“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. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not of the Church, though externally in it; but we say that the body and communion of the true Church must be distinguished from all sects, who call themselves the Church, The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these:…”
1. This article speaks of the distinction between the true and false church, and asserts that they may easily be distinguished from each other. It also brings into question the problem that is much discussed in our day, namely that concerning the multiformity of the church.
a. It is true, of course, that the true church may easily be distinguished from the false church. The false church is no church, and may easily be distinguished from the true church.
b. But we must remember that there are always various degrees of truth and falsity in the manifestation of the church. A true church does not all of a sudden become the false church, though she may begin to show the marks of the false church.
c. Hence, rather than claiming that we as Prot. Ref. Churches are the only true church in the world, while all others are false churches, we would claim that we are the purest manifestation of the body of Christ in the world, and that it is our duty to join ourselves to it.
2. The marks of the true church are:
a. The preaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel:
1) In general we may say that the Apostolic Confession may serve here as a standard.
2) But even then, it is easily seen that there are various degrees of purity. Many doctrines are not even mentioned in that Apostolic Confession.
b. The pure administration of the sacraments:
1) Baptism in the name of the Triune God.
2) The Lord’s Supper as a commemoration of the death of Christ in the signs of His broken body and shed blood for the remission of sin.
c. The exercise of Christian discipline, without which the first two cannot be maintained.
d. In general, the management of all things according to the Word of God, and the acknowledgement of Christ as the only Head of the church.
3. Marks of the true members of the church:
a. Faith, becoming manifest in confession, of course.
b. Walk, avoiding of sin, following after righteousness, etc.
c. Many infirmities, against which they fight and with which they take refuge in the blood of Christ.
4. Marks of the false church:
a. Exalts human ordinances above the Word of God and refuses to submit herself to the yoke of Christ.
b. Does not maintain the proper administration of the sacraments.
c. Persecutes the saints instead of punishing the wicked.