How do Jesus' Parables of the Tares, Wicked Husbandmen, and Five Wise and Foolish Virgins illustrate the truth of a two-fold relationship to God's church?
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 3:9-10).
(For additional clarification and textual support for this biblical distinction of inward and outward church and covenant relationship, please refer to Chapter 24 regarding "God's Church.")
Outward baptism can be distinguished from inward in the following ways:
EXTERNAL BAPTISM DISTINGUISHED FROM INTERNAL BAPTISM
Characteristic
External (Water) Baptism
Internal (Spiritual) Baptism
1. Instrument
Cleansing water
Cleansing grace
2. Administrator
God's ordained Servant
God's Holy Spirit
3. Relationship to God's Church
Entrance into the Church Visible
Entrance into the Church Invisible
4. Relationship to God's Covenant
Outward; temporal; breakable
Inward; eternal; unbreakable
5. Relationship to Jesus Christ
External; non-saving
Spiritual; saving
6. Relationship to God's Promise
Offered (sign and seal of the truth of God's gospel offered to the baptized person)
Applied (sign and seal of the application of the gospel to the baptized person)
7. Separation from the World
Outwardly; from the heathen (non-church) world
Inwardly; from the reigning power of sin (new nature); from the unregenerated
8. Benefits
Temporal -Placed under God's Word (God's means of salvation) and the teachings, prayers, and government of God's church
Eternal- Placed within God's salvation: personal regeneration, conversion, justification, sanctification, and glorification
