Midterm Exam

Question 1

Define the Church in a single sentence.

Answer 1

The New Covenant community of believing Jews and Gentiles as it exists in this age between the two comings of Jesus.

Question 2

Provide three biblical arguments that the church is distinct from the nation of Israel (sing. sent).

Answer 2

1. “Israel” is used consistently in the NT to refer to ethnic Jews, even after the establishment of the church.
2. Romans 9:4–5 describes privileges that national Israel presently possesses.
3. The NT reiterates the future restoration of the ethnic nation (Rom 11:26; Acts 1:6-7).

Question 2

Five Biblical arguments that the church was inaugurated on the Day of Pentecost. (sing. sent. each).

Answer 2

1. The future-tense Promise of Jesus in Matt 16:18 indicates the church is yet future.
2. The Necessity of the completion of Christ’s Redemptive Work to establish the church (Acts 20:28).
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:13) which baptized all into one body did not occur until Pentecost.
4. In Eph 3 Paul refers to The Church as a Mystery. Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body.
5. The Churches beginning coincides with what Paul calls it’s foundation: “the apostles” (Eph 2:20).

Question 3

Implications does 1 Cor 9:20-21 have for the church’s relationship to the Mosaic Law?

Answer 3

Christians are not under the law of Moses, but are not without law, but are under the law of Christ.

Question 4

Name three New Covenant blessings that are experienced by the Church in the present age (no biblical proof necessary).

Answer 4

1. The Forgiveness of Sin
2. The Transformation of Heart
3. The Indwelling Holy Spirit

Question 5

Distinguish between the universal kingdom and the mediatorial kingdom (sing. sent).

Answer 5

Universal: God’s continuous reign from heaven over creation. Mediatorial: God’s reign upon the earth through a human representative.

Question 6

What are the three qualifications for the office of apostle?

Answer 6

1. Eyewitness of the Resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21–26).
2. Personally Appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14)
3. Authenticated by the Signs of a True Apostle (2 Cor 12:12).

Question 7

Show from Scripture that the terms “elder,” “overseer,” and “pastor all refer to the same office.

Answer 7

• Qualifications for overseer in 1 Tim 3 and Tit 1 are parallel.
• Titus 1 uses elder and overseer interchangeably.
• Acts 20 Paul refers to the same group as both elders and overseers.
• 1 Peter 5:1–2, elders are called to both oversee and shepherd.

Question 8

Provide at least three biblical examples that show the pattern of a plurality of elders in the local church.

Answer 8

Titus 1 “appoint elders”;
James 5 “call for the elders”;
Acts 20 Paul’s farewell is to the elders in Ephesus.

Question 9

1 Tim 3:11 refers to wives of deacons or to female deacons? provide single strongest argument for your view.

Answer 9

Wives of Deacons.

Contextually, the characteristics of a deacon’s wife are part of his “household qualifications.” Different, but akin to those of an elder.

Question 10

four priorities of the early church in Jerusalem according to Acts 2:42?

Answer 10

The apostles teaching,
fellowship,
the breaking of bread,
prayer.

Question 11

Define a spiritual gift, supporting definition with Scripture.

Answer 11

A special Spiritual ability given by the holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:11) for the purpose of edifying the other members of the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:7) and bringing glory to God (1 Pet 4:11).

Question 12

Where does Scripture indicate that God sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts to members of the Body of Christ?

Answer 12

Rom 12:6 and 1 Cor 12:11

Question 13

Where does Scripture indicate that every member of the Body of Christ has received a spiritual gift?

Answer 13

1 Cor 12:7, 11; 1 Pet 4:10

Question 14

What are the immediate and ultimate purposes of spiritual gifts? (1 Scrip ref for each).

Answer 14

Immediate purpose: edification of others (1 Cor 12:7)
Ultimate Purpose: Glorification of God (1 Pet 4:11)

Question 15

Define Continuationism

Answer 15

the revelatory and miraculous gifts described in Acts and 1 Cor continue to function today.

Question 16

Define Cessationism

Answer 16

The revelatory and miraculous gifts were unique to the apostolic era and therefore have ceased.

Question 17

Provide biblical evidence that the gift of apostleship has ceased.

Answer 17

1. The qualifications of an apostle cannot be met today. (Acts 1:21-26; Mark 3:14; 2 Cor 12:12).
2. The apostles were foundational in their revelatory role (Eph 2:19-22).

Question 18

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.

Answer 18

1. Basic Godliness of Personal Character (Matt 7:15-23).
2. Perfect Consistency with Previous Revelation (Deut 13:1-5).
3. Perfect accuracy in Prophetic Predictions (Deut 18:20-22).

Question 19

Provide biblical evidence that the gift of healings/miracles has ceased.

Answer 19

1. Modern-day healings do not compare to Biblical miracles which were without fail, instantaneous, not dependent on faith, and irrefutable.
2. The purpose for Biblical miracles, is no longer necessary… they served as a messianic ID card and were the signs of the apostles (Acts 2:43; 4:33).

Question 20

Identify three purposes of the miracles/healings performed in the New Testament, with at least one Scripture reference for each.

Answer 20

1. confirm the identity of the Messiah (Acts 2:22)
2. Verify the Apostleship of the Apostles (2 Cor 12:12)
3. Authenticate the message of the apostles (Acts 4:33).

Question 21

Prove biblically that the gift of tongues consisted of an authentic human language.

