Question 62
What is the visible church?
The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion,a and of their children.b
What is the visible church?
The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion,a and of their children.b
a. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:13; Romans 15:9–12; Revelation 7:9; Psalms 2:8; 22:27–31; 45:17; Matthew 28:19–20; Isaiah 59:21
1 Corinthians 1:2
1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 12:13
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
Romans 15:9–12
15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
15:9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: "Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name." 15:10 Again, it says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." 15:11 And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples." 15:12 And once more, Isaiah says: "The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope."
Revelation 7:9
7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Psalm 2:8
2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
Psalm 22:27–31
22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations. 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. 22:28 For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations. 22:29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him-even those unable to preserve their lives. 22:30 Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation. 22:31 They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn-all that He has done.
Psalm 45:17
45:17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
45:17 I will commemorate your name through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Matthew 28:19–20
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Isaiah 59:21
59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.
59:21 "As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore," says the LORD.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. 1 Corinthians 7:14; Acts 2:39; Romans 11:16; Genesis 17:7
1 Corinthians 7:14
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
Acts 2:39
2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
2:39 This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off-to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself."
Romans 11:16
11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
11:16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Genesis 17:7
17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
17:7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible