are savingly united to Jesus Christ

• To be united to Christ necessarily results in unity with other

Christians

• Our communion with Christ informs our communion with each

other

• Mutual edification should be one of our goals as we worship

• Communion does not require communalism

The Church

Consider and discuss

1. The WCF teaches the church is a kingdom, a house, and a family. What are some other biblical metaphors for the church? Which resonates most with you?

2. List some common criticisms and praises of the church. How does the Bible speak to each of these?

3. “I love Jesus but I can’t stand the church.” Discuss.

WCF25-26

4. Why do you think the Westminster Assembly confessed the Pope is the antichrist? Why would later Presbyterians remove this language from the WCF?

5. Jesus gave his life on the cross for his church. If you loved the church as Jesus does, how would your life change?

The Church

Memorize

And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:18-20

WCF25-26

The Church

Going deeper

Books

• Allberry, Sam. Why Bother With Church? (Beginner)

• Savage, Timothy. The Church: God’s New People. (Beginner)

• Ryken, Philip. The Communion of Saints. (Intermediate)

• Clowney, Edmund. The Church. (Advanced)

Articles

• Packer, J.I. The Church.

• DeYoung, Kevin. 9 Marks of an Unhealthy Church.

• Articles on Ecclesiology at Monergism.com.

WCF25-26

The Church