Page 45 - Biblical Counseling I Textbook

God’s relationship to the church is by way of the “new covenant.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 vs. Hebrews 8:8-13 and
9:15
(cf. Luke 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6) The essence of eternal life is intimate relationship with God (John 17:3).
We are in a bound relationship with one another that is also covenantal.
We are all children of God and are bound together by virtue of our shared relationship to Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 3:1-10

We are bound by our new nature and by our shared identity as a people of God.

What are the signs of these relationships?
• Baptism is the introductory sign of our covenant entrance and is for believers only (Col. 2:11-12)
o The individual declares his or her membership in the body of Christ (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 12:13)
o The church affirms the individual’s membership in the body of Christ (Acts 8:12; 18:8).

• Communion is the sign of our ongoing covenant commitment and is for believers only
o Believers declare and display their faith in the work of the cross (1 Cor. 11:26).
o Believers declare and display their mutual commitment to covenant community.
1 Corinthians 10:1-3ff

Paul refers to both signs of the covenant. Paul connects our baptism with the “baptism” of the Israelites into
the cloud and sea, and he connects communion with their spiritual food and drink.

1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Communion continues to remind us of the covenant and of our commitment to it.

What is our commitment to one another?

We will submit to one another, including to properly exercised biblical leadership (Eph. 5:21; Heb. 13:17). We
will be devoted to one another, including the willingness to pursue scattered sheep for the purposes of
restoration (Rom. 12:10; Matt. 18:12-14)
How do we correct the wayward? We go to that person in love and gentleness in order to restore (Matt. 18:15).
We go alone. We go for the purpose of restoration and reconciliation. We go in humility (Gal. 6:1).

If the person won’t listen, we go with one or two others (Matt. 18:16).
• We bring those who are mature (Gal. 6:1).
• We bring them as witnesses.
• They are to “confirm every fact.”
• We must accept that we may be wrong.

If the person won’t listen, we must “tell the church” (Matt. 18:17).

• It is the refusal to listen that has become the issue.
• The purpose of the telling is to restore the sinner.
• The role of the church is to lovingly call the person to repentance.
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