Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

According to Paul in Titus 2.14, Jesus sacrificed himself on behalf of his people, the Church in order to “redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Yes, we are to be zealous for the good works for which, according to Ephesians 2.10, we were created to do. And Peter makes plain in 1 Peter 2 that the primary motive behind these works is to show forth God’s excellencies and

A. To begin with, as the household of God, we are to live as brothers and sisters in unity as God’s own dear family.

1. Scripture declares that we are the children of God, members of God’s household and family, Eph. 4.1-3.

2. We are to also do the works that make for cooperation and collaboration in testifying of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.27-28.

B. Next, as Christ’s body in the world, we are to incarnate Jesus’ life in our relationships with each other and among our neighbors.

1. It is the right and responsibility of every Christian and every local church to represent and contribute to the work of Jesus in the world, Rom. 12.4-6a.

character. We are his possession, to proclaim the excellence of his character in the

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2. Paul affirms that there is only one body, one faith, and one hope of our calling. In light of this unity, we are to repent, therefore, of every selfish tendency to think our tradition or movement is more important to God than others. It is immoral to ignore or overlook the contributions of other believers, and we must seek to align ourselves with them in order to accomplish God’s purposes in the world, Eph. 4.1-6.

world. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2.9).

C. Finally, as the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are to pursue the works of holiness and obedience as a sacred place where God’s name is known and glorified.

1. In all our deeds together as believers, we are to do the works and live lives which reveal God’s purity and our obedience, Heb. 12.14.