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

A Theology of the Church (continued)

2. Participation in a new community of God’s chosen people (1 Pet. 2.9-10)

a. Members of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 10.16-17; 12.27).

b. Sheep of God’s flock under one Shepherd (John 10; Heb. 13.20; 1 Pet. 5.2-4).

c. Members of God’s family and household (Gal. 6.10; 1 Tim. 3.15).

d. Children of Abraham and recipients of covenant promise (Rom. 4.16; Gal. 3.29; Eph. 2.12).

e. Citizens of the New Jerusalem (Phil. 3.20; Rev. 3.12).

f. The firstfruits of the Kingdom of God (Luke 12.32; James 1.18).

3. Freedom (Gal. 5.1, 13)

a. Called out of the dominion of darkness which suppresses freedom (Col. 1.13-14).

b. Called away from sin which enslaves (John 8.34-36).

c. Called to God the Father who is the Liberator of his people (Exod. 6.6). d. Called to God the Son who gives the truth which sets free (John 8.31-36). e. Called to God the Spirit whose presence creates liberty (2 Cor. 3.17).

II. A Community of Faith

A. The Church is a community of faith, which has, by faith, confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith refers both to the content of our belief and to the act of believing itself. Jesus is the object (content) of our faith and his life is received through faith (our belief) in him and his word. In both of these senses, the Church is a community of faith.