Chapter 25 - Of the Church.
Section 1.) The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that filth all in all.(1)
(1) Eph 1:10,22,23; Eph 5:23,27,32; Col 1:18
------------------------------------
Section 2.) The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;(1) and of their children:(2) and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,(3) the house and family of God,(4) out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.(5)
(1) 1Co 1:2; 1Co 12:12,13; Ps 2:8; Rev 7:9; Ro 15:9-12
(2) 1Co 7:14; Ac 2:39; Eze 16:20,21; Ro 11:16; Ge 3:15; Ge 17:7
(3) Mt 13:47; Isa 9:7
(4) Eph 2:19; Eph 3:15
(5) Ac 2:47
------------------------------------
Section 3.) Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life to the end of the world: and doth, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.(1)
(1) 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11,12,13; Mt 28:19,20; Isa 59:21
------------------------------------
Section 4.) This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.(1) And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.(2)
(1) Ro 11:3,4; Rev 12:6,14
(2) Rev 2 and 3 throughout; 1Co 5:6,7
------------------------------------
Section 5.) The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;(1) and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.(2) Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to His will.(3)
(1) 1Co 13:12; Rev 2 and 3; Mt 13:24-30,47
(2) Rev 18:2; Ro 11:18-22
(3) Mt 16:18; Ps 72:17; Ps 102:28; Mt 28:19,20
------------------------------------
Section 6.) There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ.(1) Nor can the Pope of Roe, 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.(2)
(1) Col 1:18; Eph 1:22
(2) Mt 23:8-10; 2Th 2:3,4,8,9; Rev 13:6
------------------------------------