10. I don't believe in purgatory or the five extra erroneous so-called sacraments.
9. I don't believe in the necessity of personal counseling or private confession for the forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
8. I don't believe in indulgences.
7. I don't believe in other mediators between man and God, including priests, saints, the virgin Mary or any other created being. (1 Timothy 2:5).
6. I don't believe that the church is infallible or that tradition is inspired by God or equal revelation with Holy Scripture. (Mark 7:6-9).
5. I don't believe that the Lord's Supper is a sacrifice or that the body and blood of Christ are really present in the bread and wine nor do I believe in the "virtual presence" of the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood of Christ are in heaven and we can only eat the symbol of them with our teeth. We eat and drink spiritually by believing that Jesus is the bread of life and that He died for our sins on the cross. (John 6:35-36; 1 Corinthians 15:3).
4. I don't believe that penance is required. The gift of repentance is a turning from trusting in man and our own abilty and trusting in Christ and Christ alone to save us. Turning from our sins and our self-righteousness to the righteousness of Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation and even that is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 11:18; Romans 10:1-4; Philippians 3:9).
3. I don't believe that everyone who names the name of Christ and is baptized and a member of the church is saved. We by faith say they are elect and saved but that can be proved wrong. Church membership in the visible church is not the same thing as membership in the invisible church, the communion of saints. (Matthew 7:21-23).
2. I do not believe that I am required to believe what is not required by the Bible itself, although confessions of faith that are faithful to Scripture express what we believe the Bible systematically says. (2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Matthew 4:4).
1. I do not believe true unity will exist until we reach heaven. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:28). There is only one Lord, one faith and one baptism. (Ephesians 4:1-7). But efforts toward a false ecumenicalism leads instead to liberalism, modernism, and an emphasis on this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." (John 18:36 ESV)
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64. What is the invisible church?
Answer: The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.1
See also: WCF 25.1
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1 Eph. 1:10,22,23; John 10:16; John 11:52
65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?
Answer: The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory.1
See also: WCF 26.1
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1 John 17:21; Eph. 2:5,6; John 17:24
66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?
Answer: The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace,1 whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband;2 which is done in their effectual calling.3
See also: WCF 26.1
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1 Eph. 1:22; Eph. 2:6-8
2 1 Cor. 6:17; John 10:28; Eph. 5:23,30
3 1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Cor. 1:9
67. What is effectual calling?
Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace,1 whereby [out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto2] he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit;3 savingly enlightening their minds,4 renewing and powerfully determining their wills,5 so as they [although in themselves dead in sin] are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.6
See also: WCF 10.1 | WSC 31
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1 John 5:25; Eph. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 1:8,9
2 Tit. 3:4,5; Eph. 2:4,5,7,8,9; Rom. 9:11
3 2 Cor. 5:20 compared with 2 Cor. 6:1,2; John 6:44; 2 Thess. 2:13,14
4 Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 2:10,12
5 Ezek. 11:19; Ezek. 36:26,27; John 6:45
6 Eph. 2:5; Phil. 2:13; Deut. 30:6
68. Are the elect only effectually called?
Answer: All the elect, and they only, are effectually called;1 although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the word,2 and have some common operations of the Spirit;3 who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ.4
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1 Acts 13:48
2 Matt. 22:14
3 Matt. 7:22; Matt. 13:20,21; Heb. 6:4-6
4 John 12:38-40; Acts 28:25-27; John 6:64,65; Ps. 81:11,12
1. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.1
See also: WLC 64
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1 Eph. 1:10,22,23; Eph. 5:23,27,32; Col. 1:18
2. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel [not confined to one nation, as before under the law], consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;1 and of their children:2 and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,3 the house and family of God,4 out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.5
See also: WLC 62
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1 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 12:12,13; Ps. 2:8; Rev. 7:9; Rom. 15:9-12
2 1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Ezek. 16:20,21; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 3:15; Gen. 17:7
3 Matt 13:47; Isa. 9:7
4 Eph. 2:19; Eph. 3:15
5 Acts 2:47
3. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life to the end of the world: and doth, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.1
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1 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11,12,13; Matt. 28:19,20; Isa. 59:21
4. This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.1 And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.2
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1 Rom. 11:3,4; Rev. 12:6,14
2 Rev. 2 and 3 throughout; 1 Cor. 5:6,7
5. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;1 and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.2 Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to His will.3
See also: WLC 61
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1 1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. 2 and 3; Matt. 13:24-30,47
2 Rev. 18:2; Rom. 11:18-22
3 Matt. 16:18; Ps. 72:17; Ps. 102:28; Matt. 28:19,20
6. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; [but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God.2 ]
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1 Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
2 Matt. 23:8-10; 2 Thess. 2:3,4,8,9; Rev. 13:6
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