Give as many Bible verses (where appropriate), comments, and explanations as you can to support your answers.

Click here to go to “Definition, organization, purposes of a church.”

1. Is the church, as such, ever never mentioned in the Old Testament?

2. List some matters covered in the Old Testament.

3. Who are the people now chosen by God for His purposes and glory?

4. Since what event have born-again believers been the people chosen by God for His purposes and glory?
5. In the Old Testament, God’s light shined through an ____________ organization, ____ ____________ _____________.

6. In the New Testament, God’s light shines through a ________________ __________________, the institution of the _________________.

7. What is the institution of the church comprised of?

8. Was any organism which resembled the New Testament church described in the Old Testament?

9. Since when, as recorded in Acts 10, has the Holy Spirit indwelt every believer at the moment of salvation?

10. Christ ordained the _____________ and _________ _____________________, and He ordained the _______________.

11. “And I  say also unto thee, That thou art ______________, and upon this ____________ I will build ____ church; and the gates of ___________ shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16.18).

12. Through which New Testament epistles does Christ develop the doctrine of the church?

13. Through those epistles we know that the institution of the church is made up of ____________, ____________________, spiritual ____________________, heavenly in _______________, _____________, and __________________. Through those epistles we know the _______________, ________________, and form of _____________________ of local churches and the right ________________ of such bodies.

14. What biblical doctrines must one understand in order to understand what the Bible teaches about the issue of separation of church and state?

15. In studying the issues of government, church, and separation of church and state, one must examining both ___________________ Theology and _____________________ Theology. _________ _____________, _______________, and ___________ mandated the examination of both.

16. ______________________ Theology literally interprets Scripture (with an understanding of figures of speech).

17. Covenant Theology ________________________ or ______________________ much of Scripture.

18. The author disagrees with ____________________ Theologians in their interpretation of Scripture. The author does not accept the unbiblical definition of “church” given by ________________ Theologians: “The community of all true believers for all time.”

19. Every teaching on the Word of God—whether it be termed Dispensational Theology, Covenant Theology, or something else—should be carefully examined against ________________________ as to its truth.

20. How can one know if a dispensationalist is right about what he teaches?

21. What is a dispensation?

22. Name seven such dispensations are distinguished in Scripture.

23. If you do not believe that there are dispensations in Scripture, explain why.

24. Covenant Theologians teach that the church has replaced Israel. How do they make this interpretation?

25. Covenant Theologians believe that the _____________ has replaced Israel, that God is finished with ________________ and the ______________, and that God’s promises to and covenants with the nation Israel and selected rules for organization for the Jewish religion should be applied to the ______________.

26. The application to modern nations, and the attempt to make the application in America, of certain principles—including the principle of _______________ of religion (or church) and state— regarding the Jewish religion and the relationship of religion to state in Old Testament Israel has had devastating consequences in the United States.

27. Those theologians who would combine religion and state as in the _________ _________ of antiquity, as with _________________ in the theocracy, as with the established __________________ and _______________ churches who used the arm of the state to kill millions whom they designated as _______________, as with the religion of Islam, etc. have not mastered God’s lessons recorded in His Word and in the historical writings of man. Sadly, America is now overrun with false _________________ and ___________________ religions who hate the biblical principle of _____________________ of church and state (not separation of God and state) as enacted in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

28. To properly explain the issue of the relationship, if any, between church and state (separation of church and state), one must correctly understand what the Bible teaches about the __________________ (covered in Section I of these studies) and _________________ (this section, Section II). Section III will culminate this study as it examines the biblical principle of ____________________ of _______________ and state.

29.  The principles for church and state are so distinct that the two are mutually __________________.

30. A New Testament church is made up of visible _____________ who have repented and trusted Jesus Christ to save them and who ____________________ as members of a local autonomous spiritual body.

31. On the other hand, since one cannot see the spiritual condition of people’s ________________, in one sense a church is _________________________. “We can see those who outwardly attend the church, and we can see outward evidences of inward spiritual change, but we cannot actually see into people’s __________________ and view their spiritual state. Only ___________ can do that….

32. One can be in a visible church, yet ________________, _________, and destined for hell; such a person is not really a part of the true church to which he belongs. He is a tare; he will not be at the ______________ of the Lamb (see Re. 19.7-10), and he will not be a part of the “general assembly and church of the firstborn” (see He. 12.22-24).

33. According to the Word of God, the future of the visible Church, except for a remnant, is ______________.

34. A church is authorized to remove a professed believer from ________________________ only, and that for gross __________________ in order to “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (See 1 Co. 5).

35. Obviously, the Bible rejects the Roman Catholic position that the ___________ _______________ “church” is the only true church or even a church as described in the New Testament. The Roman Catholic “church” was responsible for the persecution of untold millions of believers when that “church” had earthly authority. Catholicism justified the persecution by a false theology.

36. Study of ____________ _____________ without brainwashing, a practice which the vast majority of Roman Catholic churches have traditionally condemned, reveals the fallacies of Roman Catholic theology. 37.  The Bible also rejects ___________________ church theology which has also been responsible for the persecution and murder of those deemed to be heretics.

37. In what two senses does the New Testament speak of the church?

38.All biblical references to a church here on the earth refer to an __________________ local body of Jewish and/or Gentile believers and not to a ___________________ or ___________________ church.

