Transcript HOLY SPIRIT - Erskine College

THE CHURCH
ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH
• ONE
• HOLY
• APOSTOLIC
• CATHOLIC CHURCH
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CHURCH IS ONE
• For Roman Catholics
– Unity consists in relationship with the Apostolic See
– This is better than the traditional institutional model of
unity
• For the Reformed
– Unity is primarily of an internal, spiritual character
– “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” =doctrinal unity
• The Unity of the invisible church is no substitute
for unity in the visible church
• Multiformity (or, pluriformity) of the churches is
part of God’s providential unfolding of history
• Biblical Unity=grounded in Truth, John 17:17
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CHURCH IS HOLY
• For many Roman Catholics, this has been
interpreted in “external” terms
• At times, this affirmation, in light of the reality of
the Church’s mixed character, has led to
schismatic groups, such as Novationists,
Donatists, Montanists, Cathari, etc. separating
from the Church
• Fundamentally, the affirmation of holiness is
– An assertion of objective righteousness, i.e., the
Church in Christ Jesus
– Secondarily, it is an affirmation that God who sanctifies
individuals is also at work purifying (sanctifying) his
Church
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CHURCH IS HOLY
• The gap between these affirmations and
the reality of present ecclesiastical life is a
reminder
– The wheat/tares: grow together till the end of
the age
– It is often difficult to distinguish them
• Church Discipline- a necessary element
for maintaining holiness in the Church
– The Standard of Holiness is God’s moral law
– The dangers of Antinomianism and Legalism
are never far away
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CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
• For Roman Catholics, affirmations of
apostolicity are intertwined with notions of
apostolic succession
• For the Reformed, apostolicity is continuity
with the doctrines and principles of the
apostolic church
– I Cor. 15:1-4, “according to the Scriptures”
– Jude 3, “faith, once for all delivered”
– “The church is apostolic because it is founded
on apostolic teaching.” Ed Clowney, The
Church, 77
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CHURCH IS CATHOLIC
• For Roman Catholics, catholicity (“universality”)
is often equated with institutional unity with
Rome
• For the Reformed, catholicity may refer either to
the “invisible church” when referring to all true
believers, or the “visible church” when referring
to all who profess the true religion
• Catholicity has a temporal axis (i.e., its relation to
the church of the ages) as well as a horizontal
axis
• Catholicity and Heresy: Heresy-hunting, A Lost
Art in need of recovery
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MARKS OF THE CHURCH
• Augsburg Confession: Article 7 (see
Calvin, ICR, 4.2.9)
– The Gospel is rightly taught
– The Sacraments are rightly administered.
Of course, this implies church discipline
(for Calvin at least)
– The Proper Exercise of Discipline is
added in the Belgic Confession, Art. 29
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MARKS OF THE CHURCH
• Ultimately, all three “marks” may be
summarized as “the Word.” Whether taught,
sacramentally received, or practiced, it is the
Word that is the ultimate mark (Nota) of the
Church
• The issue of schism or separation
– Brought to the fore by the lack of faithfulness in
many churches to maintain these three marks
– This was the dilemma of the twentieth century- a
century in which unbelief was no longer outside the
cathedral door, but often in the chancery, the pulpit,
and the confessional
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THE CHURCH’S PURPOSE
• The Purpose of the Church: Per
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology,
867ff:
– Ministry to God: Worship
– Ministry to Believers: Nurture
– Ministry to the World: Evangelism and Mercy
• “All three purposes of the church are
commanded by the Lord in Scripture;
therefore all three are important and none
can be neglected.” Grudem, ST, 868
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THE CHURCH’S PURPOSE
•
Per David Smith, All God’s
People, 341
– Martyria, or Witness
– Diakonia, or Service
– Koinonia, or Fellowship
– Leitourgia, or Worship
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Extraordinary Officers in the Church
– Apostles
• Mark 3:14, “And he appointed twelve (whom he
also named apostles) so that they might be with
him and he might send them out to preach”
• Luke 6:13, “And when day came, he called his
disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he
named apostles”
• Gal. 1:1, “Paul, an apostle- not from men nor
through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the
Father, who raised him from the dead”
• Acts 1:21, “So one of the men who have
accompanied us during all the time that the Lord
Jesus went in and out among us”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Extraordinary Officers in the Church
– Prophets
• Acts 11:28, “And one of them named Agabus
stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would
be a great famine over all the world (this took
place in the days of Claudius).”
• Acts 13:1,2, “Now there were in the church at
Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon
who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.’”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Extraordinary Officers in the Church
– Prophets
• I Cor. 12:10, “to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy, to another the ability to
distinguish between spirits, to another various
kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of
tongues.”
• I Cor. 13:2, “And if I have prophetic powers, and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if
I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing.”
• Eph. 2:20, “built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Extraordinary Officers in the
Church
– Prophets
• Eph. 3:5, “which was not made known to
the sons of men in other generations as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit.”
• Eph. 4:11, “And he gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Extraordinary Officers- or Ordinary?
– Evangelists
• Acts 21:8, “crying out, ‘Men of Israel, help! This
is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere
against the people and the law and this place.
Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple
and has defiled this holy place.’”
