The Church: A Guide to the People of God

Here is a conversation with Brad East on his new book The Church: A Guide to the People of God.

Brad is associate professor of theology at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is the author of The Doctrine of Scripture and The Church's Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context.

Show Notes

Summary

Brad East discusses his book 'The Church: A Guide for the People of God' and the importance of understanding the church as the body of Christ. He explains that the book is part of a series of catechetical books and discusses the structure and chapters of his book. East emphasizes the role of baptism in joining the elect people of God and the importance of the Old Testament in understanding the church. He also addresses the contemporary ethos of individualism and the challenges and failures of the church. East explores the concept of holiness and the freedom of God's people, highlighting the bi-directional nature of freedom. The conversation explores the imagery of the church as the bride of Christ and the importance of understanding the church as more than just a building or institution. It discusses the role of the church in God's plan and the significance of the communion of saints. The conversation also touches on the aesthetic beauty of the church and the lives of the saints as a means of attracting people to the faith. The book, 'The Church: A Guide to the People of God,' is described as a love letter to the church and emphasizes the need for a robust ecclesiology.

Takeaways

• Understanding the church as the body of Christ is essential for Christians

• Baptism is the means by which individuals are added to the elect people of God

• The Old Testament is crucial for understanding the church and its role in God's plan

• Contemporary individualism and the failures of the church can lead to a lack of appreciation for the church

• Holiness is a result of God's action and grace, and Christians should not expect perfection in this life

• The freedom of God's people is both freedom from oppression and freedom for covenant, righteousness, worship, and God The church is more than just a building or institution; it is the bride of Christ.

• Understanding the church as the bride of Christ helps us grasp the divine intent behind its existence.

• The communion of saints includes not only the present members of the church, but also the faithful departed and the angels.

• The aesthetic beauty of the church and the lives of the saints can attract people to the faith and help them see the reality of God's beloved people.

• Having a robust ecclesiology is essential for understanding the role and purpose of the church.

Sound Bites

• "The book is a tracking of the story of God's people, i.e. Israel. And we don't get to Christ until chapters eight and nine, when I ask, like, so why does Christ come?"

• "We are gathered around body and blood of Christ, but what makes us one with him is baptism."

• "For many Gentile Christians, the Old Testament is a quote unquote problem. And its presence in the canon is a scandal and a difficulty."

• "The church as the bride of Christ is a neglected image."

• "God created the world in order to provide a spouse for his son Jesus Christ."

• "The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, who God is and what he has done in drawing near to us."