(continuation of meditation 79)
3. The Churches in Galatia (part of modern Turkey)
The apostle Paul founded these churches during his first missionary journey c. A.D. 46-48 (see Acts 13 and 14).
After Paul’s departure, it seems that people came to the churches with a false gospel. These were Christians from a Jewish background. They taught that Paul’s Gospel was not complete.
According to them, one could only be a true Christian by being circumcised and keeping the Mosaic Law.
By listening to this teaching, the churches in Galatia were in danger of losing their freedom from bondage to the Mosaic Law through the sacrifice of Christ and the gift of God’s Spirit. Consequently they would ‘miss the way’ towards Christlike holiness.
Paul’s entire letter to these churches in Galatia deals with the fact that we only set things right with God through our faith in Jesus Christ, without trying to keep the Mosaic Law.
• Their lack of discernment regarding false teaching
The apostle Paul begins his letter with an attack on these false teachers: “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
Straightaway, Paul condemns these false teachers and places them under God’s judgment: “Let God's curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about.
Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.
I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God's curse fall upon that person.”
(Galatians 1:8-9)
Paul goes on to address the lack of discernment in these churches regarding the false teachers: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the [Mosaic] Law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Have you suffered so much for nothing -- if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the Law, or because you believe what you heard?" (Galatians 3:1-5)
Later on, Paul warns the churches in Galatia: “... Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the (Mosaic) Law.
Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole Law of Moses.
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the Law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't you to infect all the others -- a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough!
I am trusting the Lord to bring you back to believing as I do about these things. ...
Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised -- as some say I do -- why would the Jews persecute me? The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through the cross of Christ alone.
I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”
(Galatians 5:1-10a and 11-13)
As we have seen in the two previous meditations, the apostles warn us that ungodly behaviour in the church will be subjected to God’s judgment: “God will judge that person, whoever it is, who has been troubling and confusing you.” (Galatians 5:10b)
At the end of this letter, Paul lays bare the true motivation of these false teachers: “Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised are doing it for just one reason. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.
And even those who advocate circumcision don't really keep the whole (Mosaic) Law. They only want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it and claim you as their disciples.” (Galatians 6:12-13)
The apostle closes his letter to the Galatian churches with a personal testimony: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead.
It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people [NIV: what counts is a new creation].
May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.” (Galatians 6:14-16)
4. The Church of Thessalonica (Greece)
The apostle Paul went to Thessalonica during his second missionary journey c. A.D. 49-52 (see Acts 17:1-9). Probably within months if not weeks after his first letter, Paul wrote a second one.
In this letter Paul instructs the church about the coming ‘Day of the Lord’ (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Anticipating that day, the church should stand firm and continue to pursue Christlike holiness (2:13-17).
• Warning against idleness
The apostle warns the church about those who were not pursuing Christlike holiness in expectation of Christ’s return. Instead, they were living disorderly lives. Paul writes: “... we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people's business.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11)
Paul instructs the church how to deal with this kind of church member: “... dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from any Christian who lives in idleness and doesn't follow the tradition of hard work we gave you.
For you know that you ought to follow our example.
We were never lazy when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It wasn't that we didn't have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘Whoever does not work should not eat.’ ...
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people -- no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living.
And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. Don't think of them as enemies, but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs to be warned”
(2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Since Meditation 78 we have looked at how God dealt with churches in New Testament times that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word, and did not pursue Christlike holiness.
In the coming meditations we will continue this theme and examine the rest of the New Testament letters.
(to be continued)
Galatians 3:1-5 is a quote from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
The next meditation will be published on Saturday 2 June 2012.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
79. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (r): Pursuing holiness (4)
(continuation of Meditation 78)
• Idolatry and the Lord’s Supper in the Church of Corinth
Paul warns the church members in Corinth not to attend pagan festivities nor to engage in idolatrous practises.
He urges them: “... my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true.
When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body.
And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all.
What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.
What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
• Dissensions at the Lord’s Supper
Paul also warns them about dissensions at the Lord’s Supper:
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.
When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! ...
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.”
(1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34)
The apostle forewarns the church members for God’s judgment on them as a wake-up call to pursue Christlike holiness:
“So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world.”
(1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul shows how the liberation history of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt is also a serious admonition to them:
“I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago.
God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea.
And all of them ate the same miraculous food, and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did.
For the Scriptures say, 'The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.'
And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
• Lack of discernment regarding false teaching
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth he addresses their lack of discernment regarding false teachers: “I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
But I don't think I am inferior to these 'super apostles.'
I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again. ...
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers.” (2 Corinthians 11:1-6 and 13-15a)
Again, the apostle warns that those who lead the church astray, will be subjected to God’s judgment: “In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
(2 Corinthians 11:15b)
• Paul’s summary of sins allowed in the Corinthian church
The apostle ends his second letter to this church by summarizing its catalogue of sins. Furthermore, he urges this church to check out if its members really pursue Christlike holiness:
“For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.
Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
This is the third time I am coming to visit you.
As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 19:15], ‘The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit.
Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that this next time I will not spare them.
I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power -- the power we use in dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.” (2 Corinthians 12:20-13:5)
Next time we will see how God dealt with unholiness in the Galatian churches and the church in Thessalonica.
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
• Idolatry and the Lord’s Supper in the Church of Corinth
Paul warns the church members in Corinth not to attend pagan festivities nor to engage in idolatrous practises.
He urges them: “... my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true.
When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body.
And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all.
What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.
What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
• Dissensions at the Lord’s Supper
Paul also warns them about dissensions at the Lord’s Supper:
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.
When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! ...
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.”
(1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34)
The apostle forewarns the church members for God’s judgment on them as a wake-up call to pursue Christlike holiness:
“So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world.”
(1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul shows how the liberation history of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt is also a serious admonition to them:
“I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago.
God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea.
And all of them ate the same miraculous food, and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did.
For the Scriptures say, 'The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.'
And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
• Lack of discernment regarding false teaching
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth he addresses their lack of discernment regarding false teachers: “I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
But I don't think I am inferior to these 'super apostles.'
I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again. ...
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers.” (2 Corinthians 11:1-6 and 13-15a)
Again, the apostle warns that those who lead the church astray, will be subjected to God’s judgment: “In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
(2 Corinthians 11:15b)
• Paul’s summary of sins allowed in the Corinthian church
The apostle ends his second letter to this church by summarizing its catalogue of sins. Furthermore, he urges this church to check out if its members really pursue Christlike holiness:
“For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.
Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
This is the third time I am coming to visit you.
As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 19:15], ‘The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit.
Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that this next time I will not spare them.
I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power -- the power we use in dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.” (2 Corinthians 12:20-13:5)
Next time we will see how God dealt with unholiness in the Galatian churches and the church in Thessalonica.
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
Monday, April 2, 2012
78. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (q): Pursuing holiness (3)
(continuation of Meditation 77)
c-3.) How did God deal in New Testament times with churches that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church?
In the last meditation we saw that the local church as Christ’s Body (empowered by God’s Spirit) should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
Pursuing holiness has nothing to do with living an ascetic life.
Nor is it an exercise in world-denial, nor a kind of ‘platonic’ spirituality. From the entire Bible it is clear that holiness is an essential character trait of God.
It is God's Spirit who wants to empower every local church and its members to pursue Christlike or Godlike holiness. Therefore, the apostle Peter gives the order: “... you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
In short, to live a holy life means to live a Christlike life. And pursuing holiness as a Christian community means to pursue a Christlike lifestyle as a community. In Meditation 77 we mentioned some examples of a Christlike communal life.
The question for today is: How did God deal in New Testament times with local churches and its members who did not pursue Christlike holiness? Here are some examples:
1. Ananias and Sapphira
I think that the first shocking example in the New Testament is found in Acts 5:1-10. In the midst of the exciting story of Christlike love and compassion in the early church in Jerusalem,
we read about Ananias and Sapphira. This mischievous couple outwardly imitated the generous love of their fellow Christians. Yet, it was all show. Here was no Christlike compassion for the poor, but 'satanic pretence'.
As the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the true motives of this couple, the apostle addresses the issue head-on.
To Ananias he said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)
To his wife Sapphira Peter said later: "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this -- conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)
God severely warned the Jerusalem church not to follow this unholy way of acting. Luke writes in this story: “As soon as Ananias heard these words (from Peter), he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.” (Acts 5:5)
Later on Luke mentions Sapphira's death and the reaction of the entire Jerusalem church: “Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.” (Acts 5:10-11)
This incidence was profoundly shocking for the young Jerusalem church that experienced its ‘first love’ for God and fellow-men. God used it to warn this church for an ungodly, dead-end road and to keep this congregation on the right track, pursuing Christlike holiness.
2. The Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey c. AD 50, the apostle Paul stayed for 18 months in this Greek port (Acts 18:11). He taught there God’s Word and gathered new converts around him. That was the start of the Corinthian church of which we read more in Paul’s two letters to this congregation.
In his first letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth he addresses various unholy practises in this church:
• Controversy because of leadership preferences
As a good shepherd and true pastor Paul took this young church firmly in hand. He begins his first letter to them with the earnest request: “Dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves.
Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters.
Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter’, or ‘I follow only Christ.’” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Further on Paul continues to address the problem of division among them: “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.
I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires.
You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.
When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,’ and another says, ‘I prefer Apollos’, aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
The apostle warns the Corinthian church for the way God will deal with such attitude: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
• The arrogance of some church members
Then Paul points to the haughtiness of some church members:
“I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again. But I will come -- and soon -- if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power. For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)
Paul, the founder of this church, threatens these arrogant church members, because he wants to see the entire church grow in Christlike love: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
• Licentiousness within the church
Furthermore, Paul addresses sexual immorality within the church which was probably regarded as an expression of ‘Christian freedom’: “I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife. And you are so proud of yourselves!” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2a)
Paul, as an apostle and servant of God, tells them how they should deal with this kind of excesses within the congregation so that the church is able to continue pursuing Christlike holiness:
“... you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?
Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.
Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on.
Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.
Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:2-13)
• Prostitution
Closely linked to the earlier case of licentiousness, was the problem of prostitution. Apparently the Corinthian church proudly elevated prostitution, which was an integral aspect of Greek culture, as a demonstration of ‘Christian liberty’.
Paul writes: “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything. You say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.’ This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.
But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise our bodies from the dead by his marvelous power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say [Genesis 2:24], ‘The two are united into one.’ But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Paul’s earlier warning applies also to this case: “... you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin... It certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. ... As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
• Legal disputes amongst church members
Another issue Paul tackles in this letter is about law-cases among fellow Christians. He writes: “When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right?
Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves?
Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth.
If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you.
Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But instead, one Christian sues another -- right in front of unbelievers!
To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
Paul reminds the church of God’s coming judgment: “Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves.
Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers -- none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:21 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
The next meditation will be published on Saturday 14 April 2012.
c-3.) How did God deal in New Testament times with churches that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church?
In the last meditation we saw that the local church as Christ’s Body (empowered by God’s Spirit) should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
Pursuing holiness has nothing to do with living an ascetic life.
Nor is it an exercise in world-denial, nor a kind of ‘platonic’ spirituality. From the entire Bible it is clear that holiness is an essential character trait of God.
It is God's Spirit who wants to empower every local church and its members to pursue Christlike or Godlike holiness. Therefore, the apostle Peter gives the order: “... you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
In short, to live a holy life means to live a Christlike life. And pursuing holiness as a Christian community means to pursue a Christlike lifestyle as a community. In Meditation 77 we mentioned some examples of a Christlike communal life.
The question for today is: How did God deal in New Testament times with local churches and its members who did not pursue Christlike holiness? Here are some examples:
1. Ananias and Sapphira
I think that the first shocking example in the New Testament is found in Acts 5:1-10. In the midst of the exciting story of Christlike love and compassion in the early church in Jerusalem,
we read about Ananias and Sapphira. This mischievous couple outwardly imitated the generous love of their fellow Christians. Yet, it was all show. Here was no Christlike compassion for the poor, but 'satanic pretence'.
As the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the true motives of this couple, the apostle addresses the issue head-on.
To Ananias he said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)
To his wife Sapphira Peter said later: "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this -- conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)
God severely warned the Jerusalem church not to follow this unholy way of acting. Luke writes in this story: “As soon as Ananias heard these words (from Peter), he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.” (Acts 5:5)
Later on Luke mentions Sapphira's death and the reaction of the entire Jerusalem church: “Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.” (Acts 5:10-11)
This incidence was profoundly shocking for the young Jerusalem church that experienced its ‘first love’ for God and fellow-men. God used it to warn this church for an ungodly, dead-end road and to keep this congregation on the right track, pursuing Christlike holiness.
2. The Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey c. AD 50, the apostle Paul stayed for 18 months in this Greek port (Acts 18:11). He taught there God’s Word and gathered new converts around him. That was the start of the Corinthian church of which we read more in Paul’s two letters to this congregation.
In his first letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth he addresses various unholy practises in this church:
• Controversy because of leadership preferences
As a good shepherd and true pastor Paul took this young church firmly in hand. He begins his first letter to them with the earnest request: “Dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves.
Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters.
Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter’, or ‘I follow only Christ.’” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Further on Paul continues to address the problem of division among them: “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.
I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires.
You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.
When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,’ and another says, ‘I prefer Apollos’, aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
The apostle warns the Corinthian church for the way God will deal with such attitude: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
• The arrogance of some church members
Then Paul points to the haughtiness of some church members:
“I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again. But I will come -- and soon -- if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power. For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)
Paul, the founder of this church, threatens these arrogant church members, because he wants to see the entire church grow in Christlike love: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
• Licentiousness within the church
Furthermore, Paul addresses sexual immorality within the church which was probably regarded as an expression of ‘Christian freedom’: “I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife. And you are so proud of yourselves!” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2a)
Paul, as an apostle and servant of God, tells them how they should deal with this kind of excesses within the congregation so that the church is able to continue pursuing Christlike holiness:
“... you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?
Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.
Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on.
Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.
Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:2-13)
• Prostitution
Closely linked to the earlier case of licentiousness, was the problem of prostitution. Apparently the Corinthian church proudly elevated prostitution, which was an integral aspect of Greek culture, as a demonstration of ‘Christian liberty’.
Paul writes: “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything. You say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.’ This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.
But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise our bodies from the dead by his marvelous power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say [Genesis 2:24], ‘The two are united into one.’ But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Paul’s earlier warning applies also to this case: “... you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin... It certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. ... As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
• Legal disputes amongst church members
Another issue Paul tackles in this letter is about law-cases among fellow Christians. He writes: “When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right?
Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves?
Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth.
If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you.
Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But instead, one Christian sues another -- right in front of unbelievers!
To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
Paul reminds the church of God’s coming judgment: “Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves.
Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers -- none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:21 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
The next meditation will be published on Saturday 14 April 2012.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
77. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (p): Pursuing holiness (2)
(Continuation of meditation)
c-2.) Today we want to see how God's Spirit implemented God's plan for Christ's church in New Testament times:
• The gift of God’s Spirit to Christ’s church
In Old Testament times, God's prophets announced that the gift of His Spirit to His people would be the main characteristic of His promised new [Messianic] covenant (see Meditation 33).
These prophesies came to fulfilment at the start of the celebration of Pentecost after Christ's resurrection. Luke writes: "On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus's resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. ... Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:1 and 4)
In Peter's message to the onlookers that morning he draws the link between Jesus's enthronement and the gift of God's Spirit, just as Jesus had promised in John 14:16 and 15:26 : "Now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today."
(Acts 2:33)
Peter ends his words with the appeal: "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
(Acts 2:38-39)
Peter added that the gift of God's Spirit was not a one-time historic event. On the contrary, everyone who would accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, would receive the promised Spirit of God: "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:39)
The Gospel-writer Luke tells in the book of Acts that God will give His promised Spirit not only Jewish believers in Jesus, but to everyone who would turn to Christ in faith and repentance.
That started with Peter’s Gospel preaching in the house of the Roman centurion Cornelius: “Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles [non-Jews], too." (Acts 10:44-45)
• The church as a Spirit-guided community
In our meditations so far we have seen that any local church stands or falls depending upon the presence and guidance of God’s Spirit. Luke gives an example of His care for the church in Acts 9:
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” (Acts 9:31)
The apostle Paul speaks to the church in Rome about their need to be governed by God’s Spirit: “...but you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (Romans 8:9)
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes about the transforming work of God’s Spirit in the Christian community: “...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him [Christ] and reflect his glory even more.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
• The church as ‘the light of the world’ and ‘the salt of the earth’
In our last Meditation we saw that Jesus commanded His church to display Christlike love and compassion through the power of God’s Spirit. Luke shows us in two illustrations how the early Jerusalem church manifested itself as ‘the light of the world’ and 'the salt of the earth':
Illustration 1:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)
Illustration 2:
“... After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No-one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:31-35)
This Spirit-given love and care which we just saw in the church of Jerusalem, is manifested again in the church in Antioch (Syria):
“... some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)
So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.
This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.” (Acts 11:27b-30)
It is in this God-loving church that the Holy Spirit ‘visibly’ rules. We find another example of it in Acts 13:
“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3)
Later Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria and stay there for some time to teach and preach God’s Word again.
Notice Luke’s important sideline remark that God’s Spirit had raised up ‘many others’ in that church who taught and preached God’s Word: “... Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.”
(Acts 15:35)
Further on, Luke continues to mentions how God’s Spirit had worked in various churches without actually referring to Him: “... the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” (Acts 16:5) and “... In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:20)
The love and compassion of God’s Spirit, which we saw at work in the early Jerusalem church and in the Syrian Antioch church, are again manifested in the Macedonian churches. The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the exemplary way these churches send relief to the poor in Jerusalem:
“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.”
(2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
One chapter later on, Paul praises the Corinthian church for their help to the famine-stricken church in Jerusalem: “I really don't need to write to you about this gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.
For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to our friends in Macedonia that you Christians in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago.
In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of them to begin helping.” (2 Corinthians 9:1-2)
And in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 the apostle writes about the mutual love and care among the Christians in Jerusalem and Corinth:
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
There are many more fine examples in the New Testament about the ways God’s Spirit was at work in these first-century churches.
I want to mention one more account regarding the ‘prototype church’ in Thessalonica. Notice the way Paul links together the presence of God’s Spirit, their love for God, Father and Son, their obedience to God’s Word, their care for fellow Christians and their testimony to the world:
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia --your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.
They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
(1 Thessalonians 1:2-10)
In the last meditation we saw that God views Christ’s church as ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’. He sees it as a Spirit-guided community on pilgrimage. It is Christ’s Body that, empowered by God’s Spirit, should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
We might wonder how God dealt with churches in New Testament times that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church. That will be the theme of the next meditation.
Acts 2:1 and 4, Acts 2:3, Acts 10:44-45, Acts 11:27b-30, Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 9:1-2 are quotes from the New Living Translation. The other texts are quoted from the New International Version.
c-2.) Today we want to see how God's Spirit implemented God's plan for Christ's church in New Testament times:
• The gift of God’s Spirit to Christ’s church
In Old Testament times, God's prophets announced that the gift of His Spirit to His people would be the main characteristic of His promised new [Messianic] covenant (see Meditation 33).
These prophesies came to fulfilment at the start of the celebration of Pentecost after Christ's resurrection. Luke writes: "On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus's resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. ... Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:1 and 4)
In Peter's message to the onlookers that morning he draws the link between Jesus's enthronement and the gift of God's Spirit, just as Jesus had promised in John 14:16 and 15:26 : "Now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today."
