The
1689 Confession of Faith - A midweek bible study notes
Chapter
26 - Of the Church
The
Perpetuity of the Universal Church (26.3)
(1689.26-3)
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some
have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of
Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in
this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession
of his name.
(1Co
5; Rev 2-3; Rev 18:2; 2Th 2:11,12; Mt 16:18; Ps 72:17; Ps 102:28; Rev 12:17 )
1.
A harsh reality is stated
a.
"The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error..."
-
“and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but
synagogues of Satan…”
-
“mixture”: a combination of good and bad; there are good and bad disciples in
each local church; some are hundred-fold disciples to those that are barren for
all kinds of reasons. See the parable of the sower.
-
“mixture” has to do with practical godliness; “error” relates to doctrinal
purity, what’s believed.
b. Local churches can sin, and have sin horribly
(1Cor 1:11; 5:1; 6:6, etc) and even apostatize (Rev 2:5)
-
Churches which are in essence 'synagogues of Satan' is a reality; churches turn
and morph into the latter in a gradual process, it’s not a not overnight
phenomenon.
-
Do not blindly follow the examples and teachings of any church or its leaders.
-
Don’t be high-minded; the purest churches are subject to mixture and error;
naturally, each church thinks highly of herself.
-
Be watchful; pray for the faithfulness, and purity of the church: be watchful
against personal sins and corporate sins, and admonish those in sins, whether
practically or doctrinally.
2.
A glorious certainty is declared
a.
"… Nevertheless, Christ always has had, and ever shall have a kingdom in
this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession
of his name. (Mt 16:18).
-
In spite of harsh realities which may befall individual churches (and even upon
entire 'denomination'), the universal church of Jesus Christ will always
continue, even in the darkest of times, and manifest itself visibly through
those who “believe in him, and make profession of his name.”
b.
There have always been believers on earth... "those who believe in Him,
and made a profession of His name."
-
Mat 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it."
---------------------
Jesus
Christ is the Singular Head of the Universal Church (26:4)
(1689.26-4)
“The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment
of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of
the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope
of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin,
and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and
all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming.
(Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians
2:2-9 )
1.
Jesus Christ is alone the head of the universal church
a.
“The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church...”
2.
Jesus Christ’s headship is by the appointment of God the Father
a. "... by appointment of the Father..."
-
He was not self-appointed nor appointed by man.
3.
Jesus Christ alone has been invested with all power as Head of the Church
a.
“… in whom … all power… is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner…”
-
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
4.
Jesus Christ has been invested with all power for specific purposes:
a.
“… for the calling, institution, order or government of the church…”
-
These three distinct functions are carefully elaborated in later paragraphs.
-
Christ exercises His headship through His appointed representatives on earth.
-
His apostles were the 'universal overseers' of the whole church and through
their witness its foundation.
b.
The work of the ascended Christ is carried on through the Apostolic witnesses,
who then delivered the faith to the saints through the inspired Scriptures.
-
These apostles, the universal overseers of the church, appointed local
overseers in the individual churches by the guidance of the Spirit of Christ
(Eph 4:11; Acts 14;23; 13;1; 20:28; 1Pet 5:1; Tit 1:5-9).
c.
These leaders, who are variously called elders, overseers, or pastor-teachers,
exercise only local and delegated authority in the particular church where they
are.
-
In those churches they have been called and ordained, they do exercise Christ's
authority and rule over Christ's church. (1Tim 5:17; Heb 13:7,17).
-
They are the only earthly representatives of Christ's authority. Their authority
is strictly local - in the realm of the particular churches in which they have
been received as overseers.
d.
The True Vicar (representative) of Christ on earth is the Holy Spirit, not any
man.
-
Christ alone is the one and only supreme and sovereign head of His church by
divine appointment.
-
All authority necessary for the calling (the effectual call), the institution
(gathering of the effectually called and constituting them into visible local
churches) and the proper ordering of the churches is vested in Christ alone.
5.
The Pope of Rome is no head of Christ’s church in any sense
a.
“neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof…”
-
The Pope of Rome does not qualify in any sense.
-
His claim to universal authority over all churches (and nations) is
blasphemous; he claims the honour which belongs to Jesus Christ alone, he
exalts himself in Christ’s church against Christ.
-
He is the head of the Harlot Church of Rome.
6.
The Papacy of Rome identified
a.
“… 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…”
-
The pope is thus an antichrist, the usurper; he is head of the harlot, not of
the Bride; Christ is the Head of His Bride; the Pope is the Head of His Harlot.
7.
The Pope of Rome and his certain destruction
a.
“… the son of perdition… whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming.”
-
His end is certain and assured; as certain and assured as the glorious coming
of Christ.
Questions
for discussion
Q.
Can a person claim membership in the universal church and not be a 'visible'
saint. Why?
Q.
"The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error."
Comment. Make applications.
Q.
Why is Christ the one true head of the church?
Q.
Why is the Spirit of Christ the true representative of Christ on earth?
Q.
What is the Confession's definition of a 'visible saint'?
-
'All individual congregation ought to be constituted of such people.' Why?
