The true church of Jesus Christ—Her marks
This article by Russell Dykstra examines Article 29 of the Belgic Confession, explaining the three marks by which the true church of Christ is identified: the preaching of pure gospel doctrine, the administration of sacraments, and Christian discipline. Drawing on Calvin's ecclesiology and Reformed confessional tradition, Dykstra argues that believers must be able to distinguish the true church from false churches that wrongly claim the name of Christ.
The Belgic Confession, a Reformed creed, bears the impression of John Calvin's theology. Soon after it was written by Guido de Brès in 1561, Reformed churches in the Netherlands began adopting it. The Belgic Confession includes a lengthy section on ecclesiology, reflecting the reality that the doctrine of the church was a major conflict between the Romish church and the churches of the Reformation. The ecclesiology is clearly Calvinistic. Article 27 of the Belgic Confession expresses the...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org