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| 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. |
The Church of Christ Jesus, and the local church of which you are a member...
An elect is united to THE ONE glorious church of Jesus Christ, in time, by the grace of God alone, through the effectual calling out of the state of sin and death, in which he is in by nature, to grace and salvation, without his meeting any condition (obviously one in the state of sin and death can't possibly meet any condition, can he?). This is eternal salvation by God's free grace ALONE. And ALONE means ALONE.A child of God (an elect that has been effectually called) becomes a member of a local church through obeying the command of Christ to 'repent and be baptized.' And he maintains his membership by his walking in the ways of the Lord - daily entering the strait gate, and walking the narrow way. This is working out his own salvation with fear and trembling. This is temporal salvation conditioned on the obedience of God's children.
1689.26.5 -
"In the execution of this power wherewith He is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto Himself, through the ministry of His Word, by His Spirit, those that are given unto Him by His Father,(9) that they may walk before Him in all the ways of obedience, which He prescribeth to them in His Word.(10) Those thus called, He commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which He requireth of them in the world.(11)"
The Lord God CALLS out of the world unto Himself, through the ministry of His Word, and by His Spirit (this is the same as the effectual calling stated in 1689.10.1 - "Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,(1) by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ...) ...
Those that are thus called out of the world into His one church by His sovereign grace, He commands to walk together in particular churches through the gospel ministry.
There is one general church of Jesus Christ...
and...
there are many particular churches of Jesus Christ, a partial manifestation of that one Church in time.
"An elect is united to THE glorious church of Jesus Christ, in time" - i.e. at God's own appointed and accepted time. The time an elect is united with the ONE glorious church of Jesus Christ is determined by the Triune God alone.
The time a child of God united himself with a particular church is co-determined by himself and that particular church.
