Acts #63 Presbyterian Church Government in Action

Does Presbyterian Church government actually work in practice in the Church of Jesus Christ and between Churches of Jesus Christ? Does Presbyterian Church government bind many churches into one church and promote the peace, purity, and unity of Christ’s Church? You see, dear ones, many Independent and Congregational Churches will profess the unity of Christ’s Church—i.e. the spiritual unity of all regenerate Christians by way of vital union with Jesus Christ through the effectual work of the Holy Spirit (and we agree and rejoice with them in that truth). But such Independent and Congregational churches will not and cannot profess the visible unity of Christ’s Church (as taught in Scripture), because they believe and promote separate, autonomous churches that are not connected and bound together by way of the same doctrine, worship, and church government through common church courts. Only Presbyterian Church government binds congregations together as one visible expression of Christ’s Church within a nation under one government of ministers and elders who together are all under the rule of one King, Jesus Christ.

Let us continue our study through Acts 15 as we will see Presbyterian church government applied in practice in order to preserve the peace, purity, and unity of Christ’s Church: (1) A Synodical Letter Authoritatively Sent to Sister Churches (Acts 15:22-29); (2) A Synodical Letter Received by Sister Churches with Due Submission (Acts 15:30-35).