Profession of faith cannot be isolated from membership in a church. What church should one be a member of? This article argues that it must be the true church of Christ, which is known through the three marks of the church.

Source: The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, 2002. 6 pages.

Profession of Faith and the Church

Why Make Profession of Faith?🔗

By making profession of faith, a person becomes an adult member of the congregation. It is a conscious act of affiliations with the congregation. One could ask, “Why is this necessary? Why do I need to be a professing member of the church? Can I not be a Christian without being affiliated with a specific congregation?” One might also put it this way: “The one Sunday I will worship here, and the next Sunday elsewhere. Is affiliations with the church that important? It is the most important thing, is it not, to be converted and to have true faith? The ultimate question will not be, ‘To which church did you belong?’”

“Furthermore, if I must be affiliate with a church, which church must that be? There are so many churches and denominations, each of which claim to possess the truth. Besides, is there such a thing as a pure church? Every church has its own deficiencies, does it not?”

A People in Pursuit of Salvation🔗

In response to these questions, let me quote what our Belgic Confession, in harmony with God’s Word, says concerning the church. In Article 28, we read,

We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and out of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.

We observe immediately that the Reformers had a high view of the church. The church is not a club of like-minded people who on various issues are all on the same wavelength. Instead, the church “is an assembly of those who are saved.” This appears to be a presumptive and exclusive point of view.

If one were to interpret this description of the church to mean that “only members from our church will be saved,” and “we are the only true church,” such a claim would indeed be presumptuous and partial. In former days such claims were made, and are still made today in some churches. When making such a claim, one is saying that the boundaries of God’s kingdom run parallel with the boundaries of a given denomination.

This, however, is not what Article 28 of the Belgic Confession is saying — and this is certainly not the intent of the expression that the church “is an assembly of those who are saved.” One must interpret this as a humble acknowledgment of God’s grace. The early Christians called themselves “the people of God.” This was not an expression of complacency and pride, but an acknowledgment of the grace which God had glorified in them. Once they belonged to this present world, but now they may belong to that people which is in pursuit of eternal salvation.

In Acts 2:47, the church is described in similar language: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The original text actually states, “such as are in pursuit of salvation.”

The Bible speaks in lofty terms about the church. That becomes evident when we take notice of the names attributed to the church. Scripture refers to the church as “the body of Christ.” Jesus calls the church “His flock,” consisting of sheep unto whom He would “give eternal life” (John 10:28). The church is the bride and congregation of Jesus, of which He has said that the gates of hell will not prevail against her. Scripture also refers to the church as the temple of God and the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost (Eph. 2:22; 1 Cor. 3:16).

How is it possible that Scripture can speak about the church in such lofty terms? Are not the most eminent believers tainted by sin, and can we be that sure that they will persevere and be saved?

Scripture uses such language because true believ­ers are united with Christ their Head. Believers have been purchased by Jesus’ blood, are kept by His power, and are filled with the gifts of God’s Spirit. For this reason the church “is an assembly of those who are saved.”

Not everything that denominates itself as church, is the church. The Lord Jesus has said, “On this rock I will build my church.” He builds His church upon the confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Where that confession is absent, the church does not exist.

The church father Cyprian said, “Ubi Christus ibi Ecclesia,” that is, “Where Christ is, there is the church.” Thus, wherever Christ is neither professed nor proclaimed, the church does not exist. However, wherever that confession is adhered to, there is the church. She may be small or unattractive, or she may have shortcomings and deficiencies, but when this confession is truly functional, Jesus will build His church there.

Though there may be hypocrites in the church, the true members of the church are united to Christ by faith. It is from that perspective that the apostle writes, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2). All those who by a true faith are united to Christ, wherever they may assemble, constitute the church.

The church is a community founded by Christ. Christianity is more than a religion of individuals. It is a community of people “all expecting their salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by His blood, sanc­tified and sealed by the Holy Ghost” (Belgic Confession, Art. 27).

This molds them into a unified organism, consistory of “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:5-6). A Christian is a member of a spiritual community which assembles itself in the name of Christ, and feels himself united to all who love the name of Jesus in sincerity.

Since this is the essence of the church, it can be said of her “that out of it there is no salvation.” This expression was first used by Cyprian. After him, similar expressions about the Christian church are used by Augustine, as well as by Calvin who also wanted to maintain this presupposition. He writes, “Moreover, beyond the pale of the church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for” (Institutes, 4.1.4).

It may seem that such a statement is of Roman Catholic origin. Our Reformers, however, at the risk of being misunderstood, made such claims for the Christian church.

He who desires to be saved must join himself to the people of God. He must forsake the fellowship of the world, which lies in darkness, and become a member of that assembly which is in pursuit of eternal salva­tion (Acts 2:47). He may not remain on the sidelines, but must affiliate with that people which is in pur­suit of eternal redemption.

