The Westminster Larger Catechism
Questions 62—65: On the Visible and Invisible Church
Q. 62. What is the visible church?
A. The visible church is a society made up of all
such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religiona,
and of their childrenb.
a 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 12:13;
Rom. 15:9-12; Rev. 7:9; Ps. 2:8; Ps. 22:27-31; Ps. 45:17; Matt.
28:19,20; Isa. 59:21b 1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 17:7
Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the
visible church?
A. The visible church hath the privilege of being
under God's special care and governmenta; of
being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the
opposition of all enemiesb; and of enjoying the
communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvationc,
and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry
of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be savedd,
and excluding none that will come unto hime.
a Isa. 4:5,6; 1 Tim. 4:10 b
Ps. 115; Isa. 31:4,5; Zech. 12:2-4,8,9 c Acts
2:39,42 d Ps. 147:19,20; Rom. 9:4; Eph.
4:11,12; Mark 16:15 ,16 e John 6:37
Q. 64. What is the invisible church?
A. The invisible church is the whole number of the
elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ
the heada.
a Eph. 1:10,22,23; John
10:16; John 11:52
Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of
the invisible church enjoy by Christ?
A. The members of the invisible church by Christ
enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glorya.
a John 17:21; Eph. 2:5,6;
John 17:24
|