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)

1. God’s desire to reconcile is evidenced by sending his prophets and in the last days by his Son (Heb. 1.1-2). 2. The incarnation, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus are the ultimate acts of reconciliation fromGod toward humanity (Rom. 5.8). 3. The Gospel is now a message of reconciliation, made possible by Christ’s death, that God offers to humanity (2 Cor. 5.16-20). B. The Church is a community of individuals and peoples that are reconciled to each other by their common identity as one body. 1. By his death Christ united his people who are born of the same seed (1 John 3.9), reconciled as fellow citizens and members of a new humanity (Eph. 2.11-22). 2. The Church community treats all members of God’s household with love and justice in spite of differences in race, class, gender, and culture because they are organically united by their participation in the body of Christ (Gal. 3.26-29; Col. 3.11). C. The Church is a community that is concerned for reconciliation among all peoples. 1. The Church functions an ambassador that invites all people to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5.19-20). This task of mission lays the foundation for all the reconciling activities of the Church.

2. The Church promotes reconciliation with and between all people.

a. Because the Church is commanded to love its enemies (Matt. 5.44-48). b. Because the Church is an incarnational community which seeks, like Christ, to identify with those alienated from itself.