Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Picturing Theology, Revised Edition | 289

The Spirit Hope – Romans 15:13 Lord of the Church Church The one, holy, apostolic community which functions as a witness to (Acts 28:31) and a foretaste of (Colossians 1:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) the Kingdom of God The Church is an apostolic community where the Word is rightly preached; therefore it is a community of: Calling – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1 (NIV) (cf. Romans 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Jude 1:1) Faith – “If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins”. . . . To the Jews who had believed him Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”- John 8:24b, 31-32 (NIV) (cf. Psalm 119:45; Romans 1:17; 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; Hebrews 2:14-15; James 1:25) Witness – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. – Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) (cf. Leviticus 25:10; Proverbs 31:8; Matthew 4:17; 28:18-20; Mark 13:10; Acts 1:8; 8:4, 12; 13:1-3; 25:20; 28:30-31) The Church is one community where the sacraments are rightly administered; therefore it is a community of: Worship – Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you. – Exodus 23:25 (NIV) (cf. Psalm 147:1-3; Hebrews 12:28; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 15:3-4; 19:5) Covenant – The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” – Hebrews 10:15-17 (NIV) (cf. Isaiah 54:10-17; Ezekiel 34:25-31; 37:26-27; Malachi 2:4-5; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Colossians 3:15; Hebrews 8:7-13; 12:22-24; 13:20-21) Presence – And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. – Ephesians 2:22 (NIV) (cf. Exodus 40:34-38; Ezekiel 48:35; Matthew 18:18-20) The Church is a holy community where discipline is rightly ordered; therefore it is a community of: Reconciliation – For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create one new man out of two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to those who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we have access to the Father by one Spirit. – Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV) (cf. Exodus 23:4-9; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19; Ezekiel 22:29; Micah 6:8; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21) Suffering – Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. – 1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV) (cf. Luke 6:22; 10:3; Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:3; 3:12; 1 Peter 2:20-24; Hebrews 5:8; 13:11-14) Service – Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-27 (NIV) (cf. 1 John 4:16-18; Galatians 2:10)