Chapell Meeks 2 I - Theology: The Church--Jhm

Front 1

What is the universal or catholic church?

Back 1

“The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of Christ’s elect, that have been, are , or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof.” (WCF 25.1)

The same answer is given is slightly abbreviated form in WLC #64.

Front 2

What is the visible church?

Back 2

The visible church consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion and of their children.” (WCF 25.2)

Front 3

What are the attributes of the church? Prove from Scripture.

Back 3

holy, catholic, apostolic
Holy: set apart from unbelief and sin; dedicated to the service of God
1 Pet. 2:9-10 “You are . . . a holy nation”
Eph. 5: 25-27 “Christ loved the church . . . to make her holy”
catholic: not limited ethnically nor spatially (as in the case of Israel) but rather unifies “all those throughout the world who profess the true religion”.
Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body . . .”
apostolic: founded upon the authority and teachings of the apostles
Eph. 2:19-20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone”.

Front 4

What are the marks of the church?

Back 4

-Preaching of the Word
-Proper administration of the sacraments
-Exercise of church discipline
-Acts 2:42-44

Front 5

Who is the head of the church?

Back 5

Jesus Christ

“There is 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”
Eph. 1:22 “[God] appointed him [Jesus] to be head over everything”
Col. 1:18 “he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church”

Front 6

What are the principles of Presbyterian church government? Support your answer from Scripture.

Back 6

1) Christ is the King and Head of the church (Eph. 1:22)
2) office bearers chosen by the people (Acts 1:21-26 - replacement of Judas)
3) The office of bishop and elder are identical (Titus 1:5-7)
4) Plurality of elders in each church (Phil. 1:1, Acts 14:23, 20:17, I Tim. 5:17)
5) Ordination an act of the presbytery (a plurality of elders) (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)

Front 7

What is the role of women in the church? Support from the Scriptures.

Back 7

1) Women should be encouraged to fulfill any duty a non-ordained member of the church is permitted to perform.
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.
1 Tim. 2:12 & The one role that the Scriptures forbid that a woman should have is that of authority over a man, which the PCA interprets to mean, not holding an ordained office in the church.

Women should be encouraged to make their own contribution to the life and well-being of the church within the parameters outlined in the Bible.
Examples: 1) evangelism, 2) discipleship &teaching of other women, 3) compassionate service, 4) leaders in children ministries 5) public prayer
Survey of OT roles of women, Survey of Acts

Front 8

May women serve as officers in the church? Support your answer from Scripture.

Back 8

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

Front 9

What privileges do Christians share?

Back 9

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

Ref. WCF 26.1

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.”

Front 10

What duties do Christians owe one another?

Back 10

1) Holy Fellowship
2) Communion in worship
3) Mutual edification
4) Relieving of our outward needs
-WCF 26.2

Front 11

Does the “communion of the saints” deny the right of private property? Explain.

Back 11

No - ref. WCF 26.3

Eph. 4:28 “doing something useful with his hands that he may have something to share with those in need.”

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?”

Front 12

What authority does the church possess?

Back 12

Matt 16:18ff
The “keys to the kingdom” - the power “to retain and remit sins” - and “to shut the kingdom to the impenitent” and “open the kingdom to penitent sinners.”

ref. WCF 30.2

Front 13

What is the purpose of church censures?

Back 13

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

Ref WCF 30.3

Front 14

What censures may the church impose?

Back 14

Moving 1 - 3
1) Admonition
2) Suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season
3) Excommunication from the church

ref. WCF 30.4

Front 15

Identify some Scripture passages, which support the practice of church discipline.

Back 15

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

Front 16

Who may properly call church assemblies, synods, or councils?

Back 16

overseers and other rulers of the particular churches... by virtue of their offices, and the power which Christ has given them for edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies; and to convene together in then as often as they judge it expedient for the good of the church.” ref. WCF 31.1

The main point underlying this passage is that the civil magistrate cannot convene a synod or assembly

Front 17

For what purposes are church assemblies, synods, or councils called?

Back 17

-to determine controversies of faith
-to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God
-to receive complaints and to determine them authoritatively
-WCF 31.2

Front 18

What authority do church councils possess?

Back 18

1) Ecclesiastical and not Civil
2) Ministerial rather than Declarative.

ref. WCF 31.4

Front 19

How should Christians respond to church councils?

Back 19

-they are not the rule of faith and practice- that is the Bible.
-they are intended to be a help in both faith and practice
-WCF 31.3

Front 20

Where does Westminster deal with the Church?

Back 20

WCF 25-26, 30-31
WLC 61-66, 69, 82-83, 86

Front 21

Describe a Presbyterian (republican) form of government

Back 21

1) affirms both Christ as the head of the church and the importance of individual churches to govern their own affairs. It is accomplished through representative bodies - 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 next level extends to 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 at the same time as they seek 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.

Front 22

Describe a Congregational (Independent, democratic) form of government

Back 22

1) maintains that each individual church is a complete church. There is no dependency upon other churches.
2) The balance of power does not rest in a bishop but rather it lies with the members of the church and their officers elected as functionaries.
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.

Front 23

Describe a Episcopal (prelacy, monarchical) form of government

Back 23

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.

Front 24

What is subscription?

Back 24

Subscription refers to the vow of a church officer to submit himself to the system of doctrine and the confessional standards of the PCA, as outlined in the Westminster Confession of Faith. There are four possible views surrounding the issue: The substance of doctrine view, the vital to the system view, the very doctrine of the Word view, and the very word of doctrine view.

Front 25

Why are there disagreements regarding subscription?

Back 25

The disagreement over this issue stems from the candidate’s need to determine what his oath to the second ordination vow entails for him and the session/presbytery’s need to be satisfied that the 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.

Front 26

Regarding subscription, what is the “vital to the system" view?

Back 26

This view maintains that a session must determine if a scruple expressed by a candidate as an exception affects any of the articles essential to the system.

Front 27

Regarding subscription, what is the “very doctrines of the Word” view?

Back 27

This view asserts that the WCF and its catechisms are the expression of the very doctrines of the Word. Therefore, 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.

Front 28

Regarding subscription, what is the “substance of doctrine” view?

Back 28

This 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.