(Acts 2:33)
Peter ends his words with the appeal: "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
(Acts 2:38-39)
Peter added that the gift of God's Spirit was not a one-time historic event. On the contrary, everyone who would accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, would receive the promised Spirit of God: "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:39)
The Gospel-writer Luke tells in the book of Acts that God will give His promised Spirit not only Jewish believers in Jesus, but to everyone who would turn to Christ in faith and repentance.
That started with Peter’s Gospel preaching in the house of the Roman centurion Cornelius: “Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles [non-Jews], too." (Acts 10:44-45)
• The church as a Spirit-guided community
In our meditations so far we have seen that any local church stands or falls depending upon the presence and guidance of God’s Spirit. Luke gives an example of His care for the church in Acts 9:
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” (Acts 9:31)
The apostle Paul speaks to the church in Rome about their need to be governed by God’s Spirit: “...but you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (Romans 8:9)
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes about the transforming work of God’s Spirit in the Christian community: “...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him [Christ] and reflect his glory even more.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
• The church as ‘the light of the world’ and ‘the salt of the earth’
In our last Meditation we saw that Jesus commanded His church to display Christlike love and compassion through the power of God’s Spirit. Luke shows us in two illustrations how the early Jerusalem church manifested itself as ‘the light of the world’ and 'the salt of the earth':
Illustration 1:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)
Illustration 2:
“... After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No-one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:31-35)
This Spirit-given love and care which we just saw in the church of Jerusalem, is manifested again in the church in Antioch (Syria):
“... some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)
So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.
This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.” (Acts 11:27b-30)
It is in this God-loving church that the Holy Spirit ‘visibly’ rules. We find another example of it in Acts 13:
“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3)
Later Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria and stay there for some time to teach and preach God’s Word again.
Notice Luke’s important sideline remark that God’s Spirit had raised up ‘many others’ in that church who taught and preached God’s Word: “... Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.”
(Acts 15:35)
Further on, Luke continues to mentions how God’s Spirit had worked in various churches without actually referring to Him: “... the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” (Acts 16:5) and “... In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:20)
The love and compassion of God’s Spirit, which we saw at work in the early Jerusalem church and in the Syrian Antioch church, are again manifested in the Macedonian churches. The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the exemplary way these churches send relief to the poor in Jerusalem:
“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.”
(2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
One chapter later on, Paul praises the Corinthian church for their help to the famine-stricken church in Jerusalem: “I really don't need to write to you about this gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.
For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to our friends in Macedonia that you Christians in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago.
In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of them to begin helping.” (2 Corinthians 9:1-2)
And in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 the apostle writes about the mutual love and care among the Christians in Jerusalem and Corinth:
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
There are many more fine examples in the New Testament about the ways God’s Spirit was at work in these first-century churches.
I want to mention one more account regarding the ‘prototype church’ in Thessalonica. Notice the way Paul links together the presence of God’s Spirit, their love for God, Father and Son, their obedience to God’s Word, their care for fellow Christians and their testimony to the world:
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia --your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.
They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
(1 Thessalonians 1:2-10)
In the last meditation we saw that God views Christ’s church as ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’. He sees it as a Spirit-guided community on pilgrimage. It is Christ’s Body that, empowered by God’s Spirit, should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
We might wonder how God dealt with churches in New Testament times that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church. That will be the theme of the next meditation.
Acts 2:1 and 4, Acts 2:3, Acts 10:44-45, Acts 11:27b-30, Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 9:1-2 are quotes from the New Living Translation. The other texts are quoted from the New International Version.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
76. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (o): Pursuing Christlike holiness (1)
Today we want to look into a third characteristic of a church that loves our triune God wholeheartedly:
c.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ wholeheartedly as a church means to pursue Christlike holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
c-1.) First we want to look at God’s view on Christ’s church:
• The church as the salt of the earth
In Matthew 5:13 Jesus says to his followers: "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
In Jesus’ days salt was used to preserve and season food. So, in Jesus’ eyes the church [i.e., the community of Jesus’ disciples] is the agent which should uphold God’s standards in our godless society.
• The church as the light of the world
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus continues to affirm to his disciples: “You are the light of the world-- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” and He charges them: “Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
(Matthew 5:15-16)
Here Jesus commands His church to set forth Christlike love and compassion in any uncaring, merciless and inhumane situation.
The apostle Paul certainly refers to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 when he encourages the church in Ephesus: “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).” (Ephesians 5:8a-9)
Also, the apostle Peter refers to the church as a beacon of God’s light and love in the midst of an often cruel and corrupt society: “...you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
• The church as a community on pilgrimage in this world
The apostle Peter describes the church as a ‘community on pilgrimage’ to God’s promised future. Therefore, it should live by God’s standards and distance itself from the wickedness of its sinful surroundings: “Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.” (1 Peter 2:11)
Earlier in chapter 1 Peter speaks already about the church as a community on pilgrimage: “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.” (1 Peter 1:17)
The apostle Paul reminds the church in Philippi of the reason for their earthly pilgrimage: “... that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior...” (Philippians 3:18b-20)
• The church as a pure, blameless and holy community
As the church is a sojourning community, on the way to God’s promised future (Christ’s return and God’s new creation), the apostles encourage the local churches to prepare themselves for these future happenings. The message of the apostles is surely based on Jesus’ prayer on the evening before He died.
