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)

4. The Church functions as a listening community which is aware of the Spirit’s presence and relies upon him to interpret and apply the Scriptures to the present moment (John 14.25-26).

D. The Church contends for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3).

III. A Community of Witness

A. The Church witnesses to the fact that in the incarnation, life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, God’s Kingdom has begun (Mark 1.15; Luke 4.43; 6.20; 11.20; Acts 1.3; 28.23; 1 Cor. 4.20; Col. 1.12-13).

1. The Church proclaims Jesus as Christus Victor whose reign will:

a. Rescind the curse over creation and humankind (Rev. 22.3).

b. Defeat Satan and the powers and destroy their work (1 John 3.8).

c. Reverse the present order by defending and rewarding the meek, the humble, the despised, the lowly, the righteous, the hungry, and the rejected (Luke 1.46-55; 4.18-19; 6.20-22).

d. Propitiate God’s righteous anger (Gal. 3.10-14; 1 John 2.1-2).

e. Create a new humanity (1 Cor. 15.45-49; Eph. 2.15; Rev. 5.9-10).

f. Destroy the last enemy- death (1 Cor. 15.26).

2. Ultimately, the very Kingdom itself will be turned over to God the Father, and the freedom, wholeness, and justice of the Lord will abound throughout the universe (Isa. 10.2-7; 11.1-9; 53.5; Mic. 4.1-3; 6.8; Matt. 6.33; 23.23; Luke 4.18-19; John 8.34-36; 1 Cor. 15.28; Rev. 21).