Lesson 1 - Principles

Question 1

What are the two principles of Reformed Ecclesiology?

Answer 1

1. ) Ontological Principle - The Triune God (foundation and founder of the church)
2. ) Epistemological Principle - Holy Scripture

Question 2

What is Dr. Swain’s definition of the church?

Answer 2

• the covenant assembly of the Triune King
• called from all nations to be His holy Sanctuary
• the place where God’s glory dwells:
• where the blessings of the Messiah are communicated to God’s elect in accordance with His promise
• where God’s people serve Him as a Kingdom of Priests in accordance with his command

Question 3

What are the four causes of the church?

Answer 3

1. ) Efficient Cause - Who builds the church?
   - - God builds the church through the work of Christ
2. ) Material - What is the house made up of?
   - - that nations: through the family of Abraham to the family of God
3. ) Exemplary - What is the plan for the house?
   - - God’s eternal counsel/plan, revealed through Jesus Christ, God’s anointed prophet. Special Revelation is required.
4. ) Final - What is the ultimate purpose of this house?
   - - The ultimate end of the church: The church exists to behold and reflect God’s radiant glory, to receive and respond to God’s saving goodness – both as mediated through Jesus Christ, God’s anointed priest.

Question 4

Explain how reason and tradition have shaped the church in negative ways, and how it should shape the church positively.

Answer 4

1. ) Negative Ways
   - - Scripture alone is insufficient for theology and practice and needs to be supplemented through church tradition.
   - - RC: 2 sources of special revelation
   - - Organic: Scripture and tradition is organic; Scripture is the seed of special revelation and tradition is the flower that grows out of it. Tradition ends up interpreting Scripture.
   - - Rationalism: General revelation is sufficient for theology and practice. (Marketing/Consumer, Leadership)
   - - MTD: authority lies in self and passions/experiences
2. ) Positive Ways
   - - In the way that traiditon helps interpret the epistemological principle of Scripture.
   - - Thus, while reason and tradition are divinely ordained means of receiving and transmitting the apostolic blueprint for the church, they are subordinate to and measured by their faithfulness to Scripture, the cognitive foundation for church theology and practice.
   - Should be able to affirm and criticize.

Question 5

What is the elicitive principle?

Answer 5

1. ) The proper role of reason
2. ) Scripture teaches doctrine. Reason draws out meaning of those doctrines.
3. ) Scripture - the well; Reason - the bucket
   - - Reason doesn’t add anything to Scripture, but draws conclusions out.

Question 6

How does God dwell with his people in the Old and New Testament?

Answer 6

• • Genesis 1-2
• • Wilderness - Pillar of fire by night, cloud by day
• • Tabernacle
• • Temple
• • Jesus - John 1:14
• • Acts 2 - Pentecost
• • Church - 1 Peter 2:9

Question 7

Explain the significance of Pentecost for the church?

Answer 7

1. ) Pentecost did not create the people of God, but renewed them
2. ) Pentectost put the capstone on God’s covenant with his people in 2 ways:
   a. ) First, God claimed his people by coming to dwell in his temple of living stones.
   b. ) Second, the disciples were indwelled with the Spirit as the figt sent by the Fahter and the Son. God restored and renewed his people in a New Covenant. Moses had longed for God to put his Spirit on all his people (num. 11:29); at Pentecost Peter preached the fulfillment of that desire and of the prophetic promise (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16)
3. ) Pentecost w/the Holy Spirit determines the characteristics of the church
4. ) Pentecost w/the Holy Spirit joins the church together into one.

Question 8

How does the Holy Spirit realize the promises of the Old Testament?

Answer 8

• • The Spirit comes to realize God’s promises.
• • He makes the church the people of God as the prophets predicted, giving them new hearts in the New Covenant (Ez. 36:25-28).
• • He joins them to Jesus Christ for no one can say Jesus is Lord apart from the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).
• • The church is therefore the people of God and the assembly of Christ because it is the fellowship of the Spirit.
• • The Spirit fulfills, he does not obliterate membership in God’s people or discipleship in following Christ.
• • The Spirit seals the mutual possession between God and His people. He is the downpayment

Question 9

How is the church apostolic?

Answer 9

1. ) Apostolic Ministry - teaches the apostolic doctrine and gospel (acts 2:42)
2. ) Apostolic succession of officers: pastor/elders/deacons
3. ) Apostolic mission - Great Commission
4. ) Apostolic aim - “for the sake of His name”

Question 10

How do Protestants and Catholics differ on the “catholicity” of the Church?

Answer 10

Protestants
– Catholic = universal, wholeness (the church as a whole is more than just its local expression)

Catholic
– Catholic = Exlusivitely and possibility, not accomplishment