I recently posted this as an email to a few friends.
I’m sad at current events. And the reality of evil in the world.
Mike Ratliff also had a recent article about two early Martyrs.
Two good messages…the 2nd is a few years old now…. But still applies..
Perhaps due to recent events more will be willing to speak up and respectfully continue the dialogue and not remain silent on issues, even in the face of trials. If we are lucky maybe even in the context of the church.
There is a good article about the “Effectual Call” here:
https://www.reformedclassicalist.com/home/q31-what-is-effectual-calling
….That one is a new site for me…but it’s material looks good from a first reading..
Most people in church don’t get taught that concept…
But it’s behind ideas we sing about like: Amazing Grace
Pastor Ganger spoke along these lines on the importance of being part of the Invisible Church in his Sunday night sermon….
http://trinityurcwc.org/?wpfc_sermon=nature-of-the-church-prt-2
Part of his current teaching on the Belgic Confession about the church. the Belgic came before the WCF which said similar things about the church here:
WCF 25: Of the Church
Belgic Confession Article XXVIII – Every One is Bound to Join Himself to the True Church
We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and outside of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw from it, content to be by himself; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the Church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.
And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the Church, and to join themselves to this congregation, wheresoever God has established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes were against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same or do not join themselves to it act contrary to the ordinance of God
Article XXIX – The Marks of the True Church, and Wherein it Differs from the False Church
We believe that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not of the Church, though externally in it; but we say that the body and communion of the true Church must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves the Church.
The marks by which the true Church is known are these: If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in chastening [1] of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.
With respect to those who are members of the Church, they may be known by the marks of Christians; namely, by faith, and when, having received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof. But this is not to be understood as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the Spirit all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion, and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom they have remission of sins, through faith in Him.
As for the false Church, it ascribes more power and authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit itself to the yoke of Christ. Neither does it administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in His Word, but adds to and takes from them, as it thinks proper; it relies more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those who live holily according to the Word of God and rebuke it for its errors, covetousness, and idolatry.
These two Churches are easily known and distinguished from each other.
[1] “Punishing” has been changed to “chastening”.
Sent from my iPad
Rainbow Trout 