Page 31 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

church is divided and becoming less effectual in its mission as, with the church of Laodicea, the church
becomes more enamored with the tactics of the world. The Bible predicts that in the last days men will
universally turn away from God and become lovers of themselves. Evil will increase. We are most
certainly living in these last days. And until Christ returns, we need to be faithful to gather together to
resist the evil one. We need to seek a church that is demonstrating the marks of a faithful bride.

The Marks of the True Church

There are certain characteristics of a body of believers that demonstrates obedience to the Word of God
in what they do when they join together for fellowship and worship. Let’s look at these characteristics.

1. The Word of God is central, preached, and obeyed. This church has leadership that focuses on the
clear expository preaching of the Bible and expects its adherents to apply and live out what is being
taught. The Gospel is presented and the components of faith and repentance are clearly an integral part
of what is presented. The great doctrines of the faith are taught. No person can go to this church
without knowing what they believe, why they believe, and how their beliefs impact their lives.

The true church is an assembly who has a proper and Biblical view of Christ. They recognize Him as the
Son of God, the third member of the Trinity, God with us. He is the One who sacrificed Himself for the
sins of the entire world. Through Him, a believer can experience the redemption of his soul. The true
church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord.

The church’s view of the Bible is extremely important and marks a true church. This involves their view
of inspiration and inerrancy.

Inspiration and Inerrancy – The authenticity of the Bible

Definition: Inspiration deals with the presentation and preservation of God’s revelation so that
what was received from God was accurately transmitted to men was written down to be
transmitted to others beyond the original recipient. Inspiration is the horizontal communication
the God’s revelation to others.

The English word inspiration has a number of connotations, the most fundamental being the act of
drawing in, as in inhaling air into the lungs. The word is also used of the stimulation of the mind or
emotions to a high level of feeling or activity, as being “inspired” by a certain truth. Sometimes it is
used of a work of art. Certainly these can be applied to the Bible, but none of these definitions fit
the biblical concept of inspiration.

In its theological usage, inspiration is derived from the Latin Vulgate Bible where the verb inspire is
used in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21.

2 Timothy 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: (ESV)

Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke
from God as they were carried along (inspired) by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

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