1. Module # 6 pages 359- 378 Ecclesiology: Doctrine of the Church

2. Meaning of the Church The English word church is translated from the Greek word EKKLESIA which means “ TO CALL” and KURIOUS which means “BELONGING TO THE LORD; hence, the church is a “CALLED-OUT GROUP”. Answer Module # 6 Question # 1

3. Aspects of Church The local church The word church in the New Testament is to designate a group of believers that is identified as local assembly or congregation. The early believers did not have special buildings in which to meet; instead, they met in homes. The early believers came together for worship, fellowship, instruction, and for ministry such as sending out missionaries.

4. Aspects of the Church (page 360) The Universal Church The universal church views “all those who, in this age, have been born of the Spirit of God and have by the same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ. It is a corporate group of believers that Christ promised to build; it was this Body for whom Christ died, and He is the head over it, giving it direction. The universal church is sometimes referred to as the invisible church and the local church is known as the visible church. Answer Module #6 Question # 3

5. Formation of the Church (Pages 360-361) IN MATTHEW 16:18, JESUS DECLARED, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”, INDICATING THAT THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH WAS NOT YET IN EXISTENCE WHEN JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS. HE WAS MAKING A PREDICTION CONCERNING HIS FUTURE BUILDING THE CHURCH. 1 COR. 12:13 IDENTIFIES THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CHURCH IS BEING BUILT--- IT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BAPTIZING BELIEVERS INTO ONE BODY OF CHRIST. THE HOLY SPIRIT PLACES BELIEVERS INTO UNION WITH CHRIST.

6. Formation of the Church (Pages 360-361) EPH. 1:2-23 IDENTIFIES THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, STRESSING THIS UNION WITH CHRIST THAT ALL BELIEVERS ARE BROUGHT INTO AT THE MOMENT OF CONVERSION. ACTS 1:5 JESUS STATES, “YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW” THIS INDICATES THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PLACING BELIEVERS INTO UNION WITH CHRIST HAD NOT YET BEGUN—BUT IT WAS ANTICIPATED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTEXT CLARIFIES THE EVENT AND INDICATESIT BEGAN AT PENTECOST WITH THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Answer Module #6 Question # 3

7. Figures of Speech (Pages 361-362) Body ( Eph. 1:22-23; Col 1:18; Col. 2:19) AS THE HEAD HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE PHYSICAL BODY AND GIVES DIRECTION TO IT, SO CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HAVING AUTHORITY OVER IT AND GIVING IT DIRECTION. THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE BODY ALSO EMPHASIZES THE UNITY OF ALL BLEIVERS IN THE CHURCH AGE BECAUSEE THE CHURCH RECONCILES JEWS AND GENTILES INTO ONE BODY. THERE IS NO DISTICTION; THEY ARE ONE IN CHRIST. Bride ( Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7-9) THE ILLUSTRATION REVEALS CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH. IT REVEALS THE MAGNITUD OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH. A SECOND EMPHASIS OF THE ILLUSTRATION IS THE EXALTED POSITION OF THE BRIDE. THE CHURCH TODY IS AN ESPOUSED BRIDE, AWAITING HER HUSBAND’S RETURN FROM GLORY.

8. Figures of Speech (Pages 361-362) Building ( Eph. 2:11-18; Eph. 2:20; Eph. 4:13) PAUL HAS EMPHASISED THAT JEWS AND GENTILES ALIKE ARE ONE IN CHRIST BECAUSE GOD ABOLISHED THE WALL THAT SEPARATED JEW AND GENTILE Priesthood ( 1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:9 ) PETER INDICATES ALL BELIEVERS ARE PREIESTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES INSTEAD OF ANIMAL SACRIFICES. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE NEW TESTMENT PRIESTHOOD IS FURTHER SEEN IN 1 PET. 2:9 WHERE PETER REFERS TO A “ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”. CHURCH AGE BLEIVERS ARE BOTH KINGS AND PRIESTS.

9. Figures of Speech (Pages 362- 363) Flock (John 10:16; John 10: 26-27; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:3) A BEAUTIFUL, TENDER IMAGE DEPICTING THE RELATIONSHIP OF BLIEVERS TO THE LORD IS FOUND IN JOHN 10:16 WHERE THE CHURCH IS CALLED A FLOCT. ISRAEL HAD A RELATIONSHIP TO THE LORD AS SHEEP TO A SHEPHERD. AND WAS CALLED FLOCK. THE UNIQUENESS ABOU THE CHURCH BEING A FLOCK AND CHRIST THE SHEPHERD IS THAT THE FLOCK IS COMPOSED OF BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES. THE CHURCH AS THE SHEEP OF CHRIST EMPHASIZES THAT THE SHEEP BELONG TO CHRIST. Branches (John 15:1-5) IN JOHN 15 JESUS DESCRIBES THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP CHURCH AGE BELIVERS ENJOY WITH HIM AS BEING ONE OF BRANCHES RELATED TO A VINE. JESUS IS THE TRUE VIE WHILE THE FATHER IS THE FARMER WHO TILLS THE LAND IN ORDER THAT THE BRANCHES MAY BEAR FRUIT. CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS ARE THE BRANCHES THAT DRAW THEIR LIFE FROM THE VINE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN HIM. THE BRANCHES RECEIVE THEIR LIFE GIVING NOURISHMENT IN THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THE VINE; AS THEY REMAIN IN THE VINE, THEY ARE ABLE TO GROW AND BEAR FRUIT Answer Module #6 Question #4

10. Distinctive of the Church (Pages 363- 364) In relation to Israel The church is a separate entity from Israel and remains distinct from Israel. In relation to the Kingdom The church is not synonymous with the kingdom There are two forms of the kingdom: (1) the universal which includes all times, space, and involves the divine control of history. The universal kingdom is God’s sovereign rule form eternity to eternity.

