In this final volume of a four-volume series, Michael Horton explores the origin, mission and destiny of the church through the lens of covenantal theology. Arguing that the history of Israel and the covenant of grace provide the proper context for New Testament ecclesiology, Horton then shows how the church is constituted through the ascension of Christ, the Pentecost and the Parousia, and how it continues to live by the Word and sacraments.

Horton's goal is to demonstrate the potential of a covenantal model for integrating the themes of the church as people and as place, with an urgent concern for contemporary practice.

"This is vintage Michael Horton - scripturally rooted, historically grounded, and marked by vigorous engagement with a wide range of contemporary theological, cultural, and ecclesiological currents. Horton's nuanced exploration of the church as the covenant community stands on its own as a significant contribution to contemporary ecclesiological debates..."?
- Suzanne McDonald, Assistant Professor of Theology, Calvin College