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

The Church was foreshadowed in the unveiling of the grand mystery of his inclusion of the Gentiles in Christ Jesus. Through the apostles and the prophets, God has made known to this generation and to the principalities and powers his intent to save Gentiles by faith in his Son, and to include them in his family forever. The Church was foreshadowed in God’s picture of his people, the laos of God. Through the people of Israel, God has given us a sign of the one new humanity to come, which includes both Gentile and Jew. Even though God has given to the Church a special place as his people, he has neither abandoned Israel as his own, nor cancelled their calling and election. Once God has brought Gentile salvation to the full, he will then save the remnant Israel, as is mentioned in Romans 9-11. Sin separates us from God and causes us to be lost, that is “cut off” from experiencing God’s love, protection, and truth. The consequences of being “lost” from God are: physical and spiritual death, bondage to sin, and judgment/punishment. Union with Christ (through faith in his life, death, and resurrection) is the means by which God restores us to relationship with himself. Union with Christ remedies the three problems caused by sin. Christ’s death pays the legal debt we owed for breaking God’s law since Christ bore our punishment and judgment on the cross. Christ’s victory over Satan frees us from bondage to sin. And Christ’s victory over death guarantees us eternal life because we are joined to his life. By being united to Christ, a person is joined to the whole people of God who will experience life in the new Kingdom. The Christian’s identity is rooted in the fact that he or she is now a part of the Church which is the chosen people of God. Salvation, soteria , means to rescue or to deliver or to make someone safe.

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Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about the concept of this lesson, the Church foreshadowed in history and Scripture. In order to appreciate the richness of the concept of the Church, it is important to understand that God’s desire to draw out the earth a people for his name is both

Student Application and Implications

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