11. Distinctive of the Church The mediatorial kingdom is (a) the rule of God through a divinely chosen representative who not only speaks and acts for God but also represents the people before God; (b) a rule which has especial reference to the earth; and (c) having as its mediatorial ruler one who is always a member of the human race. The terms church and kingdom are never used interchangeably in Scripture. Answer Module #6 Question # 5

12. Function of the Local Church ( Pages 364-366) There re several features of the biblical, New Testament local church: Worship-The physical act of bowing but also the inner attitude of the heart-submission to God. It involves the decisive presentation of the believer’s entire being to God. Instruction-(2 Tim 3:16-17; 1Tim5:17; 6:2) Fellowship Ministry Organization Ordinances

13. Leaders of the Church (Pages 366-369) Elders OLDER CHRISTIAN DIGNITY AND MATURITY HAS NOT BEEN DIVORCED TEMPERATE PRUDENT HOSPITABLE GENTLE MANAGE HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTE MONEY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES ORTHODOX DOCTRINE RECEIVE REPORTS ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK VISIT THE SICK AND PRAY FOR THEM OFFER COUNSEL AND ENCOURAGEMENT WATCH OVER THE FLOCK

14. Leaders of the Church (Pages 366-369) Deacon MEN OF DIGNITY NOT DOUBLE TOUNGED NOT ADDICTED TO WINE NOT FOND OF SORDID GAIN TESTED ONE WIFE GOOD MANAGERS OF HOUSEHOLD TO BE SUBORDINATE AND AUXILIARY TO THE ELDERS WHILE THE ELDERS TEACH THE CONGREGATION Deaconess No specific requirements in scripture Similar to Deacon Overseers Same as the elder Answer Module #6 Question # 7

15. Government of the Church (Pages 368-369) Types of Churches EpiscopalThe name Episcopal comes from the Greek word episkopos, meaning overseer, and identifies churches governed by the authority of bishops PresbyterianMeans “elder” suggests dignity, maturity, and age of church leaders. Designates a church government that is governed by elders. Usually a plurality of elders CongregationalAuthority rests not with a representative individual but with the entire local congregation. Two things stressed in the congregational governed church: autonomy and democracy. People are involved in the decision making.

16. Ordinances of the Church (Page 371) Protestants have historically recognized two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Roman Catholics have held to seven sacraments: baptism, the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), confirmation, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and marriage. Sacrament, which comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning “a thing set apart as sacred”.

17. The Lord’s Supper ( Page 371) Christ instituted the Lord’s supper on the eve of His crucifixion, commanding that His followers continue to observe it until His return To enact the covenant, death was necessary because death provided forgiveness of sins. There have been 4 distinct views in Christendom concerning it’s meaning.

18. Ordinances of the Church: Lord’s Supper (Pages 371- 374) ViewChrist and the ElementsSignificance TransubstantiationBread and win literally change to the body and blood of Christ Recipient partakes of Christ, who is being scarified in the Mass to atone for sins. Consubstantiation (Lutheran) Bread and wine contain the body and blood of Christ but do not literally change. Christ is actually present “in, with, and under:” the elements Recipient receives forgiveness of sins and confirmation of one’s faith through partaking of the elements, but they must be received through faith. Reformed (Presbyterian, Reformed) Christ is not literally present in the elements but there is a spiritual presence of Christ. Recipient receives grace through partaking of the elements. Memorial (Baptist, Mennoite) Christ is not present physically or spiritually Recipient commemorates the death of Christ.

19. Baptism (pages 374-376) Meaning of Baptism Baptism involves identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. It stresses the association with Christ in the rite. It is a public declaration that the believer has been united to Christ by faith in His death and resurrection Views of Baptism Means of saving grace Sign and seal of the covenant Symbol of our salvation

20. Mode of Baptism (Pages 375-376) There are three modes of baptism being practiced today: Sprinkling Pouring Immersion Answer Module# 6 Questions # 9-10

21. The Purpose of the Church (Pages 376-378) Two overriding purposes of the church can be delineated: GATHERED ministering to the body, and SCATTERED, ministering to the world. It is important to distinguish these two purposes. On the one hand, the church gathers as a BODY of believers to minister to one ANOTHER; on the other hand, the CHURCH is to minister the gospel to UNBELIEVERS in the world. These two purposes must be kept distinct: the church ministers to both BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS. Answer Module # 6 Question # 11-12