See the entire Belgic Confession of Faith
with scripture references here
See great article about the Arminian Conflict at the time of the Reformation
here
From the Belcig Confession of Faith:
ARTICLE 29 – THE MARKS OF THE TRUE AND THE FALSE CHURCH
We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully
from the Word of God what is the true church, for all sects which are in
the world today claim for themselves the name of church.1 We are not
speaking here of the hypocrites, who are mixed in the church along with
the good and yet are not part of the church, although they are outwardly
in it.2 We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true
church which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves
the church.
The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It
practises the pure preaching of the gospel.3 It maintains the pure
administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.4 It
exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins.5 In
short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God,6 rejecting
all things contrary to it7 and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.8
Hereby the true church can certainly be known and no one has the right
to separate from it.
Those who are of the church may be recognized by the marks of
Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ the only Saviour,9 flee from
sin and pursue righteousness,10 love the true God and their neighbour11
without turning to the right or left, and crucify their flesh and its
works.12 Although great weakness remains in them, they fight against it
by the Spirit all the days of their life.13 They appeal constantly to
the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom they
have forgiveness of their sins through faith in Him.14
The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances
than to the Word of God. It does not want to submit itself to the yoke
of Christ.15 It does not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded
in His Word, but adds to them and subtracts from them as it pleases. It
bases itself more on men than on Jesus Christ. It persecutes those who
live holy lives according to the Word of God and who rebuke the false
church for its sins, greed, and idolatries.16
These two churches are easily recognized and distinguished from each other.
1.
Rev 2:9.
2.
Rom 9:6.
3.
Gal 1:8;
1 Tim 3:15.
4.
Acts 19:3-5;
1 Cor 11:20-29.
5.
Mat 18:15-17;
1 Cor 5:4-5,
1 Cor 5:13;
2 Thes 3:6,
2 Thes 3:14;
Titus 3:10.
6.
John 8:47;
John 17:20;
Acts 17:11;
Eph 2:20;
Col 1:23;
1 Tim 6:3.
7.
1 Thes 5:21;
1 Tim 6:20;
Rev 2:6.
8.
John 10:14;
Eph 5:23;
Col 1:18.
9.
John 1:12;
1 John 4:2.
10.
Rom 6:2;
Phil 3:12.
11.
1 John 4:19-21.
12.
Gal 5:24.
13.
Rom 7:15;
Gal 5:17.
14.
Rom 7:24-25;
1 John 1:7-9.
15.
Acts 4:17-18;
2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 John 9. 16.
John 16:2.
- See more at: http://www.scripturezealot.com/belgic-confession/#sthash.Ehm21icJ.dpuf
Article 29: The Marks of the True Church
We
believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully, by the
Word of God, what is the true church -- for all sects in the world today
claim for themselves the name of "the church."
We are not
speaking here of the company of hypocrites who are mixed among the good
in the church and who nonetheless are not part of it, even though they
are physically there. But we are speaking of distinguishing the body and
fellowship of the true church from all sects that call themselves "the
church."
The true church can be recognized if it has the following
marks: The church engages in the pure preaching of the gospel; it makes
use of the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted
them; it practices church discipline for correcting faults. In short,
it governs itself according to the pure Word of God, rejecting all
things contrary to it and holding Jesus Christ as the only Head. By
these marks one can be assured of recognizing the true church -- and no
one ought to be separated from it.
As for those who can belong to
the church, we can recognize them by the distinguishing marks of
Christians: namely by faith, and by their fleeing from sin and pursuing
righteousness, once they have received the one and only Savior, Jesus
Christ. They love the true God and their neighbors, without turning to
the right or left, and they crucify the flesh and its works.
Though
great weakness remains in them, they fight against it by the Spirit all
the days of their lives, appealing constantly to the blood, suffering,
death, and obedience of the Lord Jesus, in whom they have forgiveness of
their sins, through faith in him.