Answer 21

1. In Acts 2:9-11 actual foreign languages are listed. This is the first and clearest description of tongues… so the burden of proof is on those who claim otherwise to refute this understanding.
2. 1 Cor 14 bears many features that indicate known language:

• quote Isaiah 28 where known languages are in view.
• necessity of translation in vv. 5, 13, 26–28.

Question 22

Identify three purposes of the gift of tongues, with at least one scripture reference for each.

Answer 22

1. A sign of divine judgment on Unbelieving Israel (1 Cor 14:21-22)
2. A symbol of the international Nature of the Church (Acts 2:1–42).
3. A secondary means of divine revelation in the Church (1 Cor 14:1–40).

Question 23

Identify three purposes of church discipline, with at least one Scripture reference in support of each.

Answer 23

1. Restore a fallen Brother (Matthew 18:15).
2. Preserve the Purity of the Church (1 Cor 5:6-8).
3. To Protect the Honor of God’s Name (1 Cor 5:1).

Question 24

list the four steps of church discipline according to Matthew 18:15-17.

Answer 24

1. Rebuke Him Privately (15)
2. Bring Some Witnesses (16)
3. Tell the Congregation (17a)
4. Treat Him as an Unbeliever (17b)

Question 25

In a single sentence each, provide three biblical arguments for baptism by immersion.

Answer 25

1. The transliterated term for Baptism means “immerse.”
2. The biblical descriptions of Baptism indicated a going into the water (Mark 1:10)
3. Baptism, as both a symbol of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection and of spiritual cleansing, indicate the need for complete immersion.

Question 26

How would you respond to someone who argued for baptismal regeneration?

Answer 26

Acts 10 and 11 clearly indicate that Believing faith is followed by Reception of the Holy Spirit which is followed by Baptism. Baptism symbolizes conversion but does not bring it about.

Question 27

Define Credobaptism.

Answer 27

Baptism should be administered only to those who give a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ (believer baptism).

Question 28

Define Paedobaptism.

Answer 28

Baptism should be administered to both believers and their children just like circumcision (infant baptism).

Question 29

How does the newness of the New Covenant provide evidence against infant baptism?

Answer 29

Every member of the NC truly knows the Lord and has received the forgiveness of sins through Christ (Jer. 31:31–34; cf. 32:40). Attempting to include unbelieving infants is inconsistent with the nature of the NC where all participants are believers.

Question 30

How does the nature of the Church provide evidence against infant baptism?

Answer 30

Israel is a physical nation, Church is a spiritual nation. Israel’s initiatory rite was at birth; the Church’s initiatory rite coincides with one’s spiritual inclusion in the body.

Question 31

What is the three-fold significance of biblical baptism (bib. support for each).

Answer 31

• Baptism as a Profession of Faith in Christ (Matt. 28:18-20… make disciples, by baptism; Acts 2:38… repent and be baptized “in the name”)
• Baptism as a Symbol of the Believer’s Cleansing from Sin. (Acts 22:16 “be baptized and wash away your sins)
• Baptism as a symbol of the Believer’s Union with Christ (Rom 6:3–4; Col 2:11-12).

Question 32

Explain and briefly refute the Roman Catholic view of the Lord’s Supper.

Answer 32

Transubstantiation: the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ when priest says “this is my body.” and “this is my blood” in the course of the mass. A Key component of the ongoing sacrifice of Christ, which is repeated every Mass.

• It asserts that a substance can exist without any of its customary characteristics.
• It ignores the fact that Jesus was physically present with—and obviously distinct from—the bread He held in His hand.
• It ignores the fact that drinking literal blood would have been abhorrent and unthinkable to the Jewish disciples, not to mention against the Mosaic Law (Lev 3:17; 7:26-27; 17:10-14).
• It ignores the biblical teaching that the glorified body of Jesus is now in heaven (Heb 1:3) and that the way He currently makes His presence known among His people is by His Spirit.
• It ignores the parallel statement in Luke 22:20 (“this cup…is the new covenant”), which clearly means that the cup represents or signifies the new covenant.
• It fails to recognize the clear biblical teaching on the finality and completeness of Christ’s sacrifice once and for all time (Heb 9:25-28).
• Its appeal to John 6:53-54 for biblical support ignores two key features of the original context of this passage:
  ! The Lord’s Supper had not yet been instituted at the time of John 6, and therefore the original hearers could not have understood it in that way.
  ! Eating the flesh and drinking the blood in John 6 are equated with believing in Christ (vv. 47, 51, 54).

Question 33

Explain the Lutheran view of the Lord’s Supper.

Answer 33

Consubstantiation. elements do not become Physical body and blood of Christ, but Physical body and blood of Christ are “in, with, and under” the elements. Much like a sponge and water.

Question 34

Identify and explain in one sentence each of the four purposes of the Lord’s Supper (bib support for each).

Answer 34

1. 1 Cor 10:16-17 that believers partake in a spiritual fellowship with Christ and with one another.
2. A Corporate Remembrance of Christ’s redeeming work (Luke 22:19).
3. A visual Proclamation. 1 Cor 11:26… The act of taking the bread and cup is a dramatization of the gospel, a graphic display of what Christ’s death has accomplished
4. Eschatological Anticipation (1 Cor 11:26c). “until he comes” proleptic victory celebration of when Christ returns to consummate our salvation.