Church, life of

The church lives its life in union with Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is called to mutual love, holy living, and to worship.

The church lives its life in union with Christ

The church lives in Christ and Christ lives in the church

1 Corinthians 1:30 See also Matthew 18:20; John 15:5, John 17:21; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27, Colossians 2:6; 1 John 4:13

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Believers are united with Christ in baptism

Galatians 3:27 See also Acts 2:38, Acts 19:5; Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

The church lives its life in the power of the Holy Spirit

The church lives in the Spirit, and the Spirit lives in the church

Romans 8:9–11 The indwelling Spirit is identified with the presence of Jesus Christ. See also 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 2:27

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

The Spirit is given to the church

Acts 1:4–5 See also John 20:22; Acts 2:4, Acts 15:8; Romans 7:6, Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 3:3; 1 Peter 1:1–2

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Spirit seals the church

Ephesians 1:13 See also 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 4:30

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth — the gospel of your salvation — you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

The Spirit guides the church

Revelation 2:7 See also Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19, Acts 11:12, Acts 13:2, Acts 20:23, Acts 21:4

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.

The Spirit teaches the church

1 Corinthians 2:13 See also John 16:13; Ephesians 1:17

And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The Spirit sanctifies the church

Romans 15:16 See also 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit endows the church with gifts

1 Corinthians 12:7 See also Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–11, 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

The church as a fellowship

As a fellowship of mutual love

1 Thessalonians 5:11 See also Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 10:25

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

As a fellowship of ordinary people

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 See also Luke 6:20; James 2:5

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

The distinctiveness of the church

The church as a chosen people

1 Peter 2:9 See also Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 3:12

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The church as a holy people

Hebrews 12:14 See also Romans 11:16, Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Peter 1:15–16; 2 Peter 3:11

Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

The church as a people set apart

2 Corinthians 7:1 The repeated call to be separate from evil is the practical outworking of the church's sanctification. See also 1 Corinthians 5:9–12; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; Ephesians 5:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; Titus 3:10–11

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The church as a heavenly people

John 17:14–16 See also Luke 10:20; 1 Corinthians 15:48; Galatians 4:26; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1–4; Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 12:22–23

I have given them Your word and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

The church and worship

Praise in the life of the church

Hebrews 13:15 See also Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 5:18–20; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 3:16

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Prayer in the life of the church

Corporate prayer in the church: Acts 1:14, Acts 2:42, Acts 4:24–31, Acts 12:5, Acts 12:12, Acts 20:36, Acts 21:5; Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:19–20; Colossians 4:2–4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Hebrews 13:18; Ephesians 6:18 prayer for all Christians; 1 Timothy 2:1–2 prayer for all, including secular leaders

Baptism in the life of the church

Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 1:13; Galatians 3:26–27; Ephesians 4:4–5; Colossians 2:11–12; 1 Peter 3:21

The Lord's Supper in the life of the church

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 The breaking of bread was central to the church's worship and a vital expression of its fellowship. See also Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46, Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

The suffering of the church

Suffering persecution from a hostile world

John 16:33 See also Matthew 5:10–12; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:12

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Sharing in the sufferings of Christ

Philippians 3:10 See also John 15:20; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:10–11; 1 Peter 4:13

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

Suffering as the road to glory

James 1:12 See also Romans 5:3, Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:11–12; 1 Peter 5:10

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.