Lesson 4 - The Modes and Marks of the Church

Question 1

How is the church both visible and invisible? What is the relationship and distinction between these dimensions? What are the distinguishing marks of the invisible and visible church?

Answer 1

The church is both visible and invisible, not two churches but two dimensions of one church

Invisible

• • Heavenly constituency
• • Not yet realized eschatological constituency
• • Earthly constituency as we know it (elect)

Visible

• • Scattered throughout the world, but worships the one true God
• • Particular, local congregations of confessing Christians
• • True Believers and their children
• • Also includes those who are merely externally joined to the church by verbal profession and sacramental participation

Question 2

What is the relationship between the visible and invisible church?

Answer 2

The church’s visible form is the gateway into the invisible church

Question 3

Explain why it is important to have the categories of “either/or” and “more/less” when examining the visible church?

Answer 3

1. ) Either/Or - True or False
   - - discernment:
   - - Ex. Mormon Church is not just a less pure church. It’s a false church
2. ) More/Less
   - - More or less pure churches help us not to cast off a church as a false church, when it is just less pure.
   - - but helps us discern and work toward being a pure church

Question 4

Best arguments for the continuation of the gifts of prophecy and tongues in the church today?

Answer 4

• • The Bible gives no explicit evidence indicating they are not valid. It appears to be both widespread and common in the NT
• • Rome, Coritnh, Galatians, Ephesus (Acts 19), thessalonica

3 Scriputres

1. ) 1 Cor. 1:4-9 – the gifts of the Spirit are operative until our Lord jJesus Christ is revealed.
2. ) Ephesians 4:11-13 – explicitly dates the duration of the gifts: they are required until we all reach the unity in the faith and become mature.
3. ) 1 Cor. 13:8-13 – dates the cessation of the charismata at the perfection of the eternal state, consequent upon Christ’s return.

– Gifts have been designed by God to characterize the life of the church today for much the same reason I believe in church discipline for today, elder rule, observance of the Lord’s supper, and other biblical practices and patterns.

Question 5

Best arguments against the continuation of the gifts of prophecy and tongues in the church today?

Answer 5

1. ) Signs were given for specific purpose with the apostles/bulding up the chruch/writing Scripture
   - - Signs of the apostles passed away with the times of the apostles (Norman Geisler)
   - - Canon is closed
   - - Eph. 2:11-21 - the church as construction project
2. ) Pentecost is unique – history of salvation vs. order of salvation (for every believer)
3. ) Reading of Acts
   - - not 2nd experiences, but follow Acts 1:8