To Which Church Must I Join Myself?🔗

With which church must one then affiliate himself? Many denominations claim to be the true church. The true church becomes visible in the sound preach­ing of the gospel, the proper administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of ecclesiastical disci­pline. These are the things one must look for. One’s affiliation with a denomination must be the result of a prayerful searching of the Scriptures. Thus, we read in Article 29 of the Belgic Confession:

We believe that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the church.

Not much has changed since Guido De Brès wrote this article. Many sects and organizations refer to themselves as the true church. They claim, “The Lord’s temple, the Lord’s temple are we!”

One then seeks to define his own denomination by denouncing other denominations and thereby promoting exclusivity. Such people will say, “You must join us. By us everything is still sound and the way things used to be. We still have the old truth!”

The Roman Catholic church and many others use the teaching of Article 28 of the Belgic Confession to plead the cause of their own denomination. They use the language of this article by saying, “‘Out of it (the church) there is no salvation.’ If, therefore, you desire to be saved, you must join with us.” It is noteworthy that such people do not seek to bring others into union with Christ, but with themselves and their own views.

This compels us to search carefully. What touch­stone must be used in examining a church commu­nity which refers to itself as the church of Christ? Our Belgic Confession again shows us the way. In Article 29, we read,

The marks by which the true church is known are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the church.

These are the main issues by which one must judge a denomination. The Reformers refused to identify the true church with either a building, a name, or an organization. Wherever the Word of God is soundly preached and the sacraments are properly adminis­tered, there is the church of Christ. One must join himself to that church where nothing is either sub­tracted from or added to the Word of God.

Obviously there have always been hypocrites in the church, and the purest manifestation of the church has deficiencies. However, when the above three characteristics are functioning, one may not withdraw himself from her.

One also needs to consider that God’s providence has directed him to the church in which he was baptized. The Lord could also have directed matters in such a way that one would have been born as a Muslim or within the Roman Catholic church. Instead, He caused you to be born in a church where, in spite of all her deficiencies, God’s Word is soundly preached, the sacraments are properly administered, and Christian discipline is exercised. This is not a small matter! A person is not at leisure to leave such a church. One must have very good reasons for doing so, for to separate one’s self from a church in which God’s Word is soundly preached is a great sin.

Calvin writes:

For such is the value which the Lord sets on the communion of his church, that all who contumaciously alienate themselves from any Christian society, in which the true ministry of his word and sacraments is maintained, he regards as deserters of religion ... Whence it follows, that revolt from the church is denial of God and Christ. Institutes 4.1.10

Only when the church teaches false doctrine may a person leave the church. One may neither leave the church nor precipitate a schism for secondary issues.

One also cannot excuse himself from affiliation with the church by pointing to the many deficiencies to be observed in her members. The authenticity of the church is not contingent upon the weak faith and imperfect obedience of God’s children. The true church is where the Word of Christ is present. It is there that the Lord gathers His church and dwells with His Spirit. From such a church one may not disassociate himself.

Let both points therefore, be regarded as fixed;

first, there is no excuse for him who spontaneously abandons the external communion of a church in which the word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered; secondly, that notwithstanding of the faults of a few or of many, there is nothing to prevent us from there duly professing our faith in the ordinances instituted by God. Institutes 4.1.19

Thus, the true church becomes visible in sound doctrine and purity of worship, and everyone is duty bound to affiliate with this manifestation of Christ’s church. All individualism must therefore be condemned. According to the New Testament, being a Christian consists in being a member of the Christian church. With the Apostles’ Creed, we confess, “I believe in the communion of saints.”

True Christians who seek their salvation in Christ will not remain isolated; they will form a community. With that church community one needs to be affiliated, for she is the assembly of those that shall be saved.

A person may not affiliate with the world, for that is the community of those who will perish eternally. Instead, one needs to affiliate with those who fear God and seek their salvation in Christ. The narrow way leads to everlasting life.

One must therefore give heed to the marks of the visible church, for the true church becomes visible in preaching and worship. One must not affiliate with a false church in which one does not hear what Jesus and the apostles have preached, “Repent, and believe the gospel.” There people are put to sleep by telling them, “Peace and safety” (1 Thess. 5:3).

One must be there where nothing is held back in the preaching of the Word — where nothing is held back regarding the dreadful reality of sin and God’s wrath; but also where nothing is held back regarding salva­tion in Christ, as well as the power and all-sufficiency of His blood.

Finally, one must consider that without regeneration no one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Even if one were to affiliate himself with the best church, only true union with Christ by faith will give entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God.

The Yoke of Christ🔗

The church is the sheepfold in which Christ gathers, nourishes, and cares for His sheep. By making profession of faith, one becomes an adult member of the church and consciously affiliates with those who desire to serve God and follow Christ.

