The Church

Article 18: The Church

18-1 The Church is the body of which Christ is the head.1 All those redeemed by His blood2 and born of His Spirit are members of that body and are in mystical union and communion with Christ3 and fellow believers.4 The Church is universal and local, visible and invisible. The visible Church consists of all those professing faith in Christ. The invisible Church is composed of all those born of the Spirit.5 18-2 The purpose of the Church is to worship God,6 to edify the saints7 and to evangelize the world.8 18-3 The Head of the Church administers the affairs of His body through overseers chosen by Himself and selected by the people.9 18-4 A properly constituted local Church must include the ministry of God’s Word, the observance of the ordinances, the oversight by elders,10 and the exercise of discipline.11 The overseers of the Church are to be prayed for, obeyed, and honored.12

Article 19: The Evangelistic Mission of the Church

19-1 The Church has been commissioned by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to all nations.1Each Particular Church and every believer bear responsibility for this commission.2 19-2 God has clearly revealed in the Gospel the only way of salvation sufficient for and applicable to the whole lost race of mankind.3 Based on His infinite and perfect love and His expressed desire that all men be saved,4 He bids that the Church – with urgency, compassion, and persuasion – proclaim the gospel to all people and invite them to believe.5 19-3 It is the duty and privilege of everyone who hears the gospel to repent and receive its merciful provisions.6 Those who do are saved,7 and those who continue in impenitence and unbelief incur aggravated guilt and perish by their own fault.8

What’s the difference between the universal and local church?

The Unity of the Church

One head

Col 1:18-20.

Colossians 1:18–20 ESV

And he 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.

That Christ is the head of the church is to say that He is the substance of the church’s unity and coherence.

Christ is also the source of the church’s sustenance (life) and direction.

One body

The same means of salvation

1 Pet 1:18-19.

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

John 3:5.

John 3:5 ESV

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

United to Christ

Rom 6:5-6.

Romans 6:5–6 ESV

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

United to one another

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

The Purpose of the Church

To worship God

John 4:23-24.

John 4:23–24 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

To edify the saints

Eph 4:11-16.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

To evangelize the world

Matt 28:19-20.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Cor. 5:18-20.

for article 19-1

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

A significant component of believers’ lives is described as ambassadorial.

with urgency, compassion and persuasion - proclaim the gospel to all people and invite them to believe.

A definition of evangelism: teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade (Mack Stiles)

The Purpose Statement of Grace BFC

To Exalt the Triune God,

To Edify the Saints,

To Evangelize the World.

The Administration of the Church

The Shepherd and under-shepherds

1 Pet 5:1-4.

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

The Means of Grace in the Church

Body life

Acts 2:42-47.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.