The Gospel and the Church

The Church is the congregation of saints, 

in which the Gospel is rightly taught 

and the Sacraments are rightly administered.

Augsburg Confession Article 7.1

There is much solid theological weight in this short sentence.  The Augsburg Confession was written by Philip Melanchthon in 1530, but it was approved by and contained the thought of Martin Luther and the early Protestant Reformation.  Luther spent much of this time and effort attempting to understand and articulate the meaning of the gospel.  His understanding of the gospel includes the full-orbed explanations that is shared in this blog.  In other words, the gospel can not be distilled down to the bare minimum that "will get you into heaven," but it is marked by a life of active repentance and faith.  Such a life impacts every dimension of a believer, and it propels the believer to trust in Christ alone for all of life.  

What does a true Church believe and teach about the gospel?

A true church will teach, preach, and hold dearly to Christ alone as the source and securer of our salvation.

It will cling to salvation by grace alone, and it will emphasize faith alone as the means of living in right relationship with God.

It will also cling to the proper understanding of scripture alone as the revelation of God's will for faith and practice.  I say proper understanding because it will emphasize that one must interpret scripture within and from its proper historical, grammatical, and lexical context while keeping the whole of biblical revelation in mind as one interprets each passage.  Such an interpretation takes thoughtful exegesis and careful application.

Finally, a true church will also be committed and involved in spreading the gospel to all.  It will not just talk about reaching out, but it will challenge both believers and unbelievers to live a life of repentance and faith.  The result of this challenge will be changed lives and conversions.  The true church is never a club for religious insiders, but instead she is an outpost for mission to a lost and hurting world!

I would gladly travel 45 miles on a Sunday to attend such a church.  I probably would even go further!

Why?  Because I desperately need to be reminded of the gospel.  

I think all of us do.  We so quickly forget that life is not all about us and our concerns.  We forget the beauty and grace of Christ, and instead we run to our feelings, thoughts, and efforts as our justification and life.  Friends, we do so to our own peril.

We need a community where were are reminded of the gospel.  We need a church marked by these traits.  I hope and pray that the Lord is developing us at Christ Community to be that type of place.  The Kingdom grows through the True Church, and I want to see the Kingdom grow.

What are the practical implication of this understanding of the gospel 

and the true Church?

First, if you are looking for a church, do not settle for one that has "great youth programs" or anything programmatic.  The most important element of a church is not that the music makes you feel great.  First and foremost look for a church where the gospel is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered!  Upon these two factors we should judge the suitability of a church.

Second, if you are part of a church that holds some of these traits but not all of them be very careful!  Try to help the church repent and change.  Yet realize that a system like a church is very hard to change once it becomes set in its ways.  This is particularly true if you are not a leader of the church!  If you cannot move the system back to gospel- and grace-centered, it might well be time to leave.

Why?

The true church needs your help.  Gospel- and grace-centered churches have always been the minority of churches in the land.  Their witness needs to expand.  Join with them and be part of what God is doing!