To this belongs, of course, obedience to God and Christ. The Belgic Confession states that by joining the church, we are “bowing our necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ.” This yoke of Christ pertains to all that Christ has commanded. Therefore joining the church brings with it obligations. Whoever affiliates with the Christian church must also live as a Christian.

According to Article 28, bowing our necks under the yoke of Christ consists in “maintaining the unity of the church, submitting ourselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof.” One thereby assumes the responsibility to promote the unity of the church. The destruction of the body of Christ by sow­ing discord and division is an evil matter. A torn and divided church is always a church which bleeds from many wounds.

Furthermore, submission to the yoke of Christ means submission to the doctrine and discipline of the church. The church of Christ has her doctrine. It is not true that every minister has his own doctrine. The church has her doctrine, namely, the doctrine of Christ. This doctrine has been summarized and codified in her confessions. It must be one’s delight to submit to this blessed doctrine.

This implies that a person will honor the offices of the church as having been instituted by Christ, and that he believes that it pleases the Lord to instruct and govern us by them. Obviously, there will be deficiencies in both the office-bearers and their official labors. However, this never absolves us from our duty to honor them for their work’s sake.

At times there is so little respect for the offices of the church. One might respond: “The office-bearers themselves are to be blamed for this.” This, however, does not absolve you from your duty. Christ has vested them with these offices and has said, “He that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me” (Luke 10:16).

By voluntarily affiliating with the church, one submits himself to Christian discipline and the admonition of the office-bearers. Do not misinterpret this submission to discipline. Both admonition and the exercise of discipline regarding life and doctrine are intended for our wellbeing. The Scriptures say concerning office-bearers that “they watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Heb. 13:17).

This submission to the official ministry of the church also means that one will faithfully attend the preaching of the Word. Our Heidelberg Catechism posits that especially on the Lord’s Day we must frequent the house of God “to hear His word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian” (Lord’s Day 38).

To the place where the congregation assembles herself, God has attached this promise: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them and I will bless them” (Matt. 18:20). Thus, if you desire to meet the Lord, you must, together with the congregation of the Lord, place yourself under the preaching of the Word.

What a blessed message is to be heard there — a message of acquittal for guilty ones; a message of salvation for whoever believes in Christ; a message of help and comfort for whoever flees to God; and a message of eternal salvation for all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity!

Never will the ears of men hear a more glorious message than the one that is heard in the church! There you will hear that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Who would not desire to be there?

As soon as a person is converted, he will begin to love God’s house and its institutions. Then he will exclaim with David, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth” (Ps. 26:8). He will no longer be satisfied with attending church just once on the Sabbath. There will then be a hunger and yearning for the Bread of Life.

Empty places in church are an indictment against those persons who should be sitting there. We are admonished by the apostle not to forsake “the assembling of our­selves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb. 10:25). Thus one must faithfully come to church, for also Jesus, as was the custom, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.

No one will ever grow beyond the need to go to church. We are in need of continual instruction. Faith continually needs to be strengthened and nourished. The godly in Scripture were all very fond of assembling themselves with the congregation. They could say, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Ps. 122:1).

Then there is also the communion of saints. One believes, sings, and confesses not as an individual, but in communion with all God’s children.

Sunday must therefore be a special day for us. It is the day upon which we enter the house of God to hear God’s message and unitedly seek His face in prayer. We come there to listen to God’s voice which speaks to us by way of His servants — and there we speak to God by way of prayer, the singing of the psalms, confession of guilt, and profession of faith.

It is of crucial importance for the Christian church to keep the Lord’s Day holy. Working on Sunday, worldly pleasures, and engagement in sports threaten the observance of this blessed day. In His goodness, the Lord has given us this day. In the midst of the rush and restlessness of life, the Lord gives us a day in which we may rest from our labors, so that we devote ourselves entirely to the things of God’s kingdom. Bowing our neck under the yoke of Christ also means that we will keep the Lord’s Day holy.

Article 28 of the Belgic Confession concludes by saying, “...and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.” Thus, if the Lord has given us gifts, we are to use them for the well-being of His church. Not everyone has received the same gifts from God. There is also a need for “hewers of wood and drawers of water” (Josh. 9:21). It is therefore rather sad that when something needs to be done in the church, it is nearly always done by the same people.

Behold, this is the yoke of Christ! An unrenewed person will say, “What an unbearable yoke! Who can bear this?” The regenerate, however, do understand what is expressed in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When you love God and Christ, the yoke of Christ will be so easy and His burden so light! When reflecting upon this, Samuel Rutherford said, “Lord Jesus, thy rebukes are sweeter to me than the kisses of the world.”

And thus it is in this manner that one, upon Christ’s command, joins Himself to the church and bows his neck under His blessed yoke. For he who calls God his father, calls the church his mother.

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