Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
31 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What is the universal or catholic church?
|
the whole number of Christ’s elect, that have been, are , or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head.” (also called the invisible church)
|
|
|
What is the visible church?
|
all those throughout the world that profess the true religion and their children.”
WCF 25.2 / WLC #62 |
|
|
What are the attributes of the church? Prove from Scripture.
|
holy
catholic apostolic |
|
|
What are the marks of the church?
|
Preaching of the Word
Proper administration of the sacraments Exercise of church discipline Acts 2:42-44 - devoted to apostle's teaching, to fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers... Acts 5:1ff for discipline (Ananias & Sapphira) |
|
|
Who is the head of the church?
|
no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be the head thereof
Eph. 2:19-20 “built on the foundation of the prophets & apostles... Christ Jesus himself is the chief cornerstone” Col. 1:18 “he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church... |
|
|
What are the principles of Presbyterian church government? Support your answer from Scripture.
|
1) Christ is the King and Head of the church
Eph 2:19-20 2) office bearers chosen by the people (Acts 1:21-26 - replacement of Judas) 3) Office of bishop and elder are identical Titus 1:5-7 - elder/overseer used interchangeably to be appointed in Crete... 4) Plurality of elders in each church (spoken of / addressed in plural form - Phil. 1:1, Acts 14:23, 20:17, I Tim. 5:17) 5) Ordination an act of the presbytery (I Tim. 4:14 - elders laid hands on Timothy; Acts 6:6 - the "seven", Acts 13:1-3 Paul & Barnabas set apart) 6) The privilege of appeal was to the assembly of elders, and they exercised the right of government in their corporate character. (Acts 15 - Jerusalem council) |
|
|
What is the role of women in the church? Support from the Scriptures.
|
Survey of OT roles of women, Survey of Acts
1) Women should be encouraged to fulfill any duty a non-ordained member of the church is permitted to perform. Examples: 1) evangelism, 2) discipleship & teaching of other women, 3) compassionate service, 4) leaders in children ministries 5) public prayer 2) Women are a crucial and significant part of the church, just as any other member of the church, in possession of the full rights of the children of God. (interdependence) 3) Women should seek to use their gifts in a manner that edifies and encourages the body of Christ. |
|
|
May women serve as officers in the church? Support your answer from Scripture.
|
Women may not hold an ordained office in the church.
1Timothy 2:12-13 - Do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man... remain quite.. appeal to creation. Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to you husbands,as to the Lord |
|
|
What privileges do Christians share?
|
1) Fellowship in Christ's grace, suffering, death, resurrection, glory (United to Christ)
2) Communion in each others gifts, graces 3) performance of duties, public & private... conducive to mutual good - both inward and outward I John 1:2-3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” |
|
|
What duties do Christians owe one another?
|
1) Holy Fellowship
2) Communion in worship 3) Mutual edification 4) Relieving of our outward needs |
|
|
Does the “communion of the saints” deny the right of private property? Explain.
|
No
Acts 5:4 “Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?” Eph. 4:28 “doing something useful with his hands that he may have something to share with those in need.” |
|
|
What authority does the church possess?
|
Matt 16:18ff
1) the “keys to the kingdom” - 2) the power “to retain and remit sins” 3) “to shut the kingdom to the impenitent” and “open the kingdom to penitent sinners.” ref. WCF 30.2 |
|
|
What is the purpose of church censures?
|
1) reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren” . . .
2) deterring others from like offenses . . . 3) vindicating the honor of Christ and the holy profession of the gospel . . . 4) preventing the wrath of God from falling on the church for notorious and obstinate offender |
|
|
What censures may the church impose?
|
to be exercised from 1 - 3
1) Admonition 2) Suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season 3) Excommunication from the church |
|
|
Identify some Scripture passages, which support the practice of church discipline.
|
Matt. 18:15-17 biblical confrontation
Titus 3:10 warn a divisive person twice before having nothing to do with him 2 Thess 3:14 if someone doesn’t obey the apostle’s instruction, warn him as a brother. Gal. 6:1 if anyone is caught in a sin, restore him gently 1 Cor 5:12-13 expel the wicked man from among you |
|
|
Who may properly call church assemblies, synods, or councils?
|
overseers and other rulers of the particular churches...