As for the false church, it
assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of
God; it does not want to subject itself to the yoke of Christ; it does
not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded in his Word; it rather
adds to them or subtracts from them as it pleases; it bases itself on
men, more than on Jesus Christ;
it persecutes those who live holy lives
according to the Word of God and who rebuke it for its faults, greed,
and idolatry.
These two churches are easy to recognize and thus to distinguish from each other.
ARTICLE 29 – THE MARKS OF THE TRUE AND THE FALSE CHURCH
We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully
from the Word of God what is the true church, for all sects which are in
the world today claim for themselves the name of church.1 We are not
speaking here of the hypocrites, who are mixed in the church along with
the good and yet are not part of the church, although they are outwardly
in it.2 We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true
church which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves
the church.
The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It
practises the pure preaching of the gospel.3 It maintains the pure
administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.4 It
exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins.5 In
short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God,6 rejecting
all things contrary to it7 and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.8
Hereby the true church can certainly be known and no one has the right
to separate from it.
Those who are of the church may be recognized by the marks of
Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ the only Saviour,9 flee from
sin and pursue righteousness,10 love the true God and their neighbour11
without turning to the right or left, and crucify their flesh and its
works.12 Although great weakness remains in them, they fight against it
by the Spirit all the days of their life.13 They appeal constantly to
the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom they
have forgiveness of their sins through faith in Him.14
The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances
than to the Word of God. It does not want to submit itself to the yoke
of Christ.15 It does not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded
in His Word, but adds to them and subtracts from them as it pleases. It
bases itself more on men than on Jesus Christ. It persecutes those who
live holy lives according to the Word of God and who rebuke the false
church for its sins, greed, and idolatries.16
These two churches are easily recognized and distinguished from each other.
1.
Rev 2:9.
2.
Rom 9:6.
3.
Gal 1:8;
1 Tim 3:15.
4.
Acts 19:3-5;
1 Cor 11:20-29.
5.
Mat 18:15-17;
1 Cor 5:4-5,
1 Cor 5:13;
2 Thes 3:6,
2 Thes 3:14;
Titus 3:10.
6.
John 8:47;
John 17:20;
Acts 17:11;
Eph 2:20;
Col 1:23;
1 Tim 6:3.
7.
1 Thes 5:21;
1 Tim 6:20;
Rev 2:6.
8.
John 10:14;
Eph 5:23;
Col 1:18.
9.
John 1:12;
1 John 4:2.
10.
Rom 6:2;
Phil 3:12.
11.
1 John 4:19-21.
12.
Gal 5:24.
13.
Rom 7:15;
Gal 5:17.
14.
Rom 7:24-25;
1 John 1:7-9.
15.
Acts 4:17-18;
2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 John 9. 16.
John 16:2.
- See more at: http://www.scripturezealot.com/belgic-confession/#sthash.Ehm21icJ.dpuf
ARTICLE 29 – THE MARKS OF THE TRUE AND THE FALSE CHURCH
We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully
from the Word of God what is the true church, for all sects which are in
the world today claim for themselves the name of church.1 We are not
speaking here of the hypocrites, who are mixed in the church along with
the good and yet are not part of the church, although they are outwardly
in it.2 We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true
church which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves
the church.
The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It
practises the pure preaching of the gospel.3 It maintains the pure
administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.4 It
exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins.5 In
short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God,6 rejecting
all things contrary to it7 and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.8
Hereby the true church can certainly be known and no one has the right
to separate from it.
Those who are of the church may be recognized by the marks of
Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ the only Saviour,9 flee from
sin and pursue righteousness,10 love the true God and their neighbour11
without turning to the right or left, and crucify their flesh and its
works.12 Although great weakness remains in them, they fight against it
by the Spirit all the days of their life.13 They appeal constantly to
the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom they
have forgiveness of their sins through faith in Him.14
The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances
than to the Word of God. It does not want to submit itself to the yoke
of Christ.15 It does not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded
in His Word, but adds to them and subtracts from them as it pleases. It
bases itself more on men than on Jesus Christ. It persecutes those who
live holy lives according to the Word of God and who rebuke the false
church for its sins, greed, and idolatries.16
These two churches are easily recognized and distinguished from each other.
