Lesson 4 – The Formation of the Church

Romans 5:18-19 So then as it was through one offense unto condemnation to all men, so also it was through one righteous act unto justification of life to all men.  For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be constituted righteous.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

John 20:19-22 When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be to you.  And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced at seeing the Lord.  Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.

1. Christ’s crucifixion to redeem people for the church ¹, ², ³
2. Christ’s resurrection to regenerate people to be living members of the church ⁴, ⁵, ⁶
3. Christ’s ascension to pour out the Spirit on His people to form the church ⁷, ⁸  
   1. Being universal
   2. On the day of Pentecost and in the house of Cornelius ⁹, ¹⁰
   3. By Christ the Head ¹¹, ¹²
   4. Through the outpouring of the Spirit ¹³, ¹⁴

READING

Bible References:

1. So then as it was through one offense unto condemnation to all men, so also it was through one righteous act unto justification of life to all men.  For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be constituted righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)
2. For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the Righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, on the one hand being put to death in the flesh, but on the other, made alive in the Spirit; (1 Peter 3:18)
3. Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)
4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)
5. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
6. When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be to you.  And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced at seeing the Lord.  Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-22)
7. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
   8. And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore also the holy thing which is born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
8. For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
9. And as the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all together in the same place. (Acts 2:1)
10. And on the next day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was awaiting them, having called together his relatives and intimate friends. (Acts 10:24)
11. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
12. And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,   Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
13. “And it shall be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream things in dreams;  And indeed upon My slaves, both men and women, I will pour out of My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)
14. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. (Acts 2:33)