Gospel Legacy

Gospel Legacy – Consolidating the Church

Fight for clarity, unity and purity of the gospel are battles fought to ultimately establish the gospel’s legacy.

Gospel Legacy – Consolidating the Church

The NT church leaders had to consolidate the movement

the Spirit-led effort to evangelize was out-pacing the human leadership’s capacity to manage the growth!

The New Testament writings are both an example of and a record of the NT church’s effort to consolidate its legacy.

Consolidating the Gospel’s Legacy in the ChurchI. Evolving IdentityII. Establishing InstitutionIII.Enduring Growing Pains

Evolving IdentityBreak from JudaismJudaism = “religio licita”Throughout the Gospels/Acts, persecution from Romans was not the

problem. Romans viewed Christianity as an internal sect of Judaism. (Acts 25:16-21)

Later persecutions under Nero (64 AD) and Domitian (81 AD) indicate emerging recognition of Christianity distinct from Judaism. (Revelation 2:9, 3:9)

Evolving IdentityBook of HebrewsThe superiority of Christ over Law (Hebrews 1:3)A call to persevere through suffering (Hebrews 10:32-36)Why? Because it was tempting for persecuted/alienated Christians to

return to the protected/comfortable fold of non-Christian Judaism.

II. Establishing InstitutionTransition from mission-planting to church-buildingIdentifying distinct ministries within the church

I Timothy 5, Titus 2, I Peter 3/5Raising up leadership and church roles

I Timothy 3, Ephesians 4Establishing core uniform doctrines and practices

Communion supper – I Corinthians 12Elementary teachings – Hebrews 6:1-3, Ephesians 4:4-6Orderly worship and assembly – I Timothy 2Creation of NT writings!

III. Enduring Growing PainsThe “suffering church” – Christians had to learn how to suffer “well”!Question: If Christianity is truly right and from God, then why are we

suffering so much in it?Hope and Perseverance

Example of Christ – Hebrews 12:3, I Peter 3-4Suffering is part of maturing process – I Peter 1, James 1God has a plan, the goal is worth it - I Peter 1, Revelation

Establishing LegacyThe NT church leaders had to consolidate the expanding church by

transition from mission-planting to church-buildingEvolving Identity – The Christian church established an identity separate

from Judaism.Establishing Institution – Identifying a set of uniform core

teachings/practices, ministries and leadership roles provided infrastructure.Enduring Suffering – The church needed encouragement to persevere

through the “growing pains” of its own emergence.Key NT Writings: Hebrews, James, Ephesians, I Peter, I and II Timothy, Titus,

Revelation