The Holy Christian Church

Confirmed in the FaithSeries BLesson 8

What is the holy Christian Church?

1 Peter 1:22—2:11

This portion of Scriptureis printed for you

on your Bible passages sheet.

1 Peter 2:9-109 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

What is the holy Christian Church?

1. The word church means “called out.”2. The Holy Christian Church is all the people

who have been called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light (all believers everywhere).

1 Peter 1:23

You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

What is the holy Christian Church?

3. We become a part of the Church when the Holy Spirit gives us a new birth through God’s Word and the Sacraments.

1 Peter 2:4-64 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6

For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16)

What is the holy Christian Church?

4. The Cornerstone of the Church is Jesus. All who believe in Him are living stones built on the Cornerstone.

What is a Christian congregation?

1. It is a gathering, or assembly, of people around God’s Word and sacraments.

What is a Christian congregation?

2. The difference between the holy Christian Church and a Christian congregation:

In a Christian congregation there may also be hypocrites (pretend believers).

1 Peter 2:1-21Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

What is a Christian congregation?

3. One important purpose for Christian congregations:

To keep us growing in our Christian faith and life through the Word of God.

Hebrews 10:23-2523Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What is a Christian congregation?

4. God’s will for Christians:

That we assemble together in congregations to hear the Word, to strengthen each other, and to become equipped to spread the Word to others.

With which organization or other religious organization should I join in

fellowship?

John 17:21

“…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

With which organization or other religious organization should I join in

fellowship?

1. Jesus wants Christians to be one as He and His Father are one, that is, perfectly agreed in all things.

John 10:27-2827“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

John 8:31

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”

Matthew 28:20

“…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

With which organization or other religious organization should I join in

fellowship?

2. Jesus wants Christians to remain faithful to His Word in all its parts. We should belong to an evangelical (Gospel-centered), orthodox (correct teaching) church.

Matthew 7:15

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

Romans 16:17

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

With which organization or other religious organization should I join in

fellowship?

3. We should not unite with, but keep away from, teachers, churches, and religious organizations which go against the teachings of any part of God’s Word.

Christian fellowship

Christians should be faithful to the Word, and not be involved in adding to it, subtracting from it, or changing it in any way.

Christian fellowship

Every denial of the Word denies Jesus, since it is His Word we are denying.

Christian fellowship

Christians should take care to fellowship with those who are striving to teach everything Christ has commanded.