The Church, consisting of true believers, is
one and the same Church on earth and in heaven. On earth it is the
Church Militant, because its members are still fighting the good fight
of faith. [I Tim. 6:12+] In heaven it is the Church Triumphant, because
its members have won the victory of faith. [Rev. 7:9-14, Rev. 2:18, Rev.
3:21] The only way into the Church Triumphant is through the Church
Militant.
THE CHURCH'S WORK.
The Church is the agency or instrument which the Holy Spirit uses for
the evangelization of the world. [Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15] It is the
institution through which He does His work of applying redemption to the
souls of men. The Church, therefore, has a work to do: namely, to make
disciples of all men.
THE MEANS through which the Church, as an agency of the Holy Spirit, is
to do its work are the Word of God and the Sacraments. They are
sufficient for the purpose for which they are intended, because the Holy
Spirit works through them and endows them with supernatural power. [Rom.
1:16, Heb.
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