The Westminster Confession of Faith
CHAPTER 25
Of the Church.
I. The catholick 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 filleth all in all.a
a Eph. 1:10,22,23; Eph.
5:23,27,32; Col. 1:18.
II. The visible church, which is also catholick 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,b together with their children;c
and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,d
the house and family of God,e out of which there
is no ordinary possibility of salvation.f
b 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor.
12:12,13; Ps. 2:8; Rev. 7:9; Rom. 15:9-12.
c 1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Ezek.
16:20,21; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 3:15; Gen. 17:7.
d Matt. 13:47; Isa. 9:7.
e Eph. 2:19; Eph. 3:15.
f Acts 2:47.
III. Unto this catholick 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.g
g 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph.
4:11-13; Matt. 28:19,20; Isa. 59:21.
IV. This catholick church hath been sometimes
more, sometimes less visible.h 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 publick worship performed more or less purely in them.i
h Rom. 11:3,4; Rev. 12:6,14.
i Rev. chap. 2, 3; 1 Cor. 5:6,7.
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject
both to mixture and error;k and some have so
degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of
Satan.l Nevertheless, there shall be always a
church on earth to worship God according to his will.m
k 1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. chap.
2, 3; Matt. 13:24-30,47.
l Rev. 18:2; Rom. 11:18-22.
m Matt. 16:18; Ps. 72:17; Ps.
102:28; Matt. 28:19,20.
VI. There is no other head of the church but the
Lord Jesus Christ:n nor can the Pope of Rome 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.o
n Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22.
o Matt. 23:8-10; 2 Thess. 2:3,4,8,9;
Rev. 13:6.
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