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2. Add the outward members and church officebearers, government, and ordinances, formed for the benefit of the church and its manifestation to the world, and the result is the scriptural presentation of the Church Visible.

Limit the Church Visible's universal characteristic to those who unite under common doctrinal standards, church order, and ecclesiastical government and you have the man-made distinction of a church denomination.

3. Specify one congregation of a denomination assembling together to worship God in a certain locality and the result is the scriptural proclamation of the local church.

4. Refer to the appointed officers of a local church who represent that church, and you are referring to the scriptural declaration of the church officebearers.

The Bible refers to membership in God's church and covenant in a two-fold manner. The charts on this and the following page provide several examples.

MEMBERSHIP IN GOD'S CHURCH
AND COVENANT -
INWARD AND OUTWARD
INWARD AS WELL AS OUTWARD
(INVISIBLE AND VISIBLE)

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen.

- Ephesians 3:21

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

- Ephesians 5:25-27

And He is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.

- Colossians 1:18

If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments;

Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.

- Psalm 89:30, 33-34

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.

- Hebrews 8:10

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:

And they shall see His face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads.

- Revelation 22:3-4

  • Manifestation - Revelation; the act of showing or making visible

  • Ecclesiastical - Relating to church matters






















    • When using the following terms, a two-fold relationship is possible. Why?
    - Covenant relationship
    - Church membership
    - People of God
    - Confession of Faith

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