In Part I, I attempted to answer Steve's first question concerning how a "genuine" or "true" church is recognized. In this post I will try to build on what I have said before and approach an answer to his second question.
If these criteria ("rightly preaching the Gospel, righly administering the Sacraments, and rightly exercising discipline" ), are the real criteria we should be looking at, why does the Scripture not state that more plainly? .... we have the reality that Jesus gave the commandment to love. .... John reiterates this in his first epistle very clearly. Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 13 -- right in the context of a discussion about the purpose/role/function of the Body within the Body -- that love is the key element. Likewise, when Paul says "Bear one another's burdens, for in so doing you fulfill the law of Christ", what law is he talking about? I submit that it is the law to love.
Continue reading "The Objective Reality of a True Church: Part II The Role of Love" »
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