B. The Church and Its Members (Chapters 2-6) Flashcards
What is the visible church?
- “The Church which the Lord Jesus Christ has erected in this world for the gathering and perfecting of the saints.”
- All churches that “maintain the Word and Sacraments in the their fundamental integrity”
Who are the members of the visible church?
• “All those persons in every nation, together with their children, who make profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and promise submission to His laws.”
What is the power of the church?
- The Power of Order: Officers preaching the Word, administering the sacraments, etc.
- The Power of Jurisdiction: Officers judging/disciplining
How does the power of the church differ from that of the state?
• The Church
o Derives its power from divine revelation
o “The power of the Church is exclusively spiritual”- “to proclaim, to administer, and to enforce the law of Christ revealed in the Scriptures.”
o Has no right to construct or modify a government of the State
• The State
o Derives its power from human reason and providence
o Includes the exercise of force
o Has no right to frame a creed or polity for the Church
What is a particular church?
• “A number of professing Christians, with their children, associated together for divine worship and godly living, agreeable to the Scriptures, and submitting to the lawful government of Christ’s kingdom”
What is a mission church?
- A newly established local church that as of yet “has no permanent governing body.”
- Ordinarily initiated and overseen by the Presbytery
What two kinds of members does the church have?
- Non-communing: Children of believers
* Communing: Made a profession of faith, been baptized, and have been admitted to the Lord’s Table
What are the respective rights and privileges of the different members of the church?
- Non-communing: Entitled to baptism, pastoral oversight, instruction
- Communing: Admitted to he Lord’s Supper (all can vote and qualified men can serve as officers)
