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NASB | Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 12:1 Now at that time Herod [Agrippa I] the king [of the Jews] arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them. |
Subject: The Church Visible and Invisible |
Bible Note: Dear Pastor Ed, Thank you for your comment! That is a very pertinent comment, indeed. As I posted Martin Luther's comments to his students, I thought about this. Reformed people see the church as referring to two separate entities: The visible and the invisible. The visible are all that is seen with the eye of the flesh. As we drive down the street, or as we look out at the congregation, etc. The visible church covers a wide spectrum of faults. Indeed, all of them have a mixture of truth and error -- to the point that some have become the synagogue of Satan (cf Revelation 3:9). The invisible church consists of all those who have gone on to be with the Lord, as well as those who are truly saved upon the earth. While we yet live, we pursue the same purity as those of our member who have gone on (we call that progressive sanctification), assured of the promise of God (cf Ephesians 2). Here is how one of the Baptist divines, Benjamin Keach, put it: "We believe a true Church of Christ is not National, nor Parochial, but doth consist of a number of godly Persons, who upon the Profession of their Faith and Repentance have been baptized, and in a solemn manner have in a Holy Covenant given themselves up to the Lord, and to one another, to live in Love, and to endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace: Among whom the Word of God is duly and truly preached; and Holy Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and all other Ordinances are duly administered, according to the Word of God, and the Institution of Christ in the Primitive Church: watching over one another, and communicating to each others Necessities, as becometh Saints; living Holy Lives, as becomes their sacred Profession; and not to forsake the assembling themselves,as the manner of some is; or to take leave to hear where they please in other Places when the Church is assembled, but to worship God, and feed in that Pasture, or with that Church, with whom they have covenanted, and given up themselves as particular Members thereof." Just as Christ took on the sinfulness of all those that are saved (as though He had done the sins), He also placed upon His own His righteousness (as though they had done it). This is what Paul meant by imputation (see Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:9; etc.). Our Lord is washing the church in His word (cf Ephesians 5:25-27). Thus, Luther is mindful of the following: For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:5-7) It helps us to understand, further, what Paul wrote: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. (Colossians 1:24) There is nothing else that allows us to rightly understand "what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (cf Acts 9:5b). There will come a time when every tear shall be wiped away and all of the suffering of the church triumphant will be complete (cf Revelation 21:4). Then we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). In Him, Doc |
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