Nov 24
10
Second London Confession 26.5
“In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.” (John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-20
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:15–20)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
As we continue in our study of the doctrine of the church, I wish to remind you of the foundational principles articulated in the Second London Confession chapter 26, paragraphs 1 -4. As I have said in past sermons, the first three paragraphs of chapter 26 of our confession are very important because they present the most fundamental truths regarding the church. Essentially, they answer the question, what is the church, and who are its members to be? But paragraph 4 probably is the most significant paragraph in this chapter because of the principle articulated in the first sentence: “The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner.”
This statement communicates that Christ alone is Lord and Head of the church. All church power has been given to him by the Father. And what does he have the power to do? He has the power to call his universal church into existence, to institute local churches, to order local churches, and to govern them. This is what paragraphs 5-13 of chapter 26 of our confession are about. They tell us about the power of Christ to call, institute, order, and govern his churches and how he executes this power.
The Power Of Christ: His Act Of Calling
Paragraph 5 concerns Christ’s power to call his church into existence and the means he uses to accomplish this.
The paragraph begins with these words: “In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted…” Translation: Jesus Christ has the power to call his church into existence, and here is how he does it… “the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word.” Notice six things about this statement:
One, it is the Lord Jesus who calls his church into existence. He alone is the Head of the church, and as our great prophet, priest, and king, he alone is the one who has the power and authority to do this! John 10:16 is listed as a proof text. There Christ says, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold…” by this he means, he has other elect to gather who were not with him in the days of his earthly ministry. He goes on to say, “I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16). Jesus Christ alone has the power and authority to call his universal church into existence.
Two, the members of this church will be called from where? Out of the world. John 12:32 is listed as a proof text. There Christ says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). When he spoke of being “lifted up from the earth” he probably was alluding to his crucifixion and especially his ascension to the Father’s right hand. After he ascended, he promised to draw all people to himself. He is a great example of a place in Scripture where “all people” clearly does not mean all individuals without exception. If that is how you take it, then you make Jesus a lair. It should be clear to all that by “all people” Jesus means people from every tongue, tribe, and nation – people from the whole world. Christ’s universal church is being called into existence as sinners are “delivered… from the domain of darkness and transferred… to the kingdom” of Christ (Colossians 1:13).
Three, the members of the universal church will be called out of the world and “unto Christ”. Do not forget the definition of the catholic or universal church presented in 2LCF 26.1: The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called 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 filleth all in all.” It’s all about union with Christ, you see. And how is this union formed?
Four, the members of the universal church will be united to Christ the Head through the ministry of his word and by his Spirit. This is the doctrine of effectual calling. I cannot take the time to teach you the doctrine of effectual calling. It is expressed in chapter 10 of our confession. I’ll read you the first paragraph. “Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone; and giving to them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.” When 2LCF 26.5 says that Christ will gather his universal church to himself “through the ministry of his word, [and] by his Spirit”, it is to remind us of the doctrine of effectual calling. How does God effectually call sinners to repentance and faith? He calls them externally through the preaching of the word of God, especially the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he calls them inwardly by his Holy Spirit.
Five, who will be effectually called by Christ out of the world and into the universal church? Only “those that are given unto [Christ] by his Father.” This is the doctrine of predestination or election. It is articulated in chapter 3 of our confession, entitled, Of God’s Decree. For the sake of time, I’ll leave it to you to read that statement. The point is this, it will only be the elect of God who will be effectually called out of the world to true repentance and faith and into the catholic or universal church through their Spirit-wrought and faith-bound union with Christ the Head.
Six, what are those called out of the world and unto Christ to do? They are to “walk before [Christ] in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word.” The phrase “walk before [Christ]” reminds us that as we live life in this world (walking is used as a metaphor for living in the Scriptures) we walk before him, that is to say, before his eyes. Those united to Christ by faith have been set free from sin so that they might “walk before [Christ] in all the ways of obedience.” Those who love Christ will strive to keep his commandments (see John 14:15). And where do we find the commandments of Christ? Where do we learn how he commands us to live individually and corporately? Our confession says, “which he prescribeth to them in his word.”It is in the word of God that we find the commandments of Christ.
So far, we have been talking about the power of Christ to call his universal church into existence, that is to say, unto himself. The catholic or universal church is invisible, remember? It cannot assemble presently, at least not on earth. Notice that the second part of 2LCF26.5 directs our attention to the local church. “Those thus called, [Christ] commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.”
Here, we confess that Christ commands the members of the universal church to walk together in particular societies or churches. This should remind us of the description of the local church in 2LCF 26.2 and the word of caution in 26.3.
Who are the members of these local churches, or particular societies, to be? In brief, those who make a credible profession of faith and don’t destroy their profession of faith by holding to errors that undermine the foundation of the faith or by living in unrepentant sin. Notice, our confession does not say, that only the elect are to be received as members of local churches! Why? Because we cannot see who the elect are! A credible profession of faith is what is required. And here in 2LCF 26.5 we are told that all who are effectually called, Christ “commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches…”
Professing Christians must join churches. It’s impossible to read the New Testament and not see this principle. It’s been said that the New Testament is a church book from beginning to end, and I agree. The church – the local church – is everywhere present. If not explicitly mentioned, it is everywhere assumed.
Professing Christians must join themselves (formally)to local, particular congregations if they are to obey Christ. Stated negatively, to claim to be a Christian and to not formally join a church is to live in disobedience to Christ.
I could make a case for this in a variety of ways.
Those passages that command pastors or elders to shepherd the flock that is among them prove formal church membership (see 1 Peter 5). And those passages that command Christians to show honor to their pastors or elders also prove the point (see 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17). They assume a formally established relationship between pastors and members. By the way, they also assume that pastors and members will know one another personally.
I could also argue for formal church membership by pointing to the “one another” passages found throughout the epistles. Christians must love all people. They are to have a special love for all who are united to Christ by faith. But they have a special obligation to their fellow church members. It is within the local church that we are called to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)
Interestingly, our Confession lists Matthew 18:15-20 as a proof text for local church membership. This is a famous passage about church discipline. It might seem strange at first to argue for formal church membership from a passage about church discipline and excommunication, but the argument is powerful. Think of it. How can Matthew 18:15-20 ever be obeyed without formal church membership? To state the matter succinctly, how could the matter about unrepentant sin be told to the church if the members of the church are not identified? And how can a professing believer who is unrepentant be put out of the church if they never joined? Church discipline passages such as Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 assume formal church membership. They assume that those who are members of Christ’s universal and invisible body will formally join a local body of believers.
A more robust case for formal church membership could certainly be made, but this will have to do for now.
Lastly, what is the purpose of the local church? Our Confession answers this question succinctly when it says, “for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.” The church exists to edify saints and to worship God corporately and publicly in the world.
How are the saints edified, or built up? Principally, through the means of grace. The Spirit of God will use the word of God read and preached, prayer, and the sacraments to build up the body of Christ. And church members are called to edify one another in love. As Paul says, “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.” (Ephesians 4:15–16)
And how is the church to worship corporately and publically under the New Covenant? Chapter 22 of our confession has something to say about that. In brief, the church is to assemble on the Lord’s Day to worship according to the commands of Scripture. 2LCF 22.5 sums it up nicely. There we confess that “the reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear…”
The point of 2LCF 26.5 is this: Christ alone has the power to call his his universal church into existence.
Conclusion
The point of 2LCF 26.5 is this: Christ alone has the power to call his universal church into existence.
Q: How does Christ execute his power to call his church into existence?
A: “In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.”
