Ecclesiology Flashcards
Define the church in a single sentence.
The assembly of the redeemed—those who have been called by God the Father to salvation as a gift to his Son. (MacArthur and Mayhue)
In a single sentence each, provide five biblical arguments that the church was inaugurated on the Day of Pentecost.
Promise, Redemption, Baptism, Mystery, and Fondation
a) The Promise of Jesus (Matt 16:18) means that the church was inaugurated after the ascension.
b) Christ’s redemptive work was needed. (Acts 20:28)
c) Jews and Greeks baptized into one body (1 cor 12:13) which happened on the day of Pentecost.
d) The church was a mystery not yet revealed (Eph 3:9).
e) Apostles and prophets were the foundation (Eph 2:20)
Mem Aid: “Please Realize Before Making Folly”
In a single sentence each, provide three biblical arguments that the church is distinct from the nation of Israel.
Ethnic, Promises, and Restoration
a) “Israel” In the NT consistently means ethnic Jews.
b) Israel presently enjoys promises and covenants (Rom 9:4-5).
c) The NT reiterates the coming future restoration of the ethnic nation of Israel.
What implications does 1 Corinthians 9:20-21 have for the church’s relationship to the Mosaic Law?
We are not under the Mosaic law, but we are not without law and we are under the law of Christ.
Name three New Covenant blessings that are experienced by the Church in the present age
a) The Forgiveness of Sin
b) The Transformation of Heart
c) The Indwelling Holy Spirit
In a single sentence, distinguish between the universal kingdom and the mediatorial kingdom
U: Continuously, Heaven, Entirety
M: Earthly & representative
The universal kingdom is where God continuously reigns from heaven over the entirety of His creation whereas the mediatorial kingdom is where God reigns upon the earth through a human representative.
What were the three qualifications for the office of apostle?
Eyewitness, Appointed, Signs
a) An Eyewitness of the Resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-26)
b) Personally Appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ
c) Authenticated by the Signs of a True Apostle (2 Cor 12:12)
Show from Scripture that the terms “elder,” “overseer,” and “pastor” all refer to the same office.
1 Tim 3 - overseerer/elder (n)
Acts 20 - elders/overseerers (n), shepherd (verb)
**1 Peter 5 **- elder (n), oversees/shepherds (verbs)
a) The terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament: The qualifications for an “overseer” in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and those for an “elder” in Titus 1:6-9 are unmistakably parallel.
b) In Titus 1:5,7, Paul uses the term “elder” v.5 and the term “overseer” in v.7 to refer to the same office.
c) In Acts 20, Paul assembles the “elders” of the church of Ephesus and then refers to them as “overseers” who are to “shepherd” the flock of God (Acts 20:17, 28).
d) According to 1 Peter 5:1-2, it is the duty of an elder both to oversee and shepherd/pastor the people of God.
Provide at least three biblical examples that show the pattern of a plurality of elders in the local church.
a) Titus 1:5 – “appoint elders”
b) Acts 20:17, 28 “elders and overseers”
c) Hebrews 13:17 - Leaders
Do you believe that 1 Timothy 3:11 refers to the wives of deacons or to female deacons? Provide what you believe is the single strongest argument for your view.
a) Wives of Deacons
b) The actual qualifications of the “office” (if it were that), are exceptionally slim and do not provide a clear basis for a legitimate church office. (1 Tim 3:11)
What were the four priorities of the early church in Jerusalem according to Acts 2:42?
a) The Apostle’s teaching
b) Fellowship
c) The Breaking of Bread
d) Prayer
Define a spiritual gift, supporting your definition with Scripture
A Spiritual gift is a Spirit-given (1 Cor 12:11), Father-glorifying (1 Peter 4:11), Body-of-Christ-edifying (1 Cor 12:7) spiritual ability that a Believer possesses at least one of (1 Cor 12:7).
Where does Scripture indicate that God sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts to members of the Body of Christ?
1 Cor 12:11
Where does Scripture indicate that every member of the Body of Christ has received a spiritual gift?
1 Cor 12:7
What are the immediate and ultimate purposes of spiritual gifts? Provide one Scripture reference to support each one.
a) Immediate Purpose – Edification of Others (1 Cor 14:3)
b) Ultimate Purpose – Glorification of God (1 Peter 4:11)
Define Continuationism and Cessationism.
a) Continuationism: the revelatory and miraculous gifts described in Acts and 1 Corinthians continue to function today.
b) Cessationism: the revelatory and miraculous gifts were unique to the apostolic era and therefore have ceased.
Provide biblical evidence that the gift of apostleship has ceased.
a) Qualifications
i) An Eyewitness of the Resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-26)
ii) Personally Appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14)
iii) Authenticated by the Signs of a True Apostle (2 Cor 12:12)
b) The Foundational Role of the Apostles (Eph 2:19-22)
What are the three marks of a biblical prophet that point to the cessation of the gift of prophecy? Provide a biblical reference for each.
a) Basic Godliness of Personal Character (Matt 7:15-23)
b) Perfect Consistency with Previous Revelation (Deut 13:1-5)
c) Perfect Accuracy in Prophetic Predictions (Deut 18:20-22)
Provide biblical evidence that the gift of healings/miracles has ceased.
a) Nature of NT Miracles
i) Instantaneous and completely effective – Acts 3:6-8
ii) Conspicuously Obvious – Acts 5:16
b) Purpose of NT Miracles
i) To Confirm the Identity of the Messiah (Acts 2:22)
ii) Verify the Apostleship of the Apostles (Messenger) (Acts 2:43, Hebrews 2:3-4)
iii) Authenticate the Message of the Apostles (Romans 15:18-19, Acts 4:33)
Nature: C C
Purpose: M M M
Identify three purposes of the miracles/healings performed in the New Testament, with at least one Scripture reference for each
a) To Confirm the Identity of the Messiah (Acts 2:22)
b) Verify the Apostleship of the Apostles (messenger) (Acts 2:43, Hebrews 2:3-4)
c) Authenticate the Message of the Apostles (Romans 15:18-19, Acts 4:33)
Purpose: M M M
Prove biblically that the gift of tongues consisted of an authentic human language.
a) Acts 2:4-11 – “language” word and vv.9-11 foreign languages.
b) 1 Cor 14:12-22 referencing Isaiah 28:11-12 – real languages.
c) 1 Cor 14:5 – “interpret” means translate from one language to another.
Identify three purposes of the gift of tongues, with at least one Scripture reference for each.
a) A Sign of Divine Judgment on Unbelieving Israel (1 Cor 14:21-22a; cf. Isa 28:11-12)
b) A Symbol of the International Nature of the Church (Acts 2:1-42, 8:14-17; 10:34-48; 19:1-7)
c) A Secondary Means of Divine Revelation in the Church (1 Cor 14:1-40)
“Just In eaRly (church)
Judgement
International
Revelation
Identify three purposes of church discipline, with at least one Scripture reference in support of each.
a) To Restore a Fallen Brother (Galatians 6:1)
b) To Preserve the Purity of the Church
i) By Removing the Ungodly Influence (1 Cor 5:6-8)
ii) By Warning the Entire Congregation (1 Timothy 5:20)
c) To Protect the Honor of God’s Name (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12)
“R P P”
24) List the four steps of church discipline according to Matthew 18:15-17.
a) Step 1—Rebuke Him Privately (15)
b) Step 2—Bring Some Witnesses (16)
c) Step 3—Tell the Congregation (17a)
d) Step 4—Treat Him as an Unbeliever (17b)
