|
Paras |
|
|
1-4 |
I. The universal church |
|
|
|
|
1-2 |
A. Its Identity |
|
1 |
1. As invisible |
|
2 |
2. As visible |
|
|
|
|
3 |
B. Its perpetuity |
|
|
1. Its seeming improbability |
|
|
2. Its actual certainty |
|
|
|
|
4 |
C. Its authority |
|
|
1. The true head of the church, the Christ |
|
|
2. The false head of the church, the Antichrist |
|
|
|
|
5-15 |
II. The local church |
|
|
|
|
5 |
A. Its originating mandate |
|
|
1. The foundation of the mandate |
|
|
2. The substance of the mandate |
|
|
|
|
6 |
B. Its defined membership |
|
|
1. Evangelical |
|
|
2. Volitional |
|
|
3. Covenantal |
|
|
|
|
7 |
C. Its authoritative power |
|
|
1. Its defined recipients |
|
|
2. Its complete sufficiency |
|
|
3. Its reiterated origin |
|
|
4. Its specified purpose |
|
|
5. Its regulated execution |
|
|
|
|
8-13 |
D. Its appointed government |
|
8 |
1. The identity of its government |
|
9 |
2. The appointment of its government |
|
10-11 |
3. The cornerstone of its government: the ministry of the Word |
|
10 |
The official ministry of the Word by pastors |
|
|
Its heavy responsibilities |
|
|
Its proper honouring |
|
11 |
The auxiliary ministry of the Word by others |
|
12-13 |
4. The extent of its government |
|
12 |
It extends to all its members |
|
13 |
It extends to all its problems |
|
|
The situation envisaged |
|
|
The prohibition issued |
|
|
The direction required |
|
|
|
|
14-15 |
E. Its fraternal relations: the communion of local churches |
|
14(a) |
1. Its divine warrant |
|
14(b) |
2. Its providential limitations |
|
14(c) |
3. Its spiritual benefits |
|
15 |
4. Its special advantage: advisory meetings |
|
|
Their possible reasons |
|
|
Their biblical basis |
|
|
Their strict limitations |
|
|
|
From: Samuel E. Waldron, A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, (Evangelical Press, 1989), p309-311. Used by permission.
