R.C. Sproul, The Purpose of God, An Exposition of Ephesians, Christian Focus Publications, 1994, p. 88.
The visible church refers to the institution called ‘the church’ that has visible participants whose names appear on the roll of a local congregation. In most churches anyone who makes an outward profession of faith (and meets other criteria for membership) is admitted to active fellowship in the visible church.
R.C. Sproul, The Purpose of God, An Exposition of Ephesians, Christian Focus Publications, 1994, p. 88.