Lesson 3 - The Story of the Church

Question 1

What are the two biblical metaphors and terms for the church?

Answer 1

1. ) Building - God’s building project
2. ) Agriculture - God’s plant/vine/tree

– Jeremiah 1:10, 24, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 13, Romans 11

Question 2

How does the Patriarchal church function as the church?

Answer 2

• • Those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord (1 Cor. 1:2) from a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22)
• • Patriarchs are characterized as people who build altars in every place of their pilgrimage and call upon the name of the Lord.
• • Abraham display pure-hearted reliance, supreme sacrifice with Isaac
• • Ecclesial Acts (offering sacrifices, bringing tithes, eating sacred meals, administering the sign of the covenant)
• -

Question 3

How do the patriarchs function as ministers in the covenant community?

Answer 3

The fathers performed a number of sacred rites/actions on behalf of the covenant community:

1. ) Building alters/offering sacrifices
2. ) Administering the sign of the covenant
3. ) INstructions/Catechism
4. ) INtercession
5. ) Pronoucning a blessing
6. ) Noah - preacher of righteousness

Question 4

Explain what is meant by the “promised royal seed.”

Answer 4

1. ) Genesis 17:6 - kings will come from you
2. This royal seed is the ultimate object and instrument of God’s fatherly/covenant blessing.
3. This royal seed is destined to rule both Jew and Gentile
4. The patriarchal church thus lived by the same messianic faith and hope as the church of all ages.

One God, One Redemptive Purpose, One Church

The blessing and worship is centered on the King

Question 5

According to Bavinck, why should the term “kingdom of God” not be used when referring to the church?

Answer 5

The Kingdom of God, with which jesus’ preaching begins, is an eschatological term for the messianic kingdom with all its benefits. To the extent this kingdom is already present on earth in human hearts as a result of regeneration, forgiveness, and renewal, it consists rather in spiritual benefits than in a fellowship of persons. For that reason it is not –at least on earth—organized. It exists wherever the spiritual benefits of Christ have been granted and is nowhere completed on earth.

2. The church is a “this worldly” term, a fellowship of persons equipped with offices and ministries that function in the visible world as the gathered people of God. The church is the mean by which Christ distributes the benefits of the kingdom of God and lays the groundwork for its completion.
3. The church to advance the coming of that Kingdom absorbs all sorts of elements that are impure and actually don’t belong to it, whereas the kingdom of God, consisting in spiritual goods, is pure and uncontaminated and encompasses only what is regenerate.

Question 6

According to Bavinck, how is the church the “people of God”?

Answer 6

The characteristic essence of the church is that it is the people of God, the realization of God’s own electing love.

The church is a gathering of people who come together for some purpose. The church is the name for the people of God.

All this makes it incontrovertible that in its essence the church is a gathering of true believers:
– Scripture metaphors: body of Christ, bride of Christ, sheepfold of Christ, building of God, the people, the possession of God, branches of the vine, living stones, the elect.

Question 7

How does Bavinck describe the kingship of Christ over the church?

Answer 7

– The kingship of Christ over his church consists in that by this word and Spirit he gathers and governs his own and protects and keeps them in the redemption acquired.

– This gathering activity of the church proceeds from Christ and is accomplished by him. It is Christ who distributes the benefits of the covenant through the offices and the means of grace and builds his church.

– Christ alone is the King of the church. He continues his own 3fold office of prophet, priest, and king, not exclusively but also through the three offices he instituted for his church. By them he takes care of the spiritual and material interest of his church. In that care he uses people, all believers as wells as office bearers.

Question 8

Explain the three kinds of power in the church of Christ

Answer 8

Christ in his 3 offices gives us three kinds of power in the church:

1. ) Power to teach (Prophetic Office)
2. ) Power to Govern (Kingly Office)
3. ) Power of Ministry of Mercy (Priestly Office)

Question 9

1.) Identify and explain the characteristics of the church in the wilderness.

Answer 9

1. This people is guided, preserved, and protected by Yahweh’s presence in the wilderness
2. This people is destined for judgment from its inception, because of its stubborn and rebellious ways
3. Nevertheless, this people lives under the promise of future restoration as a consequence of God’s everlasting love and covenant faithfulness.

Question 10

1Describe how Jesus’ humiliation and exaltation bring about the eschatological fulfillment of God’s great temple-building project.

Answer 10

1. ) Humiliation
   - - Kingly Temple builder - I wiill tear it down
   - - Prophecy of Messiah’s rejection and tearing down of the old temple
   - - Priestly Sacrifice opens the veil of the eschatological temple
2. ) Exaltation
   - - The Kingly cornerstone and temple builder (head and builder of the church)
   - - The apostolic foundation/blueprint and the building up of God’s people through the apostolic word
   - - the priestly intercessor and leader of heavenly eschatological temple worship