WCF 31.1 - The main point underlying this passage is that the civil magistrate cannot convene a synod or assembly |
|
|
For what purposes are church assemblies, synods, or councils called?
|
1) to determine controversies of faith
2) to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God 3) to receive complaints and to determine them authoritatively |
|
|
What authority do church councils possess?
|
1) Ecclesiastical and not Civil
2) Ministerial rather than Declarative. ref. WCF 31.4 |
|
|
How should Christians respond to church councils?
|
1) they are not the rule of faith and practice (this is only the Bible).
2) they are intended to be a help in both faith and practice -WCF 31.3 |
|
|
Describe a Presbyterian form of government
|
(republican)
1) affirms both Christ as the head of the church and the importance of individual churches to govern their own affairs. This is accomplished through representative bodies 1) the local church session is the most basic. 2) The regional presbytery is a assembly of the elders from the local congregations in a specified area. 3) the national level with synods and general assemblies. 4) The larger assemblies do have the power to impose certain limitations on the autonomy of local churches in order to promote the growth and welfare of churches, to guarantee the rights of its members, and to give fuller expression to the overall unity of the Church universal. |
|
|
Describe a Congregational form of government
|
(Independent, democratic)
1) maintains that each individual church is a complete church. No dependency upon other churches. 2) The balance of power lies with the members of the church and their officers elected as functionaries (not a bishop). 3) These churches may choose to join together in fellowship; however, the decisions rendered are only advisory and not authoritative for any individual church unless the congregation so desires. |
|
|
Describe a Episcopal form of government
|
(prelacy, monarchical)
1) maintains that Christ has given administration of his church, directly and exclusively to an order of bishops, who form the line of succession from the apostles themselves. 2) These bishops are separate, independent, and self-perpetuating. 3) The actual people of the church have no share in the governance of the church. |
|
|
Why are there disagreements regarding subscription?
|
session/presbytery’s need to be satisfied that a candidate’s answer does not allow him to hold a view that destroys the unity of the system of doctrine established as the standard for the PCA.
|
|
|
Regarding subscription, what is the “vital to the system" view?
|
a session must determine if a scruple expressed by a candidate as an exception affects any of the articles essential to the system.
|
|
|
Regarding subscription, what is the “very doctrines of the Word” view?
|
asserts that the WCF and its catechisms are the expression of the very doctrines of the Word.
scruples are limited to the exceptions taken over the exact wording of a proposition. They cannot question the substance of any part of the documents. Problem: The very word of doctrine elevates the standards to the level of scripture itself, ignoring that it is subordinate to the Bible. |
|
|
Regarding subscription, what is the “substance of doctrine” view?
|
asserts that the candidate is understood to adopt the doctrine not in the form or manner in which it is presented in the Confession, but only for “substance of doctrine.”
Problem: The substance of doctrine removes the distinctiveness of the Westminster standards. |
|
|
Scriptural defense of HOLINESS as an attribute of the Church
|
set apart from unbelief and sin; dedicated to the service of God
1 Pet. 2:9-10 “You are . . . a holy nation” |
|
|
Scriptural defense of CATHOLIC as an attribute of the Church
|
not limited ethnically nor spatially
Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body . . .” |
|
|
Scriptural defense of APOSTOLIC as an attribute of the Church
|
founded upon the authority and teachings of the apostles - Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone
Eph. 2:19-20 |
|
|
What is the difference between the church militant and the church victorious
|
Church Militant is those Christians on earth who are living; struggling against sin, the devil and "..the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
the Church Triumphant is made up of those who are in Heaven |
|
|
Hodge on 1 Cor. 11:28
|
Let him ascertain whether he has the correct views of the nature and design of the ordinance, and whether he has the proper state of mind.
whether he desires to thankfully commemorate the Lord's death, renewedly partake of the the benefits of that death as a sacrifice for his sins, publicly accept the covenant of grace with its promises and obligations, and to signify his fellowship with his brothers as joint members with him in the body of Christ. It is not essential ... that we should be assured of our good estate, but that we have the intelligent desire to do what Christ requires of us when we come to his table. If we come humbly seeking him, he will bid us welcome and feed us ... |
