Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Acknowledgments 11

The Christian Story in Four Acts 13

Act I Creation

Act II Fall

Act III Redemption

Act IV Restoration

You Are Here

Part 1 "Created in Christ Jesus: Church, Churches, and the Christian Life" Nathan D. Holsteen 23

High-Altitude Survey 25

Ecclesiology: A Community Son-Centered and Spirit-Formed

Sanctification: A Life Son-Centered, Spirit-Formed, and Community-Minded

Passages to Master 30

1 The Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's Coming

Acts 2

2 The Olive Tree, Israel, and the Church

Romans 11

3 Christ's Body and Its Members

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

4 The Church as a Royal Priesthood

1 Peter 2:4-10

5 The Church as the Israel of God

Galatians 6:15-16

6 The Church and the Mystery of Gentile Inclusion

Ephesians 2:11-3:13

7 The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

8 Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20

9 Regeneration, Sin, and the Believer

Romans 6:6-14

10 The Believer and the Battle With Sin

Romans 7:14-25

11 The Holy Spirit and Our Battle With Sin

Galatians 5:16-26

12 The Believer and Progressive Sanctification

Ephesians 4

13 The Hope of Final Sanctification

Philippians 3:20-21

The Church and the Christian Life in Retrospect 55

The Patristic Period (AD 100-500)

The Medieval Period (500-1500)

The Protestant Period (1500-1700)

The Modern Period (1700-Present)

Facts to Never Forget 77

1 The central principle of ecclesiology is a saving relationship with God in Christ

2 The visible aspects of the church must serve, honor, and develop the invisible reality of the church

3 Variety (diversity) in Christ's body is God's design

4 Scripture is not silent on how we ought to "do" this thing called church

5 Sanctification and justification are inseparably bound together

6 Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit that involves the believer's responsible participation

7 Sanctification is a team sport

Dangers to Avoid 84

1 Corporation Over Corpus

2 Growth Over Health

3 Fractured Family

4 Sectarianism's Siren Song

5 Lone Ranger Sanctification

6 Evangelical Antinomianism

7 Sanctimonious Self-Improvement

Principles to Put Into Practice 92

1 Pursue the unity of the faith

2 Get involved

3 Practice obedience to those in authority

4 Develop the spiritual disciplines

5 Encourage accountability

Voices From the Past and Present 98

The Patristic Period (c. AD 100-500)

The Medieval Period (500-1500)

The Protestant Period (1500-1700)

The Modern Period (1700-Present)

Shelf Space: Recommendations for Your Library 119

General Books on Ecclesiology

Books on Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Books on Church Government and Polity

Books on Worship and Church Ministry

Books on Distinct Denominational Ecclesiologies

General Books on Sanctification and the Christian Life

Books on Distinct Perspectives on Sanctification

Notes 124

Part 2 "When He Returns: Resurrection, Judgment, and the Restoration" by Michael J. Svigel 131

High-Altitude Survey 133

Eschatology: It's All About Hope

Eschatology: It's All About Him

Passages to Master 142

1 The New Heavens and New Earth

Isaiah 65-66

2 The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31

3 Resurrection and Restoration

Ezekiel 37-48

4 The End of the Wicked Rulers

Daniel 2, 7, 9-12

5 The Day of the Lord

Joel 1-3

6 Judgment and Restoration

Zechariah 12-14

7 The Great Tribulation

Matthew 24-25 (Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38)

8 The Manner of Christ's Return

Acts 1:6-11

9 The Restoration of All Creation

Romans 8:18-25

10 The Resurrection of the Body

1 Corinthians 15:12-58

11 Bodily Resurrection and the Intermediate State

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

12 Resurrection and Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

13 The Man of Sin and the Day of the Lord

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

14 The Day of the Lord and the New Creation

2 Peter 3:1-18

15 The Return of Christ, Millennium, and New Creation

Revelation 19-22

The End Times in Retrospect 180

The Patristic Period (c. AD 100-500)

The Medieval Period (500-1500)

The Protestant Period (1500-1700)

The Modern Period (1700-Present)

Facts to Never Forget 192

1 Jesus Christ is coming back as Judge and King

2 Nobody knows when Christ will return

3 God will redeem our bodies through physical resurrection

4 God will utterly eradicate sin, suffering, and death

5 We all must give an account, for our lives' before God

6 All of God's plans and promises will be fulfilled

7 Christ's kingdom will endure forever and ever

Dangers to Avoid 200

1 Heinous Heresy

2 My Way or the Highway

3 End-Times Agnosticism

4 This-Is-That Syndrome

5 The Dating Game

6 End-Times Obsession

7 Fearful Fretting

Principles to Put Into Practice 209

1 Wait eagerly for Christ's return with a life lived in holiness.

2 Invest in eternity, not in temporalities.

3 Focus on foundational facts, not incidental opinions.

4 Don't be crushed by present suffering; be comforted by future splendor.

5 Gather often to exhort one another to love and good works.

Voices From the Past and Present 215

The Patristic Period (c. AD 100-500)

The Medieval Period (500-1500)

The Protestant Period (1500-1700)

The Modern Period (1700-Present)

Shelf Space: Recommendations for Your Library 227

General Books on Eschatology and Hope Books on the History of Eschatology

Books on the Tribulation and the Antichrist

Books on Millennial Views

Books on the Rapture

Books on Prophetic Scripture

Notes 231

Glossary of Terms for the Church, Spiritual Growth; and the End Times 237

Scripture Index 247