That evening He prayed that His heavenly Father would transform His present and future disciples into pure and holy people, shaped by the truth of God’s Word: “Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth.” (John 17:17)
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the divine vision on which all his church planting is based: “I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Speaking about Jesus’ intentions to purify the universal and local church from the filth of selfishness and sinfulness, Paul writes to the Ephesian church: “..... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word [the Bible], and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi: “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [i.e., when He returns].” (Philippians 1:9-10)
Furthermore, Paul emboldens the church in Philippi to develop a Christlike lifestyle: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...” (Philippians 2:14-16a)
The apostle Peter urges the churches to do the same: “Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)
In his second letter the apostle Peter continues to encourage the churches to train themselves in living Christlike lives: “In keeping with his [God’s] promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:13-14)
Also, the apostle John writes to the churches about the importance of maintaining Christlike purity in preparation for Christ’s return: “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children.
Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:1-3)
• The church as a Spirit-guided community
The worldwide and the local church need the transforming work of God’s Spirit to be conscious of their identity as ‘the salt of the earth’, as ‘the light of the world’, and as 'a community on pilgrimage’, anticipating God’s messianic future. Without the work of God’s Spirit, the church would not grow in Christlike purity and holiness.
The apostle Paul speaks to the church in Roman about their need to be governed by God’s Spirit: “...but you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (Romans 8:9)
In his second letter to the church in Corinth Paul writes about the transforming work of God’s Spirit in the Christian community: “...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him [Jesus Christ] and reflect his glory even more.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
To the Christians in Galatia (part of modern Turkey) Paul explains: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Paul encourages the churches in Galatia to commit themselves to the guidance of God’s Spirit: “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.”(Galatians 5:25) That is actually a picture of Jesus’ character!
Paul continues to pray for the church in Ephesus that God’s Spirit may work strongly in them so that they may know and love God even more: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17)
In his first letter, the apostle Peter explains that it is God’s Spirit who makes the local church holy (i.e. Christlike in love and purity): “God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.” (1 Peter 1:2)
Summarising all these quotations, we see that God’s view on Christ’s church is accomplished by His Spirit, who wants to transform every true local church into a Christlike, pure, blameless and holy community. As such the local church grows into being ‘the salt of the earth’, as ‘the light of the world’ and as 'a community on pilgrimage’, anticipating God’s messianic future.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews urges us individually and as a church, to pursue Christlike holiness. That's the way to express our wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ: "Pursue ..... holiness, without which no one will see the Lord..." (Hebrews 12:14)
That raises the question: have local churches in New Testament times lived lives according to God’s view on Christ’s church?
That will be the theme of next week’s meditation.
Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 5:8a-9, Ephesians 5:25-27, Philippians 1:9-10, Philippians 2:14-16a and 2 Peter 3:13-14 are quotes from the New International Version. Hebrews 12:14 is a quote from the New King James. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
c.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ wholeheartedly as a church means to pursue Christlike holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
c-1.) First we want to look at God’s view on Christ’s church:
• The church as the salt of the earth
In Matthew 5:13 Jesus says to his followers: "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
In Jesus’ days salt was used to preserve and season food. So, in Jesus’ eyes the church [i.e., the community of Jesus’ disciples] is the agent which should uphold God’s standards in our godless society.
• The church as the light of the world
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus continues to affirm to his disciples: “You are the light of the world-- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” and He charges them: “Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
(Matthew 5:15-16)
Here Jesus commands His church to set forth Christlike love and compassion in any uncaring, merciless and inhumane situation.
The apostle Paul certainly refers to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 when he encourages the church in Ephesus: “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).” (Ephesians 5:8a-9)
Also, the apostle Peter refers to the church as a beacon of God’s light and love in the midst of an often cruel and corrupt society: “...you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
• The church as a community on pilgrimage in this world
The apostle Peter describes the church as a ‘community on pilgrimage’ to God’s promised future. Therefore, it should live by God’s standards and distance itself from the wickedness of its sinful surroundings: “Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.” (1 Peter 2:11)
Earlier in chapter 1 Peter speaks already about the church as a community on pilgrimage: “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.” (1 Peter 1:17)
The apostle Paul reminds the church in Philippi of the reason for their earthly pilgrimage: “... that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior...” (Philippians 3:18b-20)
• The church as a pure, blameless and holy community
As the church is a sojourning community, on the way to God’s promised future (Christ’s return and God’s new creation), the apostles encourage the local churches to prepare themselves for these future happenings. The message of the apostles is surely based on Jesus’ prayer on the evening before He died.
