Christians often get asked, “What is the church?” Although they furnish good answers, there is none better than what chapter twenty-five, sections one through five of The Westminster Confession of Faith provides. This essay will list each confession and provide comments:
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 fullness of him that filleth all in all (Eph. 1:10, 22-23; 5:23,27,32; Col. 1:18).
Comment: Section one teaches us that the church is “catholic” or “universal;” terms that are synonymous. These terms mean that the church exists in all ages consisting of the people of God who He calls to be His own (Rev. 17:14). Those called are described as His “elect.” And since we cannot know the hearts of people, we do not truly know who are the elect and since the elect is in all ages the WCF describes those distinct people as the “invisible” church. Also, this Jesus Christ is the head of the invisible church that Scripture describes in terms of His body, spouse, army, house, etc. Morton Smith states, [The church] “speaks of the idea of a people who are called or chosen. Revelation 17:14 speaks of those with the Lamb, the Lord of lords and King of kings as ‘the called and chosen and faithful.’ This phrase describes the Church of God in all ages” (Morton Smith, Systematic Theology:2, 515).
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 Cor. 1:2; 12:12-13; Psa. 2:8, Rev. 7:9; Rom. 15:9-12) and of their children (1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Gen. 17:7-12; Ezek. 16:20-21; Rom. 4:12,16,24; 11:16; Gal. 3:7,9,14): and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 13:47; Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:30-36; Col. 1:13), the house and family of God (Eph. 2:19; 3:15), out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation (Acts 2:47).
Comment: Whereas section one teaches what the church is “in all ages,” section two describes what the church looks like in the present, that is why it is called “visible,” also. This is the church one can see right now in all its forms and with all the people gathered together. When one attends a local church, section two describes what that person will observe. However, that person can also look at all the churches gathering together in all the nations of the world and observe what the church looks like. So, section two explains the differences between individuals that make up a local church and the differences between individual assemblies of people everywhere in the world that make up the church.
Another distinction section two makes is the assemblies include the “children of believers.” Morton Smith reminds us concerning Abraham’s circumcision of Isaac and Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, “the people of God continued primarily in the family structure, which evolved into tribal configuration, with rule by elders…. This great assembly of Israel was the model for the concept of the congregation or assembly of the people of God before God” (Smith, 521). In other words, God requires not only members of the visible church to assemble, but their children are included as well.
In section two the WCF describes the visible church as the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Louis Berkhof states, “The idea of the Kingdom of God is primarily an eschatological concept.” He explains that it is not a theocratic concept but “that of the rule of God established and acknowledged in the hearts of sinners by the powerful regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, insuring them of the inestimable blessing of salvation, — a rule that is realized in principle on earth, but will not reach its culmination until the visible and glorious return of Jesus Christ” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 483). And Brakel speaks of its glory and elegance when he states, “In this church there is both glory and elegance. For a moment give attentive consideration to the glorious state of that kingdom and its true subjects. The earth and the nations are enveloped in darkness; however, wondrous light is to be found in the church” (Wilhelmus À Brakel, The Christian’s Reasonable Service:2, 58).
Finally, section two speaks of those “out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.” Again, Brakel explains, “it is an obvious truth that there is no salvation outside of the church; he who does not have the church his mother, does not have God as His Father, for the church alone has the truth and preaches the truth, without which no one can be converted and saved” (Brakel, 11).
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 Cor. 12:28; Eph 4:11-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Isa. 59:12).
Comment: Section three describes God’s means of grace through the Word of God, the preaching of that word, and the Holy Spirit’s effectuating His Word in the members of the church. Smith states, “There is a twofold work for the church to accomplish. It is the gathering of the elect through the preaching of the Word, and then the instruction of those gathered in the full teaching of the Word” (Smith, 546).
4. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible (Rom. 11:3-5; Acts 2:41,47; 18:8-10; 9:31). 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 (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 5:6-7; Rev. 2-3).
Comment: Section four describes the church as “sometimes more or sometimes less visible.” This use of the term “visible” is not what is discussed above in sections one through three. Section four uses the term “visible” in relation to the church’s militant state upon the earth. Smith reminds us “that the source of the power of the church must be from Christ himself. It is not the voluntary consent of the members that gives her power, but the command and authority of her king” (Smith, 597). And Brakel says, “This one church in its militant state upon the earth manifests itself at times more openly in her public assemblies, confession, and holiness. She is then called the visible church. At other times she is more hidden from the eyes of the world by prevailing errors, ungodliness, or persecutions. Then she is referred to as the invisible church (Rev. 12:14)” (Brakel, 5).
Section four also makes it plain that the church is not perfect, whether it be the universal church or a local church. There are periods of time, epochs, that the church has much corruption within her. There are local congregations that may be toxic compared to the universal church in times that it is more holy. There are also ungodly members within a local assembly that disrupts the peace and purity of the church. The point of the section is to describe for us the church when she is not well and why that may be the case (1 Cor. 10:5; 11:21; 15:34; Gal. 5:12; John 6:66; Phil 2:21). It also helps us understand that when the church is in a more holy state, there is an expectation that it might turn south in God’s providence.
5. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error (1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. 2-3; Matt. 13:24-30,47); and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan (Matt. 23:37-39; Rom. 11:18-22). Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will (Matt. 16:18; Psa. 45:16-17; 72:17; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:17).
Comment: There is an explanation of the first portion of section five above in section four. However, what needs emphasis here is the last sentence that no matter what the church may look like presently, whether more holy or like a den of Satan, it will always have a faithful remnant to worship God in spirit and truth. In closing, Brakel says, “As the church is holy 1) because she consists of truly converted and believing members only, 2) because only there they are instructed concerning and exhorted to true holiness, 3) and because there true holiness is to be found, manifesting itself before the eyes of all who are able to distinguish true holiness from the counterfeit holiness which manifests itself in other assemblies” (Brakel, 17). Lord Jesus, may it be so!
Andrews PCA 