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need. That the right administration of the sacraments is a characteristic of the true Church,
follows from its inseparable connection with the preaching of the Word and from such passages
as Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:42; I Cor. 11:23-30.
c. The faithful exercise of discipline.
This is quite essential for maintaining the purity of
doctrine and for guarding the holiness of the sacraments. Churches that are lax in discipline are
bound to discover sooner or later within their circle an eclipse of the light of the truth and an
abuse of that which is holy. Hence a Church that would remain true to her ideal in the measure
in which this is possible on earth, must be diligent and conscientious in the exercise of Christian
discipline. The Word of God insists on proper discipline in the Church of Christ, Matt. 18:18; I
Cor. 5:1-5,13; 14:33,40; Rev. 2:14,15,20.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY:
What is the meaning of the word ekklesia in Matt. 16:18;
18:17? When and how did the term kuriake come into use for the Church? How do the Dutch
words ‘kerk’ and ‘gemeente’ differ, and how are they related to the Greek term? Are there
passages in Scripture in which the word ekklesia is undoubtedly used to denote as a unity the
whole body of those throughout the world who outwardly profess Christ? Is the word ever used
as the designation of a group of churches under a common government, such as we call a
denomination? Does the visibility of the Church consist merely in the visibility of its members?
If not, in what does it become visible? Does the visible Church stand in any other than a mere
outward relation to Christ, and does it enjoy any other than mere outward promises and
privileges? Does the essence of the visible Church differ from that of the invisible Church? What
objections have been raised to the distinction between the Church as an institution and the
Church as an organism? What is the fundamental difference between the Roman Catholic and
the Reformed conception of the Church?
LITERATURE:
Bavinck, Geref. Dogm. IV, pp. 295-354; Kuyper, Dict. Dogm., De Ecclesia, pp. 3-
267; id., Tractaat Van de Reformatie der Kerken; ibid., E Voto, II, pp. 108-151; Vos, Geref. Dogm.
V, pp. 1-31; Bannerman, The Church of Christ, I, pp. 1-67; Ten Hoor, Afscheiding en Doleantie
and Afscheiding of Doleantie; Doekes, De Moeder der Geloovigen, pp. 7-64; Steen, De Kerk, pp.
30-131; McPherson, The Doctrine of the Church in Scottish Theology, pp. 54-128; Van Dyke, The
Church, Her Ministry and Sacraments, pp. 1-74; Hort, The Christian Ecclesia, especially pp. 1-21,
107-122; Pieper, Christl. Dogm. III, pp. 458-492; Valentine, Chr. Dogm. II, pp. 362-377; Pope,
Chr. Theol. III, pp. 259-287; Litton, Introd. to Dogm. Theol., pp. 357-378; Strong, Syst. Theol., pp.
887-894; Devine, The Creed Explained, pp. 256-295; Wilmers, Handbook of the Chr. Rel., pp.
102-119; Moehler, Symbolism, pp. 310-362; Schaff, Our Fathers’ Faith and Ours, pp. 213-239;
Morris, Ecclesiology, pp. 13-41; W. A. Visser ‘t Hooft and J. H. Oldham, The Church and its
Function in Society.