Module # 6 pages 359- 378

Ecclesiology: Doctrine of the Church

Meaning of the Church The English word church is translated

from the Greek word EKKLESIA which means “ TO CALL” and KURIOUS which means “BELONGING TO THE LORD; hence, the church is a “CALLED-OUT GROUP”.

Answer Module # 6 Question # 1

Aspects of ChurchThe local church

The word church in the New Testament is to designate a group of believers that is identified as local assembly or congregation.

The early believers did not have special buildings in which to meet; instead, they met in homes.

The early believers came together for worship, fellowship, instruction, and for ministry such as sending out missionaries.

Aspects of the Church (page 360)The Universal Church

The universal church views “all those who, in this age, have been born of the Spirit of God and have by the same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ.

It is a corporate group of believers that Christ promised to build; it was this Body for whom Christ died, and He is the head over it, giving it direction.

The universal church is sometimes referred to as the invisible church and the local church is known as the visible church.

Answer Module #6 Question # 3

Formation of the Church (Pages 360-361)

IN MATTHEW 16:18, JESUS DECLARED, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”, INDICATING THAT THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH WAS NOT YET IN EXISTENCE WHEN JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS. HE WAS MAKING A PREDICTION CONCERNING HIS FUTURE BUILDING THE CHURCH.

1 COR. 12:13 IDENTIFIES THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CHURCH IS BEING BUILT--- IT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BAPTIZING BELIEVERS INTO ONE BODY OF CHRIST. THE HOLY SPIRIT PLACES BELIEVERS INTO UNION WITH CHRIST.

Formation of the Church (Pages 360-361) EPH. 1:2-23 IDENTIFIES THE CHURCH AS THE BODY

OF CHRIST, STRESSING THIS UNION WITH CHRIST THAT ALL BELIEVERS ARE BROUGHT INTO AT THE MOMENT OF CONVERSION.

ACTS 1:5 JESUS STATES, “YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW” THIS INDICATES THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PLACING BELIEVERS INTO UNION WITH CHRIST HAD NOT YET BEGUN—BUT IT WAS ANTICIPATED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTEXT CLARIFIES THE EVENT AND INDICATESIT BEGAN AT PENTECOST WITH THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 Answer Module #6 Question # 3

Figures of Speech (Pages 361-362)

Body ( Eph. 1:22-23; Col 1:18; Col. 2:19) AS THE HEAD HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE PHYSICAL BODY

AND GIVES DIRECTION TO IT, SO CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HAVING AUTHORITY OVER IT AND GIVING IT DIRECTION. THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE BODY ALSO EMPHASIZES THE UNITY OF ALL BLEIVERS IN THE CHURCH AGE BECAUSEE THE CHURCH RECONCILES JEWS AND GENTILES INTO ONE BODY. THERE IS NO DISTICTION; THEY ARE ONE IN CHRIST.

Bride ( Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7-9) THE ILLUSTRATION REVEALS CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE, THE

CHURCH. IT REVEALS THE MAGNITUD OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH. A SECOND EMPHASIS OF THE ILLUSTRATION IS THE EXALTED POSITION OF THE BRIDE. THE CHURCH TODY IS AN ESPOUSED BRIDE, AWAITING HER HUSBAND’S RETURN FROM GLORY.

Figures of Speech (Pages 361-362)

Building ( Eph. 2:11-18; Eph. 2:20; Eph. 4:13) PAUL HAS EMPHASISED THAT JEWS AND GENTILES

ALIKE ARE ONE IN CHRIST BECAUSE GOD ABOLISHED THE WALL THAT SEPARATED JEW AND GENTILE

Priesthood ( 1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:9 ) PETER INDICATES ALL BELIEVERS ARE PREIESTS FOR

THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES INSTEAD OF ANIMAL SACRIFICES. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE NEW TESTMENT PRIESTHOOD IS FURTHER SEEN IN 1 PET. 2:9 WHERE PETER REFERS TO A “ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”. CHURCH AGE BLEIVERS ARE BOTH KINGS AND PRIESTS.

Figures of Speech (Pages 362- 363)

Flock (John 10:16; John 10: 26-27; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:3) A BEAUTIFUL, TENDER IMAGE DEPICTING THE RELATIONSHIP OF BLIEVERS

TO THE LORD IS FOUND IN JOHN 10:16 WHERE THE CHURCH IS CALLED A FLOCT. ISRAEL HAD A RELATIONSHIP TO THE LORD AS SHEEP TO A SHEPHERD. AND WAS CALLED FLOCK. THE UNIQUENESS ABOU THE CHURCH BEING A FLOCK AND CHRIST THE SHEPHERD IS THAT THE FLOCK IS COMPOSED OF BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES. THE CHURCH AS THE SHEEP OF CHRIST EMPHASIZES THAT THE SHEEP BELONG TO CHRIST.

