Principles

Question 1

What is the Church?

Answer 1

1. People of God called out from all peoples and places (Eph 5:25)
2. Universal Church on Earth (1 Cor 12:28)
3. The Lord’s people over a wide area and number of places. i.e. Judea (Acts 9:31)
4. Sometimes Xns over a smaller area ie. Jerusalem (Acts 11:22)
5. One congregation (Col 4:15)
   - “Witsius” Church = sociery of holy men called out of the word, by word of gospel, in paritipaition of Cov of Great in Christ
   - John Murray – “The assembly of the Covenant people of God”

Question 2

What are the central components of the Church?

Answer 2

1) People = the disciples of Jesus
2) Jesus = The church of Christ. It’s identity in Him.
3) Holy Spirit
4) The Word
5) Sacraments.

Question 3

How does the Church come into existence?

Answer 3

• Character is in its relation to God
  o Bannerman (vo1, ch2, 18): owes origin to Christ
  o Not a voluntary society. (WCF 25.)
  o Murray vol 2 p330 – Christ and Church organically related. Church has all its life from X the head
   Vol 1 p238 – The Church ‘if we think of Christ apart from the church we’re guilty of dismemberment’

Question 4

What are Characteristics of the Church?

Answer 4

o Holiness
o Unity
o catholic
o perpetuity

Question 5

Church Government?

Answer 5

Presbyterianism
- Rule by Elders
- The argument in favour is that Presbyteros and Piskapos are interchangeable (Acts 20)

Episcopalian
- Priest / Bishop / Archbishop

Independency (Congregationalism)
- Church members have rule.
- Elders can make decisions without concurrence of members

Question 6

What is establishment principle?

Answer 6

Church and state relationship.
Separate, but have 2 way relationship
State should make provision for Xn worship
X is king of state and church

Question 7

What is Spirituality (or Spiritual independance of Church)?

Answer 7

Church and state should not interfere with each other sphere of sovereignty