Question 63
What are the special privileges of the visible church?
The visible church hath the privilege of being under God’s special care and government;a of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies;b and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation,c and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved,d and excluding none that will come unto him.e
What are the special privileges of the visible church?
The visible church has the privilege of being under God’s special care and government;a of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies;b and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation,c and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved,d and excluding none that will come unto him.e
a. Isaiah 4:5–6; 1 Timothy 4:10
Isaiah 4:5–6
4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
4:5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy, 4:6 a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.
1 Timothy 4:10
4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
4:10 To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
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b. Psalm 115:1–2, 9; Isaiah 31:4–5; Zechariah 12:2–4, 8–9
Psalm 115:1–2; Psalm 115:9
115:1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 115:9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness. 115:2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" 115:9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
Isaiah 31:4–5
31:4 For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. 31:5 As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
31:4 For this is what the LORD has said to me: "Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey-and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor-so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights. 31:5 Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will shield it and deliver it; He will pass over it and preserve it."
Zechariah 12:2–4; Zechariah 12:8–9
12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 12:4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 12:8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
12:2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem. 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured. 12:4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations. 12:8 On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. 12:9 So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
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c. Acts 2:39, 42
Acts 2:39; Acts 2:42
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. 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
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." 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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d. Psalm 147:19–20; Romans 9:4; Ephesians 4:11–12; Mark 16:15–16
Psalm 147:19–20
147:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 147:20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.
147:19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel. 147:20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
Romans 9:4
9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
9:4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
Ephesians 4:11–12
4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 4:12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
Mark 16:15–16
16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
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e. John 6:37
John 6:37
6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
6:37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.
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