The Scriptural Basis of Biblical Presbyterianism

The Scriptural Basis of Biblical Presbyterianism

I was preaching last Lord’s Day on the theme of biblical presbyterianism, Christ’s gift of rule in his church. What was interesting was that the congregation had never heard a sermon on presbyterianism and why we in the Free Church of Scotland adopt this form of government.  If we demonstrate our love to Christ by obedience to his commands, and if Christ in his Word has given us basic principles for church government, then it is part of our corporate sanctification to follow the teaching of Scripture on this matter.

The emphasis was not on justifying in detail the current practice of the FCS, but in showing that there are basic principles that we work out in our practice. We looked at the local and the regional aspects of biblical presbyterianism.

At the local level we saw that there was to be a plurality of elders, a parity among the elders, and popular election of these elders, recognising their call by Christ and gifting by the Holy Spirit. Application was made to both our elders and our people.

At the regional level there was connectionalism, consultation and constraint.  (Why do we refer to Acts 15 without Acts 16:4 : “As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.” ?)

Does this justify our monthly regional presbyteries and our annual national assembly?  We have no text and verse for these but base our practice on sanctified common sense rooted in the biblical principles.  Other patterns might equally be compatible with the biblical principles.

What is important is that the principles are worked out in the life of the church locally, regionally and nationally. 

Can such truths be preached?  Of course.  Is Christ exalted in such preaching? Yes, if the emphasis is on the fact that his guidance on government is based on his divine wisdom, grace and love.  Can such a sermon be evangelistic?  Well, I concluded with reference to the joys of Presbyterianism experienced by Christ’s people, and the importance of being not only in church but in the Church, not merely in the building but in the Body, with an appropriate evangelistic application.