The Identity of the Church

Selected Scriptures

The church is the people that Jesus Christ has rescued and is transforming by His death and resurrection. God has given us two ways to express our identity as those saved by Jesus with rich signs.

Sermon Notes

Initial identification with Christ and His church – Baptism
In baptism we express our faith in Christ and we publicly identify with Him and His body.

Ongoing identification with Christ and His church – The Lord’s Supper
In the Lord’s Supper we express and renew our dependence on Christ and our commitment to Him and to His people, the church.

1. Baptism

• The invisible in-working of salvation accomplished by God
  
  • Titus 3:4-7
  • Romans 6:3-4
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
• The visible out-working of salvation expressed in baptism
  
  • Matthew 28:19
  • Acts 2:38
  • 1 Peter 3:21

Baptism is the way that the New Testament teaches that we express our faith in Christ publicly, identifying with Him and with all those who have identified with Him (the church).

2. The Lord’s Supper

• Context of the Lord’s Supper: The Passover Meal
  
  • Exodus 12-13
  • Luke 22:14-20
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

• The Lord’s Supper is the ordinance by which we remember Christ’s death that purchased us and has made us His people, the church. 
• It is also the ordinance by which we proclaim His death, looking forward to His return. 
• In the Lord’s Supper, we continue to recognize and celebrate our identity as the body of Christ and to express our commitment to living in a manner worthy of Christ in the context of the church.

Implications 

• Have you identified with Christ and the church by publicly expressing your faith in Him in baptism? If you have, are you remembering your baptism?
• How are you doing with remembering Christ’s work and living His grace out in your relationships in the body of Christ?

Nathan Thiry

Nathan Thiry is the Growth Groups & Outreach Pastor at Faith Bible Church. He enjoys biking and outdoor activities, and has a passion to see the gospel spread throughout our community and the whole world!

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