C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER
CAPÍTULO XXV
De la IglesiaI. La iglesia católica o universal, que es invisible, se compone de todo el número de los elegidos, que han sido, son o serán reunidos en uno, bajo Cristo su Cabeza; y es la esposa, el cuerpo, la plenitud de aquel que todo lo llena en todo.[1]
[1] Efesios 1:10, 22-23. para que en la dispensación del cumplimiento de los tiempos pueda reunir todas las cosas en Cristo, tanto las que están en los cielos como las que están en la tierra; aun en él... Y sometió todas las cosas bajo sus pies, y lo dio por cabeza sobre todas las cosas a la iglesia, la cual es su cuerpo, la plenitud de aquel que todo lo llena en todo. Efesios 5:23, 27, 32. Porque el marido es la cabeza de la mujer, así como Cristo es la cabeza de la iglesia, y él es el salvador del cuerpo... Para presentárselo a sí mismo como un glorioso iglesia, sin mancha, ni arruga, ni cosa semejante; sino que sea santo y sin mancha... Gran misterio es este; mas yo digo acerca de Cristo y de la iglesia. Colosenses 1:18.Y él es la cabeza del cuerpo que es la iglesia: quien es el principio, el primogénito de entre los muertos; para que en todo tenga la preeminencia.
II. La iglesia visible, que también es católica o universal bajo el evangelio (no confinada a una nación, como antes bajo la ley), consiste de todos aquellos en todo el mundo que profesan la religión verdadera;[2] y de sus hijos:[3] y es el reino del Señor Jesucristo,[4] la casa y la familia de Dios,[5] fuera del cual no hay posibilidad ordinaria de salvación.[6]
[2] 1 Corintios 1:2. a la iglesia de Dios que está en Corinto, a los santificados en Cristo Jesús, llamados a ser santos, con todos los que en cualquier lugar invocan el nombre de Jesucristo nuestro Señor, nuestro Señor y el de ellos. 1 Corintios 12:12-13. Porque así como el cuerpo es uno, y tiene muchos miembros, pero todos los miembros del mismo cuerpo, siendo muchos, son un solo cuerpo, así también Cristo. Porque por un solo Espíritu fuimos todos bautizados en un solo cuerpo, seamos judíos o gentiles, seamos esclavos o libres; ya todos se os dio a beber de un mismo Espíritu. Salmo 2:8. Pídeme, y te daré por heredad las naciones, y por posesión tuya los confines de la tierra. Apocalipsis 7:9.Después de esto miré, y he aquí una gran multitud, la cual nadie podía contar, de todas naciones y tribus y pueblos y lenguas, estaba de pie delante del trono y delante del Cordero, vestidos con vestiduras blancas y palmas en sus manos. Romanos 15:9-12. y para que los gentiles glorifiquen a Dios por su misericordia; como está escrito: Por esta causa te confesaré entre los gentiles, y cantaré a tu nombre. Y otra vez dice: Alegraos, gentiles, con su pueblo. Y otra vez, Alabad al Señor, todos los gentiles; y alabadlo, todos los pueblos. Y además, Isaías dice: Habrá una raíz de Isaí, y el que se levantará para reinar sobre los gentiles; en él confiarán los gentiles.
[3] 1 Corintios 7:14. Porque el marido incrédulo es santificado en la mujer, y la mujer incrédula es santificada en el marido; de otra manera vuestros hijos serían inmundos; pero ahora son santos. Hechos 2:39. Porque para vosotros es la promesa, y para vuestros hijos, y para todos los que están lejos, para cuantos el Señor nuestro Dios llamare. Ezequiel 16:20-21. Además, tomaste tus hijos y tus hijas que me diste a luz, y los sacrificaste para que los devoraran. ¿Es esto de tus fornicaciones poca cosa, que hayas matado a mis hijos, y los hayas entregado para hacerlos pasar por el fuego por ellos? Romanos 11:16. Porque si la primicia es santa, también la masa es santa; y si la raíz es santa, también lo son las ramas.Génesis 3:15. Y pondré enemistad entre ti y la mujer, y entre tu simiente y la simiente suya; ésta te herirá en la cabeza, y tú le herirás en el calcañar. Génesis 17:7. Y estableceré mi pacto entre mí y ti, y tu descendencia después de ti en sus generaciones, por pacto perpetuo, para ser tu Dios, y el de tu descendencia después de ti.
[4] Matthew 13:47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Isaiah 9:7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
[5] Ephesians 2:19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Ephesians 3:15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
[6] Acts 2:47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
III. 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.[7]
[7] 1 Corinthians 12:28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Ephesians 4:11-13. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Matthew 28:19-20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Isaiah 59:21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
IV. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.[8] 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.[9]
[8] Romans 11:3-4. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Revelation 12:6, 14. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.... And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
[9] Revelation 2-3. 1 Corinthians 5:6-7. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;[10] and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.[11] Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.[12]
[10] 1 Corinthians 13:12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Matthew 13:24-30, 47. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.... Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
[11] Revelation 18:2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Romans 11:18-22. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
[12] Matthew 16:18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Psalm 72:17. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Psalm 102:28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. Matthew 28:19-20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[14]
[13] Colossians 1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Ephesians 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
[14] Matthew 23:8-10. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.... And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Revelation 13:6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
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