I. The marks of the true church:
A. What must be distinguished:
1. There are the “sects”.
2. Overagainst this stands the church–which also includes hypocrites.
B. The marks of the true church:
1. The idea of “marks”.
a. These are distinguishing characteristics.
b. Thus: that which can clearly be basis for identification of an object.
2. These three marks are:
a. The pure preaching of the Gospel.
1) This can not be the ideas or theories of man to better himself on the earth.
2) But must present Christ and Him crucified–the center of all preaching.
b. The proper administration of the sacraments.
1) Administered as Scripture sets this forth.
2) Then too, the proper number of sacraments.
c. Christian discipline.
1) Supervision of the life and walk of the members of the church.
2) That thus God may be glorifed in the members of that church.
3. The relationship between these three marks:
a. The preaching of the Word is central.
1) The sacraments must reinforce the truths of the preaching.
2) And preaching is the first means of discipline too.
b. But all three must be present.
1) Where one is lacking, the others soon fail.
2) Present ecumenical trends show how these break down.
II. Marks of true Christians.
A. As such:
1. Faith.
a. By it one recognizes and confesses Christ as his Savior.
b. A principal mark out of which all the others proceed.
2. One avoids sin.
3. One follows righteousness.
4. One loves the true God.
5. One loves the neighbor.
6. One turns not aside from the right way.
7. There is the crucifixion of the flesh and the works thereof.
B. Yet the Christian remains imperfect while on the earth.
1. The “perfectionist” is wrong.
a. He maintains that a sinless state is possible for the Christian on the earth.
b. But in this he deceives himself.
2. But in us:
a. There remains great infirmities.
b. And we are called to fight against these through the Holy Spirit.
III. Marks of the false church:
a. Ideas of “false church.”
1. There have been suggestions that one denomination is “true”, all else “false.”
2. We would rather say that there are different degrees tending toward the false.
a. No church is perfect and without sin.
b. But within some denominations, more than others, there is the maintenance of certain false doctrines–which lead eventually toward the totally false church.
B. Marks of that false church:
1. Ascribes more power and authority to self and her ordinances than to the Word of God.
a. The Roman Catholic church is where this can be seen particularly.
b. For this “false” church will not submit to the yoke of Christ.
2. It does not administer the sacraments aright.
3. Persecutes those who live holily according to the Word of God.
Worksheet
A. Suppelementary reading:
1. John 8; II Timothy 4; Hosea 4.
2. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Days 25; 31.
3. Canons of Dordt, Head III-IV: 8, 9, 10.
4. Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. 159; 160; 161.
B. Questions for further consideration:
1. What do you understand by the term “sects?”
2. What is a “hypocrite?”
3. What is included in the “preaching of the gospel”? Why is this expression used?
4. Are there any completely false churches today? When does it become completely false?
5. What is wrong with the way the Roman Catholics celebrate their eucharist?
6. How does one know when the pure preaching of the Word takes place?