The Marks of the Church

Many Christians throughout history have boiled down what it means to be a true local church into two things: right preaching of the Word and right administration of the Sacraments. In other words, Christian Teaching and Christian Rituals. It is these two points which we will explore in the Scriptures.

Another important thing to keep in mind here is the distinction between the VISIBLE and the INVISIBLE church. When discussing the marks of a true church, we are discussing the VISIBLE church. Meaning, a church where people may or may not be regenerated, but the necessary elements of the gospel are present enough that it is possible that there are genuine converts.

Remember, a TRUE church is not the same thing as a HEALTHY church

Listen to the words of Jesus to the church at Laodicea:

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

The Laodicean church was a true church, but it wasn’t healthy.

Christian Teaching

I. The Word Creates

In Genesis 1, God made all things by his Word.

In Genesis 3, Humanity fell into sin, but God sustained them by a Word of promise.

In Genesis 12, God creates a new people for himself by his Word of promise to Abraham.

In Exodus 3, God calls Moses out of the wilderness to deliver his people.

In Exodus 20, he creates a formal nation by giving them laws.

In Ezekiel 37, in a prophetic vision, God brings life to the dead bones of Israel through his Word being preached by Ezekiel.

In the New Testament writings, the great commission and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost create the first new covenant church.

This is important because God’s Words have always been central to the life of God’s people. And what else is Christian Teaching but the Word of God?

II. Christian Teaching Defined

This is a difficult point to make because of two ditches we could easily fall into: either we go too far in requiring right theology and make arbitrary theologic requirements that the Scriptures don’t make, or we we don’t go far enough and leave out essential things that the Word of God requires.

Another difficulty is that just because a local church has right preaching and right administration of the sacraments, it does not necessarily mean that everyone in that congregation is born again. It just means that the outward form is present in such a way that it could actually lead to the regeneration of sinners. So what is minimally needed in order to have right preaching?

A helpful thought exercise is working up from things that we know for sure are not churches of Jesus Christ until we get to something that is.

Pagan gather for worship

Muslim mosque

Jewish Synagogue

Roman Catholic Mass

Liberal LGBT affirming church that distorts doctrine

SUMMARY of Doctrine

Biblical Understanding of God

Biblical Understanding of the person of Christ

Biblical Understanding of the work of Christ

Biblical Understanding of Sin and God’s Law

Biblical Understanding of Forgiveness and Grace

The Apostles’ Creed is a good summary

Read the Apostles’ Creed

Christian Rituals

Baptism: Water, Triune name, Marking off Christian from Pagan

The Lord’s Supper: Remembering the death of Christ and the forgiveness found in him by partaking of the bread and wine

Conclusion

It is important for a true church to be wrong about many things.