39. Nowhere in the New Testament is a church here on the earth ever referred to as anything other than a local spiritual body and nowhere does Scripture teach that a church is to have any type authority above it other than ________________________________.

40. ________________ have always recognized the biblical teaching as to this aspect of a church—that is, that a church on earth is only a local spiritual body of believers whose Head is Jesus Christ. Name two prominent Baptists of the past who taught this.

41. Paul gives how many metaphors of the body? In what verses are those metaphors found? Give a brief summary of what he wrote in those verses.

42. Who is the head of the church?

43.The __________ is the body of Christ.

44. The Bible compares the church to a ________________________ of great price which “a merchant man sold all that he had, and bought it (Mt. 13.45-46): “Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol: (1) a pearl is one, a perfect symbol of __________________ (1 Cor. 10.17; 12.12, 13; Eph. 4.4-6). (2) A pearl is formed by __________________, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as __________________ adds to the Church (Acts 2.41, 47; 5.14; 11.24; Eph. 2.21; Col 2.19. (3) _______________, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for the presentation to ______________________ (Eph. 5.25-27).  The kingdom is not the ________________, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfillment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Cor. 12. 12, 13), compose … the pearl.”

45. Name as many things as you can to which he church is compared.

46. What are the eleven “Marks of a New Testament Church” given by Baptist historian J. M. Carroll?

47. Certainly, a preacher on the street corner with a crowd around him as he preaches is not a _______________________. Nor is a group of people meeting in a house and ___________________ the Word. However, if that house group chooses a properly ______________ and baptized pastor, organizes and operates according to __________________ principles, initiates a proper baptism for new __________________, and begins to partake of the Lord’s _________________, an ordered New Testament ________________ comes into existence. The Lord desires that those who are saved be baptized into a properly ordered New Testament ____________________.

48. Where only false ______________ (or no biblical doctrines) are preached, no church can exist. “When the preaching of a church conceals the gospel message of _______________________ by faith alone from its members, so that the gospel message is not clearly proclaimed, and has not been proclaimed for some time, the group meeting there is not a church.” A church can exist only where the _________________ is believed to be the inerrant Word of God, where the ____________________ is the sole basis for faith and practice, and where that ________________ is preached.

49. A church has responsibilities. Strong, knowledgeable believers who are _________________ in the spirit will practice all their God-given _______________________ and apply their spiritual gifts. Included in those ______________________, is the responsibility to “present [the church] as a chaste ________________ to Christ” (See 2 Co. 11.1-4).

50. Worship is preeminent for the believer and for a church. What does “Worship” mean?

51. The principles of worship set out in __________________ 30, the great worship chapter, still apply. Exodus 30.38 condemns “making worship a mere _____________________ to the natural man, whether sensuous, as in … music …, or eloquence, merely to give delight to the natural mind.” Christians are to worship God in _____________ and in _______________ (See Jn. 4.23-24). The Word of God contains principles regarding appropriate ______________, _______________, ______________, and attitude for worship. The Lord commanded, “Ye shall offer no strange ______________________ [on the altar of incense], nor burnt _________________, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon” (Ex. 30.9).

52. Why does the local body assemble?

53. Is the purpose of the assembly to preach to and/or win the lost?

54. Believers go outside the assembly and seek the ___________________ of the lost.

55. May lost people attend the assembly?

56. God gifted members of a church “For the perfecting of the ________________, for the work of the ________________, for the ________________________ of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the ________________ of the faith, and of the _____________________ of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ep. 4.12-13).  The church is to preach the whole counsel of God, “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1.28).

57. A church has the responsibility to evangelize. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the ________________, and preach the _______________ to every ______________” (Mk. 16.15).  “Go ye therefore, and ________________ all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Mt. 28.19).

58. Along with the obligation to evangelize goes ________________ and doing ____________ to fellow ____________________ as well as to _______________________. Some verses on this:

1. “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful’” (Lu. 6.35-36).
2. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him” (1 Jn. 3.17)?
3. “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea” (Ac. 11.29).
4. “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Ro. 12.17). “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Th. 5.15).
5. “Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Co. 8.4).
6. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (Ja. 2.14-17).

59. A church is united together and to Christ by the baptism with the ________ ___________(1 Co. 12.12-34). As such, it is a holy temple for the habitation of God through ______________ (Ep. 2.21, 22); is “one flesh” with ____________ (Ep. 5.30, 31); and espoused to Him as a chaste _____________ to one husband (2 Co. 11.2-4). Other metaphors, as pointed out above, have also been used to describe a church. Local churches assemble in His name for the breaking of ________________, ________________, ______________, ________________, ___________________, the ministry of the ______________, _______________, and the furtherance of the _________________________ (He. 10.25; Ac. 20.7; 1 Co. 14.26; 1 Co. 5.4, 5; Ph. 4.14-18; 1 Th. 1.8; Ac. 13.1-). Every such local church has _____________________ in the midst, is a temple of God, indwelt by the _________ ________________ (1 Co. 3.16, 17), and is “the ___________ and ________________ of the truth” (1 Ti. 3.15). Only the assembly where the true doctrine is preached is a _____________: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Ga. 1.8). A church is the __________ of Christ of which He is the ________. Christ desires that a church remain solely under Him: “And [God] hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the _________ over all things to the church” (Ep. 1.22-23). “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the __________ of the church” (Ep. 5.23).