Why the church?
A Biblical Study
Study 2
As we continue our first question, Who is the church?, we will look at a few NT passages that will help to provide the answer.
1. Reread Ezekiel 36:22-28 and John 3:1-8. Are these two passages describing the same thing or something different? Explain.
2. Next, read John 1:12,13. Write out the verses. How is each person to respond when they hear the gospel (v. 12)?
What does verse 13 tell us about the way salvation occurs?
3. Read Ephesians 1:1-11. In verses 3-8a Paul described God’s work in the salvation of individuals. What are the key points in this passage?
4. Read Ephesians 1:11-14. Describe the responsibility that each person has in responding to the gospel of Christ?
5. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” How does Peter outline the process of salvation?
6. Read Romans 9:1-13. Starting at verse 6 Paul makes these statements, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; [7] nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." [8] That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Romans 9:6-8)
How can Paul say that not all Jews are Jews if every Jew is a physical descendant of Abraham? (see also Romans 2:28,29)
How does this help us understand who a Christian is?
7. What character traits of God are described in Romans 9:14-17?
8. Read Romans 9:20-30. Paul quotes from Isaiah twice in this section. In v. 27 he quotes from Isaiah 10:22 and in v. 29 he quotes from Isaiah 1:9. In this Romans passage what is Paul’s main point from these verses?
Additional Notes:
It is vital to recognize the importance of the teaching about a remnant in the Bible. This helps to clarify our grasp of the concept of the church
As we noticed in the references in Romans from Isaiah, God has ensured throughout history that His chosen line would always exist. Here are a few examples:
*of the 12 spies that went into the land only 2 remained faithful to the Lord by believing that God would help them subdue the nations in the land of Canaan-Numbers 14:6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; Numbers 14:30 'Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
*7,000 prophets of Israel that had not bowed to Baal-1 Kings 19:18 "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."
*In the last book of the OT the Lord has kept a certain number of Jews from rebelling against Him- Malachi 2:15 "But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.
Also we have illustrations in the covenant line of families and other significant leaders that often one child believed while another did not.
Old Testament
In Genesis we discover that Abel is a believer while Cain is not. Abraham had Ishmael before he had Isaac but God chose Isaac over Ishmael even though he was the older. Isaac was a believer, Ishmael was not. Isaac and Rebekah had twins but Esau was not a believer but Jacob became a believer.
In 1 Samuel we find that Eli had two sons but neither of them was a believer (2:12-17; 2:27-36; 3:10-14; 4:10-22).
Samuel provided leadership for Israel until Saul became their first king. One of the reasons for the request by the people of Israel for a king was the unbelief of Samuel’s two sons found in 1 Samuel 8:1-5.
One of David’s sons, Absalom, rebelled against him by attempting to become king himself (2 Samuel 13-19)
New Testament
In the NT there is no teaching that indicates that Christian parents will guarantee Christian children. Yes, God will use the parenting, teaching, disciplining and the example of Christian parents in their children. Some or all will respond as the Spirit draws them, but others may not respond.
Jesus taught that, Luke 12:51-53 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; [52] for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. [53] "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." and He added, “Matthew 10:36 and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.”
There are places where the Scriptures indicate that entire households believed which would mean that entire family members, including servants, responded to the gospel. (see Acts 11:14; 16:15; 16:33; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15)
Finally, Jesus taught in two different parables that there would be unbelievers who would identify with a local group of Christians. We see this teaching in the parable of the sower, Matt. 13:18-23, the parable of wheat and the tares, Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43, and the parable of the dragnet, Matt. 13:47-50.