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Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 63

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; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, 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, and excluding none that will come unto him.

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Isaiah 4:5-6

5Then 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,

6a 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

10To 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.

Psalms 115:1-2

1Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.

2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Psalms 115:9

9O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

Isaiah 31:4-5

4For 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.

5Like 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

2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

3On 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.

4On 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.

Zechariah 12:8-9

8On 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.

9So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Acts 2:39

39This 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.”

Acts 2:42

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Psalms 147:19-20

19He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.

20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!

Romans 9:4

4the 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

11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

Mark 16:15-16

15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 6:37

37Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

Source and edition

Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription

Unlicense. Source transcription.

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