The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

2) Also, the New Testament speaks of the Church as a gathering or company of believers in any locality, or a group of assemblies like these, as in 1 Corinthians 1.2, Galatians 1.2, or Philippians 1.1. We refer to these individual assemblies as “local churches.”

• The fourfold Nicene Creed theology of the Church (ecclesiology).

1) The Church is one united by faith to Jesus Christ.

2) The Church is holy (the Church is set apart as God’s people for his possession and use). 3) The Church is catholic (universal, including those from every nation, tribe, people, and kindred). 4) The Church is apostolic (founded on eye-witness testimony of the prophets and the apostles).

A. The Church is the custodian of the Gospel and the Word of God.

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1. The steward of the mysteries of God, the pillar and ground of the truth, 1 Tim. 3.15-16

2. Possesses the authoritative revelation regarding the person of Christ, and the working of his Kingdom, Matt. 16.18-19

B. The Church is the place where God’s forgiveness and healing are experienced by the blood of Jesus Christ.

1. Believers in Christ have received by faith the forgiveness of God, 1 John 2.12.

2. Those who believe have been delivered from Satan’s domain and have received redemption, the forgiveness of sins, Col. 1.13.