That evening He prayed that His heavenly Father would transform His present and future disciples into pure and holy people, shaped by the truth of God’s Word: “Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth.” (John 17:17)
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the divine vision on which all his church planting is based: “I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Speaking about Jesus’ intentions to purify the universal and local church from the filth of selfishness and sinfulness, Paul writes to the Ephesian church: “..... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word [the Bible], and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi: “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [i.e., when He returns].” (Philippians 1:9-10)
Furthermore, Paul emboldens the church in Philippi to develop a Christlike lifestyle: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...” (Philippians 2:14-16a)
The apostle Peter urges the churches to do the same: “Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)
In his second letter the apostle Peter continues to encourage the churches to train themselves in living Christlike lives: “In keeping with his [God’s] promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:13-14)
Also, the apostle John writes to the churches about the importance of maintaining Christlike purity in preparation for Christ’s return: “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children.
Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:1-3)
• The church as a Spirit-guided community
The worldwide and the local church need the transforming work of God’s Spirit to be conscious of their identity as ‘the salt of the earth’, as ‘the light of the world’, and as 'a community on pilgrimage’, anticipating God’s messianic future. Without the work of God’s Spirit, the church would not grow in Christlike purity and holiness.
The apostle Paul speaks to the church in Roman about their need to be governed by God’s Spirit: “...but you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (Romans 8:9)
In his second letter to the church in Corinth Paul writes about the transforming work of God’s Spirit in the Christian community: “...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him [Jesus Christ] and reflect his glory even more.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
To the Christians in Galatia (part of modern Turkey) Paul explains: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Paul encourages the churches in Galatia to commit themselves to the guidance of God’s Spirit: “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.”(Galatians 5:25) That is actually a picture of Jesus’ character!
Paul continues to pray for the church in Ephesus that God’s Spirit may work strongly in them so that they may know and love God even more: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17)
In his first letter, the apostle Peter explains that it is God’s Spirit who makes the local church holy (i.e. Christlike in love and purity): “God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.” (1 Peter 1:2)
Summarising all these quotations, we see that God’s view on Christ’s church is accomplished by His Spirit, who wants to transform every true local church into a Christlike, pure, blameless and holy community. As such the local church grows into being ‘the salt of the earth’, as ‘the light of the world’ and as 'a community on pilgrimage’, anticipating God’s messianic future.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews urges us individually and as a church, to pursue Christlike holiness. That's the way to express our wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ: "Pursue ..... holiness, without which no one will see the Lord..." (Hebrews 12:14)
That raises the question: have local churches in New Testament times lived lives according to God’s view on Christ’s church?
That will be the theme of next week’s meditation.
Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 5:8a-9, Ephesians 5:25-27, Philippians 1:9-10, Philippians 2:14-16a and 2 Peter 3:13-14 are quotes from the New International Version. Hebrews 12:14 is a quote from the New King James. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, February 24, 2012
75. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (n) : Persistent devotion to the study of God’s Word
In Meditations 74 we saw that for a church to love our triune God wholeheartedly, means to obey His Word [the Bible] unconditionally.
The Gospel-writer Luke tells in his book of Acts about the first followers of Jesus. He writes about them that “they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching...” (Acts 2:42). As we saw already in Meditation 66, the Greek word that Luke uses here for devotion indicates a single-minded, firm determination of the will.
Luke shows us that Jesus’ first followers gave a constant and unabated attention to the study of God’s Word. The apostles explained the Old Testament to them in the light of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
This persistent devotion to the apostles’ teaching allowed God's Spirit to work powerfully in their midst. This Spirit-driven zeal to study God’s Word was a response to Jesus’ declaration: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Furthermore, Luke writes three times about their commitment to be together when sharing God's Word:
-- “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.”(Acts 2:46)
-- “All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.” (Acts 5:12)
-- “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)
Indeed, it was the Spirit of God who caused God’s people to fall in love with God and His Word.
Luke regards the Jews in Berea (Greece) highly for their adherence to biblical truth: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures [Old Testament] every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
The apostle Paul praises the church in Corinth for their love for God’s Word: “I praise you for ... holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:2)
Four chapters later, Paul cautions this church to continue building their community on the foundation of God’s Word: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
The apostle Paul reminds the church in Ephesus of the fact that any community of Jesus’ followers is based on the Holy Scriptures: “We are his [God’s] house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” (Ephesians 2:20)
Paul urges the Christian community in Philippi to keep close to God’s Word and to live according to it in the midst of an immoral society: “You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the Word of life...” (Philippians 2:15b-16a)
Like all the other churches, Paul warns the church in Colosse to remain dedicated to God’s Word: “You must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” (Colossians 1:23)
Paul encourages the Christian community in Thessalonica to intensify their dedication to God’s Word: “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica he warns them for all kinds of deceptions and urges them, saying: “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
The apostle Peter encourages the followers of Jesus in what is now Turkey to remain committed to God’s Word: “You must crave pure spiritual milk [the Bible] so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk...” (1 Peter 2:2)
We could endlessly continue to quote Bible verses from the Old and New Testament that testify to the need of any local church wherever to stay close to God’s Word. It is one of the deepest expressions of a church’s love for our triune God when it is devoted to studying and obeying His holy Word.
The apostle Paul writes to his co-worker Timothy about the effect God’s Word can have in individual lives as well as in the life of an entire church community: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The author of the “Epistle to the Hebrews” shows how God’s Spirit intends to use God’s Word for the transformation of our lives and our communities into the likeness of Jesus Christ: “The Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.”
