GUIDE TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
 
 Guide to Bible Understanding                                  Lesson 6
   
                          ONENESS IN CHRIST
 
 These lessons were written to aid you in your spiritual growth. They
are only guides to help you use your Bible. For maximum use of these
studies and greater understanding of the scripture, we recommend that
you look up the suggested Bible passages in more than one translation.
 
For those who may be new to studying the Bible, remember the following
when you want to find a reference such as John 3:16 in the Bible: The
number 3 before the colon (:) is chapter 3 in the book of John and the
number 16 after the colon (:) is the verse number 16 in that chapter.

 1) Who did Jesus say would build His Church? (Read Matthew 16:16-19)
    
    (  ) Peter and the other disciples
    (  ) All who have put their faith in Christ
    (  ) Jesus Himself
    (  ) The pastors and deacons
    
 2) What illustration in Ephesians 1:22-23 describes the church?

     ___________________________________________________________________
 
 3) Who is described as the head of the body? (Read Colossians 1:18)

     ___________________________________________________________________

 4) Who makes up the rest of the church body? (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
     
     ___________________________________________________________________
  
 5) When one of the members of the church body suffers, what happens to
the other members? (Read 1 Corinthians 12:26-27)

     ___________________________________________________________________
  
 6) Write in your own words what 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 says about our
need for each other as fellow Christians:

     ___________________________________________________________________

     ___________________________________________________________________
 
 7) Describe the relationship of Jesus Christ and His Church as used in
Ephesians 5:23-27:

     ___________________________________________________________________

 8) What illustration is in Ephesians 2:19-22 to describe the Church?
                                   
     It is a ________________ ________________ in the __________________
     
     built so God can _______________________ in it.
   
 9) Who is described as the chief cornerstone? (Read Ephesians 2:20)
  
     ___________________________________________________________________

 10) To what group of people does the word "church" refer? (compare
Matthew 16:18 with Galatians 1:2)
                               
                              (  ) All who have accepted Jesus as Savior
                              (  ) Local congregations of Christians
                              (  ) Both of the above
   
 11) Should any type of discrimination exist in the body of Christ which
is the Church? (Read Galatians 3:26-28 and Colossians 3:11)
                                      
                                      ( ) Yes             ( ) No

 12) In the Old Testament the people of God were given priests to be the
spiritual leaders. Who is now the "royal priesthood"? (see 1 Peter 2:9)
                                      
     ___________________________________________________________________

 13) Who is described as the High Priest? (Read Hebrews 4:14-16)
     
     ___________________________________________________________________

 14) 1 Timothy 2:5 states that there is only one mediator through whom
we must pray to God the Father. Who is that mediator?
                              
                              (  ) The pastor of our local church
                              (  ) A special person called a "Saint"
                              (  ) our personal guardian angel
                              (  ) Jesus Christ alone

 15) Jesus said that His followers were equal as brothers and sisters
and even those who desire to be leaders should live to serve others.
(Read Matthew 23:8-12)
                                      ( ) True            ( ) False
   
 16) Who was involved in making decisions in the New Testament Church?
(Read Acts 6:1-6 and Acts 15:22)
                              
                              (  ) Only the Apostles
                              (  ) The Elders and Deacons
                              (  ) The whole congregation of believers

 17) It is harmful to a Christian's spiritual growth to constantly and
intentionally be absent from the worship service. (see Hebrews 10:25)

                                      ( ) Yes             ( ) No

 18) List five of the reasons found in Ephesians 4:11-13 why Christians
should meet together regularly as a church:

      (a) _______________ (b) _______________________ (c) ______________
      
      (d) ____________________________ (e) _____________________________
 
 19) What did the people do after they believed the message of salvation
in Jesus that Peter was preaching? (see Acts 2:37-42)
       
     Those who _________________ Peter's message were _________________.

 20) Jesus never gave a command to His disciples to baptize those who
believed in Him. (see Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16)

                                      ( ) True            ( ) False
      
 21) Did Jesus set an example for our baptism by being baptized Himself?
(Read Matthew 3:13-17)
                                      ( ) Yes             ( ) No
 
 22) Baptism should symbolize and illustrate what important experiences
we have when we begin our Christian life? (Read Romans 6:3-6)

     (a) _______________ with Christ in _______________________________.
     
     (b) _______________ up from the _______________ with Christ to live 
     
         in ___________________________________________________________.

 23) What mode of baptism best illustrates these great experiences in
our lives? (compare Romans 6:3-6 with Acts 8:38-39)

     (  ) Pouring or sprinkling water on the top of a person's head.

     (  ) Immersing the person's complete body in a watery grave.
      
 24) Did Jesus give any other symbolic ceremonies for His disciples to
follow? (Read Matthew 26:26-28)
                                      ( ) Yes            ( ) No
 
 25) What command did Jesus give at this meal? (see Luke 22:19)

     _________________ this in ____________________ of ________________.

 26) What two items symbolize our fellowship and union with Christ in
this meal? (Read 1 Cornthians 10:16-17)

     (a) the ___________________ represents the _____________ of Christ.
     
     (b) the ___________________ represents the _____________ of Christ.

 27) What should we always be sure to do before partaking of the Last
Supper of Christ? (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). 
                      
     We should __________________ ourselves to be sure we are not eating

     and drinking ____________________ and bringing _________________ on
     ourselves.
      
 28) What should we do to be cleansed of unworthiness? (see 1 John 1:9)
 
     ___________________________________________________________________

 29) Do you believe the following statements?
     
     (see Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 14, 27; Romans 12:4-5;
     Colossians 1:18; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-22; Romans 15:5-7;
     Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Matthew 18:20;
     Hebrews 10:24-25.)

 The church of God is all believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and
joined into one body, of which Christ is the Head.  The local church is
a community of believers organized in covenant relationship for worship,
fellowship and service, practicing and proclaiming common convictions,
while growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. The priesthood of all believers and autonomy in the local church
should be practiced in Christian congregations as believers seek to work
in association with others for more effective witness.
     
     (see Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Colossians 2:12;
     Romans 6:11; Galatians 3:26-27.)

 Baptism of believers in obedience to Christ's command is a witness to
the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Baptism by immersion
is a symbol of death to sin, a pledge to a new life in Him.
     
     (see Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17,
     11:23-30.
          
 The Lord's Supper commemorates the suffering and death of our Redeemer
until He comes, and is a symbol of union in Christ and a pledge of our
renewed allegiance to our risen Lord.

     ( ) Yes, I do believe these things.              ( ) No 
 
     Signed: ___________________________________________________