The Article does not refer to a church structure or organization. It follows the teaching of the New Testament and describes the church as a congregation. It is an assembly gathered together to hear the Word of God and to administer the sacraments.
The Article refers to the visible church. In the New Testament the term church usually means a local group of Christians meeting in one place. The Article uses the term church in this sense. The other main use of the term church in the New Testament is in relation to the heavenly or eternal church. This is the church assembled around Jesus in heaven (see Heb 12.22-24; Eph 1.22; Col 1.18 etc).
The Article states that the things that define the true church of Christ are that:
- it is a congregation, a fellowship which meets together;
- it is made up of people who faithfully follow Christ
- the pure Word of God is preached, not the Word of God mixed with other ideas
- the sacraments are rightly administered (see later Articles about the sacraments).
The Article does not describe the character of a national church. Article 34 adds other ideas about national churches. This Article does assert that the Roman Church has gone astray in matters of faith as well as ceremonies. This probably refers to doctrines and practices to do with the Mass, justification and purgatory, amongst others.
Dale