Tag: Jure Divino

The Church as an Institution | Willem Apollonius

Whether no other external visible church be described in Scripture, and acknowledged by the Word of God, but a parochial or particular church: which is confi­ned to such limits, as that of necessity it must be such as may be contained, and ought to meet, ordinarily in one place, for the celebra­ting of God’s public worship, and all the or­dinances of God with mutual edification: so that the constitution of such a church, which by reason of their multitude, or some other cause, cannot in all their members meet ordi­narily in one place for the celebration of the worship of God and exercise of all God’s ordi­nances, is unlawful and repugnant to the Word of God and the Apostles institutions concerning the constitution of a church de­scribed in the holy Scripture?… Read More The Church as an Institution | Willem Apollonius

Paul J. Barth4 Comments

Church: Five Ways Scripture Uses the Term

James Bannerman The Church of Christ Part I, ch. 1. Many, perhaps indeed most, of the controversies which have arisen in connection with ecclesiastical theology, are to be traced back to fundamental differences of opinion regarding the essential nature and character of that society which Christ has instituted. The different or opposite notions which men… Read More Church: Five Ways Scripture Uses the Term

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Keys of the Kingdom: Congregationalism or Presbyterianism?

Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici The Divine Right of Church Government Chapter 10 That the community of the faithful, or body of the people, are not the immediate subject of the power of Church government. Thus we see, that Jesus Christ our Mediator did not commit any proper formal ecclesiastical power for church government to the… Read More Keys of the Kingdom: Congregationalism or Presbyterianism?

Paul J. Barth5 Comments

Establishment Principle, Part 4: Liberty of Conscience

In part three we considered the necessity of a Holy Spirit wrought Reformation and unity in the the Church prior to, and in harmony with, the establishment of a national Church. In this final post of our series we will envisage the dangers of ecumenical latitudinarianism to the unity of the Church and answer objections regarding persecution and… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 4: Liberty of Conscience

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Establishment Principle, Part 3: Reformation and Unity of the Church

In part 2 we examined the Scriptural evidence for the Establishment Principle and particularly the prophecies that God will cause it to occur in history. In this post we will see the importance of a Holy Spirit wrought Reformation and unity in the polity, discipline, worship, ordinances, doctrine, and practice of the Church prior to, and in harmony with,… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 3: Reformation and Unity of the Church

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Establishment Principle, Part 2: Prophecies

In our previous post we saw that civil governments are to provide an “hospitable abode to the church” which is a singular institutional entity organized by Jesus Christ with a specific political and catholic structure. This is strictly a positive duty in Christ’s Kingdom of Grace regarding nations joining the Church corporately, not how magistrates set public policy in relation to… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 2: Prophecies

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Establishment Principle, Part 1: What it is, What it isn’t

In part one of four in our series on the Establishment Principle we will see what the Establishment Principle is and how it relates to the nature of the Church as well as what it is not. In part two we will demonstrate the Establishment Principle from the many prophecies of Scripture. In part three we will elucidate, on… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 1: What it is, What it isn’t

Paul J. Barth6 Comments