Believe Sample

How does God accomplish his purposes today?

From the very beginning God has had a vision to be with his people in perfect community. When the first two humans — Adam and Eve — rejected this vision and were escorted from the Garden of Eden, God began to unveil a plan to provide the way back. God’s plan consisted of making Abraham’s offspring into a great nation and then into the body of Christ through Abraham’s descendants. Thus the story of Israel pointed people of all nations to the first coming of Christ — and through him to God’s plan to restore a relationship with his people.

As Jesus was nearing his crucifixion, he told the disciples about what was ahead and about their role in accomplishing God’s ultimate vision for the coming kingdom. [Matthew 16:13-19] highlights that God’s plan for believers is still in force; the vision is for believers to come together in a community that continues to this day.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God formed this community, called the church, led by his disciples. The story of the church points people of all nations to the second coming of Christ when he will fully restore the original vision of God.

KEY VERSE

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

KEY IDEA

I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live?

• In the body of Christ, you belong to a family focused on all the things of God, which are good, right, and healthy.
• In the body of Christ, you will grow faster in your walk with God. Because of our new identity in Christ, we live to express who we are in Christ, not to prove who we are.
• In the body of Christ, you become a part of a movement larger than yourself.