In this article, I will defend this premise: the primary marks of the true church of Christ are the pure administration of the Word and the Sacraments.
#1 - Scriptural Proof
Scripture clearly shows that the Word is the soul and life of the church, without which the church could not even exist:
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18)
"The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" (Jeremiah 8:9)
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,'" (John 8:31)
"Whoever belongs to God hears what God says" (John 8:47)
"Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" (John 14:23)
"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9)
#2 - Patristic Testimony
The early fathers also taught that the pure administration of the Word and sacraments is a mark of the true Church. Francis Turretin, in volume 3 of his Institutes of Elenctic Theology, cites many such testimonies. I will give what I think is the clearest one:
"There comes a heathen and says, I wish to become a Christian, but I know not whom to join: there is much fighting and faction among you, much confusion: which doctrine am I to choose?
How shall we answer him? Each of you
(says he) asserts, ' I speak the truth.'
(b) No doubt: this is in our favor. For if we told you to be persuaded by arguments, you might well be perplexed: but if we bid you believe the Scriptures, and these are simple and true, the decision is easy for you. If any agree with the Scriptures, he is the Christian; if any fight against them, he is far from this rule" (John Chrysostom, Homily 33 on Acts)
#3 - Further Clarifications from Francis Turretin
"It is one thing to know who are the elect singly; another to know where they are and in what assembly they may be found. Our marks do not go so far as to manifest the former to us, but only the latter (which is sufficient that we may ascertain to what assembly we ought to join ourselves). As in the state, it is not necessary to know distinctly and certainly who are true and faithful citizens, who obey the laws heartily; it is sufficient for us to know what is the republic in which such laws flourish" (IOEC III:93)
"Although the pure preaching of the word does not always prevail in the church, it does not follow that this mark is separable from the church and that it is therefore falsely said to be a mark. That purity ought to be understood with a certain latitude, nor does the church at once cease when the purity ceases according to some degrees, provided it does not cease altogether. Purity ought to be in fundamentals in order that it may be a true church, although in other respects various errors can obtain in it from which it could contract various degrees of impurity (which although they take away from it the name of a pure church, still they do not remove the name of a true church, as long as the foundation remains safe and unimpaired). The pure preaching of the word and the purity of the church walk hand in hand. If the former is in every part pure and free from error, the latter also will be pure; but if the church begins to be corrupt it does not at once cease to be a true church until the foundation is assailed." (IOEC III:93)
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