I. The Church (WCF 25-26,30-31; WLC 61-66,69,82-83,86; WSC none) Flashcards
What is the universal or catholic church?
• The invisible church of the elect-past, present, and future (WCF XXV:1) (Ephesians)
What is the visible church?
• Consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion (and their children)- (WCF XXV:2) (1 Cor 1 - to Corinth and all, everywhere who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
What are the attributes of the church? Prove from Scripture.
• One, holy, catholic, and apostolic (Eph 4 - unity, 1 Pet 1 - be holy, 1 Cor 1 - the church everywhere, Acts 2 - under the teaching of the apostles)
What are the marks of the church? Prove from Scripture.
- The Doctrine of the Gospel taught (1 Thess 1: Teaching the Thessalonians)
- Ordinances administered (Matt 28: baptizing, 1 Cor 11: Lord’s supper)
- Public worship preformed (John 4: Worship in Spirit and truth)
- (Acts 2)
Who is the head of the church? Prove from Scripture.
- Jesus Christ (Col 1; Eph 1)
Define three basic forms of church government.
- Episcopal: the authority is vested in one person
- Presbyterian: more representative form/body of elders has authority
- Congregational: authority rooted in the local congregation
May women serve as officers in the church? Support you answer from Scripture
- No
- The examples of and the qualifications for elders and deacons are for men only (1 Timothy 2-3, Titus 1)
What is “subscription?” Why is there disagreement on this subject? What view of subscription do you hold and why?
- Defining subscription or theological adherence by ministers and elders to the Confession and Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church in America has been a matter of great debate for most of its history.
- Full subscription vs system subscription
The effect of the amendment will require ministers to state any differences with the PCA’s confessional standards, to have the presbytery (regional court) determine whether the differences are allowable exceptions and to have the differences recorded in writing.
What privileges do Christians share? What duties do Christians owe one another?
- We are united to Christ and have all spiritual blessings (Eph 1).
- We owe one another love and humble service (Eph 4, Phil 2)
WCF 26:1 All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory:(1) and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces,(2) and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.(3)
(1) 1 John 1:3; Eph. 3:16-19; John 1:6; Eph. 2:5,6; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5,6; 2 Tim. 2:12
(2) Eph. 4:15,16; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Col. 2:19
(3) 1 Thess. 5:11,14; Rom. 1:11,12,14; 1 John 3:16-18; Gal. 6:10
Does the “communion of the saints” deny the right of private property? Explain.
No (Acts 5 - Annias and Sapphira were not required)
WCF 26:3 …Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away, or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
What authority does the church possess?
• God has given church officers “the keys of the kingdom”- to retain and remit sins (Matt 16, 18)
- The teaching of the word, sacraments, and the use of church discipline
What is the purpose of church censures?
- The glory of God (1 Cor 10)
- The purity of the church (1 Cor 5)
- The keeping and reclaiming of disobedient sinners (the goal is godliness)(2 Cor 2)
What censures may the church impose?
- Admonition
- Suspension from Sacraments
- Excommunication
- Suspension from office
- Deposition from office
Identify some Scripture passages that support the practice of church discipline.
- Matthew 18 (Procedure)
- 1 Cor 5 (Excommunication)
- Titus 1 (Rebuke for false teaching)
- 2 Cor 2 (Restoration for the sinner)
Who may properly call church assemblies, synods, or councils? For what purpose/s?
Elders may call them to decide matters of doctrine, proper worship, or discipline
WCF 31:1 For the better government, and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils:(1) [and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies;(2) and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.(3)]
WCF 31:3 It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of His Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to be received with, reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in His Word.
