The Biblical Doctrine of the Church

Abstract

In this comprehensive essay, Professor John Brug presents the biblical doctrine of the Church, distinguishing between the invisible Church—all true believers in Christ—and visible churches, which are organized congregations. He emphasizes the unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolic foundation of the Church, rooted in Scripture and faith in Christ. Brug explores the marks of the Church, its activities, and the necessity of doctrinal purity. He defends the “unit concept” of church fellowship, asserting that all expressions of fellowship—worship, communion, prayer, and cooperation—require full agreement in doctrine. Drawing extensively from New Testament texts, Brug warns against false teachers and stresses the inseparability of truth and love. He concludes that confessional fellowship must be based on complete doctrinal unity, and that separation from persistent error is both a biblical mandate and an act of love. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).