The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

Why place this chapter here? What’s the significance of the name “saints”? This is one of the first places where we read of “union with Christ,” what is that? How do we have fellowship with Jesus in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory? Why is our union with each other one of love? How do we share in our gifts and graces? What other pastoral application is there here for us? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 26.1:

All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

Why does this paragraph repeat the claim that Christ is the only Head of the Church? What is the biblical significance of Christ’s Headship over the church? What is the Roman Catholic doctrine on the Pope? Are there any others who make the claims that the Pope does? Why are these claims contrary to Scripture? Where to the titles “Antichrist” and “man of sin” come from? A number of Presbyterian denominations have excluded this paragraph, why? What practical use is there to this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.6:

There is no other Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ:a nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, and all that is called God.

How would we distinguish between “mixture” and “error”? How does this inform someone who discovers they disagree with something in the church? What hope should we have from the expression “under heaven”? What churches is the Westminster Assembly referring to that have become “synagogues of Satan”? How do we mark out and measure degeneration? What hope is there in the expression “on earth”? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.5:

The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will.

How as the church been more or less visible in history? Why should this visibility problem be an encouragement to the Christian? How does the WCF change the older language of “true” or “false” church? What defines more or less pure? What are some New Testament examples of less pure churches? How have the marks of the church been understood differently? With this in mind how should churches go about semper reformanda? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.4:

This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle are joined by Dr. John Bower to discuss his newest book The Confession of Faith: A Critical Text and Introduction.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/john-bower-interview.mp3

Dr. John Bower is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, at Northeast Ohio Medical University and adjunct professor of Church History at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is also an editor of the Westminster Assembly Project.

What is the distinction between invisible and invisible? What is the significance that Christ has given his church these things? What is meant by: a) ministry, b) oracles, and c) ordinances? What dual purpose has Christ given these things for? How doe these things gather the saints? How do they perfect? What encouragement can you offer from this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.3:

Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.

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What is the distinction between the invisible and visible church? Where do you see this distinction in the Bible? What’s the distinction between the church under the law and under the gospel? How do we understand “profess the true religion”? Why are children part of the visible church? How is the church to be understood as the house of God? What about the family of God? Why is there ordinarily no salvation outside of the church? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.2:

The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law) consists of all those, throughout the world, that profess the true religion, and of their children; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

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What does the word “catholic” mean here? What perspective is immediately gained when we think of the church as “invisible”? What’s the relationship between election and membership in the invisible church? What is important about Christ being Head of the church? What benefits do we discover in considering the church as the Bride and Body of Christ? How can the church be said to be the fulness of Christ? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 25.1:

The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

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What is wilful desertion? What times of desertion are not meant in the WCF? What does desertion look like? Is physical abuse desertion? Why is this paragraph needed today? What are some of the arguments used to justify divorce in today’s culture? Do you think there’s gray areas in certain scenarios for divorce? How is the church and/or state to be involved in these cases? How can the church help make marriages more healthy so these cases don’t happen? What pastoral wisdom can you give from this? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.6:

Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage; wherein a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it, not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case.

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Can you biblically define “adultery” and “fornication”? What is a “contract,” and is there any relevance in this first sentence to us in a contemporary society? What might this paragraph say to the intent of marriage? Why is adultery after marriage lawful grounds for divorce? How far does “adultery” extend? Why is it that only the innocent party may seek out the divorce? Is the option for the innocent party to divorce morally less than staying together with the offending partner? Any further pastoral help you would offer from this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.5:

Adultery or fornication, committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and after the divorce to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.

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