Ecclesiology Doctrinal Statement

by Wyatt Pruitt

This doctrinal statement was originally written as an assignment for Lancaster Bible College. It is a concise summary of THE Biblical Ecclesiology. It reflects my own personal theology of the church.

Origin: Beginning, Mystery
The beginning of the seed of the church comes in the Garden of Eden after the fall. When God chose to save Adam from his sin and clothed him in animal skins (Gen. 3:21). The church is, specifically, a body of people who are called out of the world to be His people (Gen. 1:26-29; Gen. 9:1; Gen. 17:6-7; Ex. 19:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:9). The fullness of this Church and its outward expression would not come until Moses and then fully in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:14). The mystery of the church is how she is both visible and invisible (Rom. 2:28-29). The Lord has also chosen a visible people and an invisible people (Rom. 8:29-30).

Governing: Form of government, Leadership Positions, Role of Women
There is one governor of the church and that is Jesus Christ (Col. 1:18). In the Old Testament this head representative was Moses. (Ex. 3:10; Num. 12:6-8). In the Old Covenant Moses left three orders of ministers. The High Priest (Lev. 16; Ex. 28), Priests (Ex. 29; Lev. 1-7) and Levites (Num. 3:6-10). These three orders held the fullness of the sacramental ministry of sacrifices and liturgical ministry (Lev. 16; Lev. 1-7) The Levites specifically would not offer the sacrifices but help in the distribution and protection of sacred things (Num. 18:1-6). In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, the new Moses (Heb. 3:3) left three orders of ministry: Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons. The Bishops represent the high priests and hold the chief place of sacramental ministry because they are successors to the apostles (Acts 1:20). Unlike the old covenant, where there was one Bishop (high priest) over one nation (Israel), the Bishops of the new covenant are sent into all of the world to minister to each nation (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Titus 1:5) In the New Covenant the sacramental ministry has left the Temple and entered into the Synagogue (John 4:21-23; 1 Pet. 2:5). The sacramental powers of the priest of the temple have now been given to the Presbyter of the synagogue (Ex. 29; 1 Tim. 4:14; Titus 1:5). These New Testament priests assist the Bishop in administering the sacraments to the people, teaching, catechizing, and discipling (Titus 1:7-9). The Deacons assist the priests in the service of the people, administering alms, and catechizing the people (Acts 6:1-6; Acts 7; Acts 8:30-31; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). These three offices are one Holy Order that work together in a trinitarian union to proclaim the Gospel to all nations (1 Cor. 12:4-5; Eph. 4:11-13) Men are the only ones to be in Holy Orders (Ex. 28:1; Deut. 23:17-18; Heb 5:1, 4-5, Titus 1:5-6). The purpose of this is because those in Holy Orders are icons of Jesus Christ (Heb. 5:1, 4-5). The Bishop, Presbyter, and Deacons represent Christ in their administration of Word and Sacrament (2 Cor 5:20; Luke 10:15; 1 Cor 4:1). Women are icons of the church (Eph. 5:25-32). The Blessed Virgin Mary is the chief archetype of both the Church and women in the Church. (Luke 1:38; John 19:26-27; Rev. 12).

Ordinances: Name them, Define them, Purpose, Salvation (?)
There are two sacraments of the Gospel that are generally necessary for salvation. These sacraments are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). These sacraments are necessary for salvation not only because they are commanded by the Lord, but more importantly they give saving and justifying grace. (John 3:5; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21; John 6:53-56). The purpose of these two sacraments is to both give the promises of salvation and assure the applicant of salvation. (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:5-7; Matt 26:28). One may be saved without these sacraments, but if one rejects these sacraments it is doubtful one will be saved since it is a rejection of the working of the Holy Spirit’s visible grace. (Extraordinary Grace: Luke 23:42-43; Rom. 4:11: 1 Sam. 16:7; Rejection of Salvation: Luke 7:30; Heb. 10:29; Acts 7:51; Luke 10:16). There are five other sacramental rites that are not necessary for salvation and those are Matrimony (Gen. 2:24), Ordination (Acts 6:6), Absolution (John 20:22-23), Confirmation (Acts 8:14-17), and Holy Unction (Mark 6:13; James 5:14-15). These all have their roots not in the new covenant but are either hold overs from older dispensations, or are states of life, therefore they are sanctifying graces and not justifying graces (Gen. 2:24; Ex. 28:1; Lev. 5:5-6; Isa. 61:1; 2 Kings 5:14).

Discipline: Purpose, Process
The church has the ability to retain and remit sins. (John 20:21-23). This authority has been specifically given to the sacramental ministers of the church: Bishops first then the Presbyters (Matt. 16:19). This expression of this authority is chiefly found in the administration of the Lord’s Table where both remission of sins and retaining of sins is given. (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Jesus Christ gives the authority to bind people’s consciences on earth and in heaven (Matt. 16:19). If a person is in great mortal sin (1 John 5:17) the ministers are to excommunicate them from the table of the Lord for the express purpose that they may repent, not be hurt by the sacrament and not hurt other believers (1 Cor. 5:1-11).

Destiny: Church Ends When, Where do they go?
The Church does not end. (Dan. 7:27). The Church is the Kingdom of God on Earth. In the end, the Church will inherit the Earth. (Heb.12:28; Rev. 21:2-3) The Church will reign with Christ forever in the eternal Kingdom on the new united Heaven and Earth. (Ps. 102:12, 28; Dan. 7:18; Rev. 22:5 )