The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

Within American Presbyterianism why has this paragraph been deleted and within the RPCNA why is it rejected? Why does the confession say it’s lawful for a magistrate to call a Synod and can you give historical examples of this? What does the confession mean by “other fit persons”? What is meant by “consult or advise with matters of religion”? Where do we establish the right of ministers to call Synods? Join Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle as they discuss WCF 31.2:

As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers and other fit persons to consult and advise with about matters of religion; so, if magistrates be open enemies to the Church, the ministers of Christ, of themselves, by virtue of their office, or they, with other fit persons, upon delegation from their churches, may meet together in such assemblies.

Why did the Assembly put church discipline before church courts? Why did the congregationalists object to this chapter? Where did Christ give the Apostles authority to establish church government? How do we distinguish between Synods and Councils? How do these assemblies contribute to the better government of the church? The edification of the church? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 31.1

For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils.

What does “officers of the Church” mean? Can you define admonition, suspension, and excommunication? Do our churches follow this path? How do each serve to meet the end of church discipline? How do those called to, enforce these censures? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 30.4:

For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season, and by excommunication from the Church, according to the nature of the crime and demerit of the person

We’ve got a special episode! Dr. David Whitla has recently (slightly) updated and edited the famous work The Sum of Saving Knowledge, and our friends at Crown&Covenant have published it. Tune in to hear Dr. Whitla talk about why this monumental work should still have a place on every Christian’s bookshelf!

How does God use discipline to reclaim an offending brother? What are biblical examples? What are the other reasons for church discipline? Can you give pastoral counsel on these? How can churches grow in doing this well? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 30.3:

Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offenses; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.

Where do we get the language “keys of the kingdom”? Can you show from the Bible that it’s the officers of the church who exercise the keys? How do you respond to congregationalism? What is meant by retain and remit sins? What’s meant by the absolution of censures? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 30.2:

To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.

What does the word “censure” mean? What is the distinction between the government of the church and civil government? Can you briefly define and describe different perspectives on church government? What is a church officer? Is the “separation of church and state” biblical? Tune in as Shawn, Nathan, Kyle, and Joel discuss WCF 30.1:

The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.

Westminster Confession of Faith 29.8:

Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and cannot, without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto.

Westminster Confession of Faith 29.7:

Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this sacrament, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are, to their outward senses.

Westminster Confession of Faith 29.6:

That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason; overthroweth the nature of the sacrament; and hath been, and is the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.