1.
Rev 2:9.
2.
Rom 9:6.
3.
Gal 1:8;
1 Tim 3:15.
4.
Acts 19:3-5;
1 Cor 11:20-29.
5.
Mat 18:15-17;
1 Cor 5:4-5,
1 Cor 5:13;
2 Thes 3:6,
2 Thes 3:14;
Titus 3:10.
6.
John 8:47;
John 17:20;
Acts 17:11;
Eph 2:20;
Col 1:23;
1 Tim 6:3.
7.
1 Thes 5:21;
1 Tim 6:20;
Rev 2:6.
8.
John 10:14;
Eph 5:23;
Col 1:18.
9.
John 1:12;
1 John 4:2.
10.
Rom 6:2;
Phil 3:12.
11.
1 John 4:19-21.
12.
Gal 5:24.
13.
Rom 7:15;
Gal 5:17.
14.
Rom 7:24-25;
1 John 1:7-9.
15.
Acts 4:17-18;
2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 John 9. 16.
John 16:2.
- See more at: http://www.scripturezealot.com/belgic-confession/#sthash.Ehm21icJ.dpuf
ARTICLE 29 – THE MARKS OF THE TRUE AND THE FALSE CHURCH
We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully
from the Word of God what is the true church, for all sects which are in
the world today claim for themselves the name of church.1 We are not
speaking here of the hypocrites, who are mixed in the church along with
the good and yet are not part of the church, although they are outwardly
in it.2 We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true
church which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves
the church.
The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It
practises the pure preaching of the gospel.3 It maintains the pure
administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.4 It
exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins.5 In
short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God,6 rejecting
all things contrary to it7 and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.8
Hereby the true church can certainly be known and no one has the right
to separate from it.
Those who are of the church may be recognized by the marks of
Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ the only Saviour,9 flee from
sin and pursue righteousness,10 love the true God and their neighbour11
without turning to the right or left, and crucify their flesh and its
works.12 Although great weakness remains in them, they fight against it
by the Spirit all the days of their life.13 They appeal constantly to
the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom they
have forgiveness of their sins through faith in Him.14
The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances
than to the Word of God. It does not want to submit itself to the yoke
of Christ.15 It does not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded
in His Word, but adds to them and subtracts from them as it pleases. It
bases itself more on men than on Jesus Christ. It persecutes those who
live holy lives according to the Word of God and who rebuke the false
church for its sins, greed, and idolatries.16
These two churches are easily recognized and distinguished from each other.
1.
Rev 2:9.
2.
Rom 9:6.
3.
Gal 1:8;
1 Tim 3:15.
4.
Acts 19:3-5;
1 Cor 11:20-29.
5.
Mat 18:15-17;
1 Cor 5:4-5,
1 Cor 5:13;
2 Thes 3:6,
2 Thes 3:14;
Titus 3:10.
6.
John 8:47;
John 17:20;
Acts 17:11;
Eph 2:20;
Col 1:23;
1 Tim 6:3.
7.
1 Thes 5:21;
1 Tim 6:20;
Rev 2:6.
8.
John 10:14;
Eph 5:23;
Col 1:18.
9.
John 1:12;
1 John 4:2.
10.
Rom 6:2;
Phil 3:12.
11.
1 John 4:19-21.
12.
Gal 5:24.
13.
Rom 7:15;
Gal 5:17.
14.
Rom 7:24-25;
1 John 1:7-9.
15.
Acts 4:17-18;
2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 John 9. 16.
John 16:2.
- See more at: http://www.scripturezealot.com/belgic-confession/#sthash.Ehm21icJ.dpuf
