The Holy Catholic Church PT II

Sermon on Article 27 - 28 Belgic Confession - Lords Day February 9th, 2025 - Trinity Reformed Church

What is the true church? We go over the Belgic confession articles 27-28

1. the church is the regenerate. The invisible church. All who are truly saved. Mark of a true Christian. Faith, following, fighting against sin, one who battles with the flesh. Who is the true church? Those who are born again of God. They will bear fruit.
2. Christ rules us through the church. We are not to withdraw from it. Acts 2:41, they joined the church.

The true church - the organized body of believers who are in Christ Jesus on earth.

Article 28 - Every One Is Bound to Join Himself to the True Church
We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and outside of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw from it, content to be by himself; 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.
And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the Church, and to join themselves to this congregation, wheresoever God has established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes were against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same or do not join themselves to it act contrary to the ordinance of God.
Psalm 2:10-12; Psalm 22:23; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 52:11; Daniel 3:17,18; Daniel 6:8-10; Joel 2:32; Matthew 11:29; Matthew 12:30; Matthew 24:28; Acts 2:40; Acts 4:17,19; Acts 17:7; Acts 18:13; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 4:3,12,16; Hebrews 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20; Revelation 14:14; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 18:4.