To leave the Roman church is not to leave the one holy catholic and apostolic church that Christ founded. The Reformers did not found a new church during the Protestant Reformation. They worked to reform the church of Jesus Christ, which already existed. They worked to reform it according to Scripture, and this reformation extended to much of the existing church. John Calvin put it this way: “we have had no other end in view than to ameliorate in some degree the very miserable condition of the Church” (The Necessity of Reforming the Church, 1543).
The church is not built upon the bishop of Rome, but upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2). We have the word of the apostles and prophets in Scripture, the only rule of faith and obedience now given by God to his church. It does not say that Peter appointed the bishop of Rome to bear his apostolic authority, but that Peter and the apostles faithfully delivered the message of Christ once to the saints - a message that is recorded in Scripture - ordaining all ministers to faithfully preach and teach it.
To leave the Roman church is also not to discard as useless the history of the church up to 1517. We confess the Nicene Creed every Sunday at our church. The two authors that John Calvin quoted the most outside of the Bible in his Institutes of the Christian Religion were Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux. As Calvin wrote to Cardinal Sadoleto, “The fact is now too notorious for you to gain anything by denying it, viz., but in all these points, the ancient church is clearly on our side, and opposes you, not less than we ourselves do.” The Reformation was sparked by a "return to the sources" that extended not only to Scripture, but also to the early church fathers.
To leave the Roman church is also not to abandon apostolic succession, a valid ministry, and the Eucharist. Apostolic succession is to be measured by faithfulness to apostolic doctrine, which is found in Scripture. At the same time, we do not forsake the practice of the ordination of pastors by other pastors, although many Protestants do reject the distinction between bishops and priests, seeing that the Bible uses the terms "bishop/overseer," "pastor/shepherd," and "elder/presbyter" interchangeably (e.g. Acts 20:17, 28). As J.A. Alexander, put it “Supposing, then, as we of course do, that the rank, which we have claimed for Presbyters, is justly due to them, it follows necessarily, that no objection to the validity of Presbyterian orders can be founded on the want of apostolical succession; partly because it is not absolutely necessary, partly because we are as really possessed of it as any other ministry or church whatever.” Protestant ministers do administer the Eucharist (whether they use that term or "Communion" or "the Lord's Supper"), following Christ's example by setting apart the elements to their sacramental use by the words of institution and prayers of thanksgiving and blessing.
The Roman church falsely claims to be the whole church while it obscures the gospel by its errors, its distinctive doctrines and practices which have no warrant in God's word, but are invented by man. I have given one example recently here: Justification by Faith Alone: Scripture and Rome. The Protestant doctrine of justification for Christ's sake alone, received by faith alone (although not by a faith that is alone, but is ever accompanied by other graces), is good news, to be joyfully received and spread abroad. Remember the promise sealed by your baptism, the promise of forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, a promise to be received by faith - its efficacy and use continues throughout your life. The only perfect righteousness that satisfies the demands of God’s law and gains for us a righteous verdict before him is the satisfaction and obedience of Jesus Christ imputed to us. Faith justifies, not by the good works which it does produce, but by receiving Jesus and his righteousness. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21).
If you live locally, my church website can be found here: Covenant Family Church (OPC). For those who are further away, you can begin by checking out these: Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America, and United Reformed Churches in North America.
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