Ecclesiology

Question 1

UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Answer 1

All who have been redeemed by the
atoning work of Jesus Christ and have
received the Holy Spirit.

Question 2

LOCAL CHURCH

Answer 2

The formal gathering of the visible

professing/confessing church

Question 3

Notae Ecclisae: The Notes of the Church

Answer 3

We believe in one God, the Father
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ
And in the Holy Spirit

Question 4

Ephesians 4:1-6

Answer 4

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk
in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have
been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4
There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were
called to the one hope that belongs to your call- 5 one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of
all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Question 5

Holiness Revisited

Answer 5

“[The redeemed] are ‘sanctified’ or made holy
by God’s manifesting himself to them, drawing them into a special relationship with himself and making provision for their sinfulness” (David Peterson, “Holiness,” 595).

Question 6

Consecration

Answer 6

This new covenant status in Christ and relationship to God brings change

Universal: All Christians everywhere share in the same holy election and calling from the Father through the Son’s redemptive work by the purifying and indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Local: Visible assemblies of believers display this holy status by demonstrating their exclusive devotion to God through the practice of holiness by faith and repentance rooted in the gospel

Question 7

Little “c” Catholic

Answer 7

The word “catholic” as a general adjective means
worldwide and/or universal.

1. Geographical
2. Complete proclamation and
   explanation of the Christian
   faith.
3. Mission to all peoples.
4. Universal remedy for all sin.

Question 8

Apostolic Preservation

Answer 8

Traditions such as the RCC and Eastern Orthodoxy affirm Apostolic Succession.

Question 9

The Keys of the Kingdom

Answer 9

Matthew 16:15-19
15He said to them, “But who do you say that
I am?” 16Simon Peter replied, “You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you, but my Father who
is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever
you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.”

Question 10

The Reformers

Answer 10

Rejecting apostolic succession, the Reformers promoted the view that apostolicity was understood as faithfulness to the apostolic gospel and teaching (doctrine), which is preserved through a Two-Testament Canon of
Scripture.

Question 11

To be apostolic . . .

Answer 11

• is inextricably tied to a church’s doctrine, interpretation, and application of
Scripture.
• the church must seek to be governed by Scripture.
• the church must be foremost engaged in evangelism, disciple-making, and
missions, taking the name of Jesus to all nations.
• Total apostolicity is eschatological.

Question 12

sacramentum

Answer 12

“a sacred oath”

As a “means of grace,” a sacrament does
not merely signify, but has the efficacious
ability to actualize the thing it signifies.

Question 13

Ordinances

Answer 13

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

“Ordinances” is the terminology that is used when not
wanting to convey the notion that these practices impart any degree of saving or sanctifying “grace” as a result of what they signify.

Question 14

Baptism

Answer 14

Instituted and Commanded by Jesus Christ

• Jesus’ Baptism: Matt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22
• The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20
• Administered in the Apostolic Ministry and
Assumed in the Life of the Church: Acts 2:38; 1
Cor 1:13

Question 15

Baptism: Theological Points

Answer 15

Identification with Jesus Christ
• Public Confession of Jesus Christ as Lord: Rom 10:9
• United with Christ in His crucifixion, death, and resurrection: Rom 6:3-4; Gal 2:20
• Raised to Walk in Newness of Life: Cleansed, Purified: Col 2:11-12

Identification with the Church
• Incorporation into the visible body of Christ: Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 12:12
• The initiation rite for entrance into the visible body of Christ in the context of a local church.
• Right practice of baptism should lead towards meaningful church (covenant) membership.

Question 16

Paedobaptism

Answer 16

Infant Baptism

Question 17

Credobaptism

Answer 17

Believer’s Baptism)

Question 18

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

Answer 18

Roman Catholic

At the "words of institution
(i.e., "This is my body"), the
elements change in their
substance/essence into the
body and blood of Jesus
Christ while their accidents
remain the same.

Question 19

CONSUBSTANTIATION

Answer 19

At the "words of institution,"
Christ is present within the
elements, but not as a
result of "substantial"
change. Instead, Christ is
present in the elements
because of the Lord's
promise, "This is my body/
blood."

Question 20

REAL PRESENCE

Answer 20

Unlike RCC and Luther,
Calvin denied the physical
presence of Christ in the
elements. Still, Calvin
affirmed a real, spiritual
presence of Jesus that is
mediated by the "signs"
through the work of the
Holy Spirit and is received
by faith.

Question 21

MEMORIAL

Answer 21

For Zwingli, the elements
only signified the Lord's body
and blood. Christ has
ascended to the right hand of
the Father and is not
physically present on earth.
He promoted a "memorial"
view because this is what
Christ conveyed in his words,
"Do this in remembrance of
me."