172 – Church Militant and Triumphant

CHURCH MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT

  § 172. Inasmuch as the ministers of the Church and all its members are enlisted in continual warfare against the devil, 1 the world 2 and the flesh, 3 as against enemies ever bent upon frustrating the accomplishment of the ends and aims of the Gospel, the Church of Christ on earth is and shall at all times remain a Church militant 4 until, with the consummation of all things, the entire Church will enter into her state of glory as the Church triumphant 5 

1. Inasmuch as the ministers of the Church and all its members are enlisted in continual warfare against the devil,…

  Ephesians 6:10–11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

  I Peter 5:8–9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

2. …the world

  I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

  James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

  John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  John 15:18–21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.

3. …and the flesh,

  Romans 7:14–16 For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good.

  Galatians 5:17–20 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.

4. …as against enemies ever bent upon frustrating the accomplishment of the ends and aims of the Gospel, the Church of Christ on earth is and shall at all times remain a Church militant

Cf. supra 1—3.

5. …until, with the consummation of all things, the entire Church will enter into her state of glory as the Church triumphant

Cf. Eschatology § 185.