• Eph. 4:11, “And he gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers”
• II Tim. 4:5, “As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Ordinary Officers:
– Elders, presbyteroi,
• Acts 20:17,28, “Now from Miletus he sent to
Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come
to him. . . . Pay careful attention to yourselves and to
all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to care for the church of God, which he
obtained with his own blood.”
• I Tim. 3:1, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone
aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble
task.”
• I Tim. 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift you have, which
was given you by prophecy when the council of
elders laid their hands on you. ”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Ordinary Officers:
– Elders, presbyteroi,
• I Tim. 5:17,9, “Let the elders who rule well be
considered worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in preaching and teaching. . . . Do not admit
a charge against an elder except on the evidence of
two or three witnesses.”
• Titus 1:5,7, “This is why I left you in Crete, so that
you might put what remained into order, and appoint
elders in every town as I directed you . . . For an
overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a
drunkard or violent or greedy for gain”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Ordinary Officers:
– Elders, presbyteroi,
• I Peter 5:1,2, “So I exhort the elders among
you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in
the glory that is going to be revealed:
shepherd the flock of God that is among you,
exercising oversight, not under compulsion,
but willingly, as God would have you; not for
shameful gain, but eagerly”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• Ordinary Officers:
– Teachers, didaskaloi,
• Eph. 4:11, “and he gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers”
• I Tim. 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be
considered worthy of double honor, especially
those who labor in preaching and teaching”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
• II Tim. 2:2, “and what you have heard
from me in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also.”
• Titus 1:9, “He must hold firm to the
trustworthy word as taught, so that he
may be able to give instruction in sound
doctrine and also to rebuke those who
contradict it”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
– Deacons, diakonoi,
• Phil. 1:1, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,
with the overseers and deacons”
• I Tim. 3:8-10,12, “Deacons likewise must be
dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much
wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold
the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And
let them also be tested first; then let them serve as
deacons if they prove themselves blameless. . . . Let
deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing
their children and their own households well”
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CHURCH AND POLITY
– Deacons, diakonoi,
• Acts 6:1-6, “Now in these days when the disciples were
increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose
against the Hebrews because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve
summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is
not right that we should give up preaching the word of God
to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among
you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of
wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will
devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and
Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they
set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their
hands on them.”
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT
• Current Options
–Episcopal, in which oversight is
vested in Bishops
–Congregational, in which oversight
is vested in the congregation
–Presbyterial, in which oversight is
vested in the elders of the Church
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
• The Office-bearers were chosen by the people
– Acts 1:13-26, “And when they had entered, they went
up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter
and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of
James. All these with one accord were devoting
themselves to prayer, together with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those
days Peter stood up among the brothers (the
company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the
Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David
concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who
arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and
was allotted his share in this ministry.’
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
– (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his
wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the
middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became
known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the
field was called in their own language Akeldama, that
is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the Book of
Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let
there be no one to dwell in it”; and “Let another take
his office.” So one of the men who have accompanied
us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and
out among us, beginning from the baptism of John
until the day when he was taken up from us- one of
these men must become with us a witness to his
resurrection.’
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
– And they put forward two, Joseph called
Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and
Matthias. And they prayed and said, ‘You,
Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which
one of these two you have chosen to take the
place in this ministry and apostleship from
which Judas turned aside to go to his own
place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot
fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with
the eleven apostles.”
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
– Acts 6:5-6, “And what they said pleased
the whole gathering, and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus,
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas,
and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
These they set before the apostles, and
they prayed and laid their hands on
them.”
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
• The titles Bishop and Elder appear to distinguish
the same office and the same order of persons
– Acts 20:17,28, “Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus
and called the elders of the church to come to him. . .
. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the
flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to care for the church of God, which he
obtained with his own blood.”
– I Tim. 3:1, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone
aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble
task.”
– I Tim. 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be
considered worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in preaching and teaching.”
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
• The titles Bishop and Elder appear to distinguish
the same office and the same order of persons
– Titus 1:5,7, “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you
might put what remained into order, and appoint
elders in every town as I directed you . . . For an
overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a
drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, ”
– Phil. 1:1, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,
with the overseers and deacons”
– James 5:14, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call
for the elders of the church, and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
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CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Principles
• In each church there was a plurality of
Elders
– Acts 14:23, “And when they had appointed
elders for them in every church, with prayer
and fasting they committed them to the Lord
in whom they had believed.”
– Acts 20:17, “Now from Miletus he sent to
Ephesus and called the elders of the church
to come to him.”
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COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
• Competent Leaders “exercise authority to
accomplish the Good”
• Competent Leaders “need to define
what is (Reality) and declare what will
be (Future)”
• Competent Leaders do not simply respond
to crisis, but also determine how you go
about mission
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COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
• Competent Leaders do what God sent
them to do
• Competent Leaders are effective in giving
a witness in the 21st century, in a time of
denominational change, cultural shifts,
and institutional turmoil
• Competent Leaders define excellence in
the moment
• Competent Leaders define systems that
will serve us well
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COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
• Competent Leaders display the whole love
of God, the affective and the effective,
making use of all faculties (the whole
person), all persons, and all gifts
• Competent Leaders keep “direction by
intention” in the midst of whitewater
• Competent Leaders rely upon Christ’s
efficacy, not their own effort
• From Gordon-Conwell Roundtable III
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THE CHURCH