Branches (John 15:1-5) IN JOHN 15 JESUS DESCRIBES THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP CHURCH AGE

BELIVERS ENJOY WITH HIM AS BEING ONE OF BRANCHES RELATED TO A VINE. JESUS IS THE TRUE VIE WHILE THE FATHER IS THE FARMER WHO TILLS THE LAND IN ORDER THAT THE BRANCHES MAY BEAR FRUIT. CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS ARE THE BRANCHES THAT DRAW THEIR LIFE FROM THE VINE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN HIM. THE BRANCHES RECEIVE THEIR LIFE GIVING NOURISHMENT IN THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THE VINE; AS THEY REMAIN IN THE VINE, THEY ARE ABLE TO GROW AND BEAR FRUIT

Answer Module #6 Question #4

Distinctive of the Church (Pages 363- 364)In relation to Israel

The church is a separate entity from Israel and remains distinct from Israel.

In relation to the KingdomThe church is not synonymous with the

kingdom There are two forms of the kingdom: (1) the

universal which includes all times, space, and involves the divine control of history.

The universal kingdom is God’s sovereign rule form eternity to eternity.

Distinctive of the Church The mediatorial kingdom is

(a) the rule of God through a divinely chosen representative who not only speaks and acts for God but also represents the people before God;

(b) a rule which has especial reference to the earth; and

(c) having as its mediatorial ruler one who is always a member of the human race.

The terms church and kingdom are never used interchangeably in Scripture.

Answer Module #6 Question # 5

Function of the Local Church ( Pages 364-366) There re several features of the biblical,

New Testament local church: Worship-The physical act of bowing but also

the inner attitude of the heart-submission to God. It involves the decisive presentation of the believer’s entire being to God.

Instruction-(2 Tim 3:16-17; 1Tim5:17; 6:2)FellowshipMinistryOrganization Ordinances

Leaders of the Church (Pages 366-369)Elders

OLDER CHRISTIANDIGNITY AND MATURITYHAS NOT BEEN DIVORCEDTEMPERATEPRUDENTHOSPITABLEGENTLEMANAGE HIS OWN HOUSEHOLDDISTRIBUTE MONEYMAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES ORTHODOX

DOCTRINERECEIVE REPORTS ABOUT MISSIONARY WORKVISIT THE SICK AND PRAY FOR THEMOFFER COUNSEL AND ENCOURAGEMENT WATCH OVER THE

FLOCK

Leaders of the Church (Pages 366-369) Deacon

MEN OF DIGNITY NOT DOUBLE TOUNGEDNOT ADDICTED TO WINENOT FOND OF SORDID GAINTESTEDONE WIFEGOOD MANAGERS OF HOUSEHOLDTO BE SUBORDINATE AND AUXILIARY TO THE ELDERS WHILE

THE ELDERS TEACH THE CONGREGATION Deaconess

No specific requirements in scriptureSimilar to Deacon

OverseersSame as the elder

Answer Module #6 Question # 7

Government of the Church (Pages 368-369)

Types of Churches

Episcopal The name Episcopal comes from the Greek word episkopos, meaning overseer, and identifies churches governed by the authority of bishops

Presbyterian Means “elder” suggests dignity, maturity, and age of church leaders. Designates a church government that is governed by elders. Usually a plurality of elders

Congregational Authority rests not with a representative individual but with the entire local congregation. Two things stressed in the congregational governed church: autonomy and democracy. People are involved in the decision making.

Ordinances of the Church (Page 371) Protestants have historically recognized

two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Roman Catholics have held to seven sacraments: baptism, the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), confirmation, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and marriage.

Sacrament, which comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning “a thing set apart as sacred”.

The Lord’s Supper ( Page 371) Christ instituted the Lord’s supper on the

eve of His crucifixion, commanding that His followers continue to observe it until His return

To enact the covenant, death was necessary because death provided forgiveness of sins.

There have been 4 distinct views in Christendom concerning it’s meaning.

Ordinances of the Church: Lord’s Supper (Pages 371- 374)

View Christ and the Elements

Significance

Transubstantiation Bread and win literally change to the body and blood of Christ

Recipient partakes of Christ, who is being scarified in the Mass to atone for sins.

Consubstantiation(Lutheran)

Bread and wine contain the body and blood of Christ but do not literally change. Christ is actually present “in , with, and under:” the elements

Recipient receives forgiveness of sins and confirmation of one’s faith through partaking of the elements, but they must be received through faith.

Reformed (Presbyterian, Reformed)

Christ is not literally present in the elements but there is a spiritual presence of Christ.

Recipient receives grace through partaking of the elements.

Memorial (Baptist, Mennoite)

Christ is not present physically or spiritually

Recipient commemorates the death of Christ.

Baptism (pages 374-376) Meaning of Baptism

Baptism involves identification with Christ in His death and resurrection.

It stresses the association with Christ in the rite. It is a public declaration that the believer has

been united to Christ by faith in His death and resurrection

Views of BaptismMeans of saving graceSign and seal of the covenantSymbol of our salvation

Mode of Baptism (Pages 375-376)

There are three modes of baptism being practiced today:

Sprinkling Pouring Immersion

Answer Module# 6 Questions # 9-10

The Purpose of the Church (Pages 376-378)Two overriding purposes of the church can be

delineated: GATHERED ministering to the body, and SCATTERED, ministering to the world. It is important to distinguish these two purposes.

On the one hand, the church gathers as a BODY of believers to minister to one ANOTHER; on the other hand, the CHURCH is to minister the gospel to UNBELIEVERS in the world.

These two purposes must be kept distinct: the church ministers to both BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS.

Answer Module # 6 Question # 11-12