(Hebrews 4:12-13)
In the light of all we have seen in Meditation 74 and 75, we are more than astounded when we hear that so many individual Christians and entire churches worldwide hardly know God’s Word [the Bible].
Since the last Meditations have specially focussed on the church, we are left with some heart-searching questions:
-- How can a church say that it loves God without being devoted to studying and obeying His Word?
-- How can a church know what pleases God if it doesn’t know His Word?
-- How can a church serve God if it doesn’t know His Will, revealed in His Word?
-- How can God’s Spirit transform a church in the likeness of Christ if it doesn’t know and obey God’s Word?
-- How can a church be “the light of the world” in our modern society if it doesn’t live according to God’s Word?
Ephesians 2:20, Philippians 2:15b-16a, 2 Thessalonians 2:15,
1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 4:12-13 are quotes from the New Living Translation. All other texts are quoted from the New International Version.
The Gospel-writer Luke tells in his book of Acts about the first followers of Jesus. He writes about them that “they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching...” (Acts 2:42). As we saw already in Meditation 66, the Greek word that Luke uses here for devotion indicates a single-minded, firm determination of the will.
Luke shows us that Jesus’ first followers gave a constant and unabated attention to the study of God’s Word. The apostles explained the Old Testament to them in the light of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
This persistent devotion to the apostles’ teaching allowed God's Spirit to work powerfully in their midst. This Spirit-driven zeal to study God’s Word was a response to Jesus’ declaration: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Furthermore, Luke writes three times about their commitment to be together when sharing God's Word:
-- “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.”(Acts 2:46)
-- “All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.” (Acts 5:12)
-- “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)
Indeed, it was the Spirit of God who caused God’s people to fall in love with God and His Word.
Luke regards the Jews in Berea (Greece) highly for their adherence to biblical truth: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures [Old Testament] every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
The apostle Paul praises the church in Corinth for their love for God’s Word: “I praise you for ... holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:2)
Four chapters later, Paul cautions this church to continue building their community on the foundation of God’s Word: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
The apostle Paul reminds the church in Ephesus of the fact that any community of Jesus’ followers is based on the Holy Scriptures: “We are his [God’s] house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” (Ephesians 2:20)
Paul urges the Christian community in Philippi to keep close to God’s Word and to live according to it in the midst of an immoral society: “You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the Word of life...” (Philippians 2:15b-16a)
Like all the other churches, Paul warns the church in Colosse to remain dedicated to God’s Word: “You must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” (Colossians 1:23)
Paul encourages the Christian community in Thessalonica to intensify their dedication to God’s Word: “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica he warns them for all kinds of deceptions and urges them, saying: “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
The apostle Peter encourages the followers of Jesus in what is now Turkey to remain committed to God’s Word: “You must crave pure spiritual milk [the Bible] so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk...” (1 Peter 2:2)
We could endlessly continue to quote Bible verses from the Old and New Testament that testify to the need of any local church wherever to stay close to God’s Word. It is one of the deepest expressions of a church’s love for our triune God when it is devoted to studying and obeying His holy Word.
The apostle Paul writes to his co-worker Timothy about the effect God’s Word can have in individual lives as well as in the life of an entire church community: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The author of the “Epistle to the Hebrews” shows how God’s Spirit intends to use God’s Word for the transformation of our lives and our communities into the likeness of Jesus Christ: “The Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.”
(Hebrews 4:12-13)
In the light of all we have seen in Meditation 74 and 75, we are more than astounded when we hear that so many individual Christians and entire churches worldwide hardly know God’s Word [the Bible].
Since the last Meditations have specially focussed on the church, we are left with some heart-searching questions:
-- How can a church say that it loves God without being devoted to studying and obeying His Word?
-- How can a church know what pleases God if it doesn’t know His Word?
-- How can a church serve God if it doesn’t know His Will, revealed in His Word?
-- How can God’s Spirit transform a church in the likeness of Christ if it doesn’t know and obey God’s Word?
-- How can a church be “the light of the world” in our modern society if it doesn’t live according to God’s Word?
Ephesians 2:20, Philippians 2:15b-16a, 2 Thessalonians 2:15,
1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 4:12-13 are quotes from the New Living Translation. All other texts are quoted from the New International Version.
Friday, January 27, 2012
74. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (m) : Loving God means obeying His Word
In Meditation 63 we started to reflect on the question: What characterises that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first and greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
(Matthew 22:37)
We mentioned as a first characteristic:
a.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to them in prayer.
(See Meditations 66-73)
Today we want to look into a second characteristic:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to obey them unconditionally. (See Meditations 66-73)
In Jesus’ last discourse to his disciples on the evening before his suffering, He shows his friends the indestructible link among our love for God, the imperative of obeying God’s Word, and the work of God’s Spirit in us.
Jesus starts this passage by saying: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
He finishes it with the words: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21a).
Then follows a promise: “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
(John 14:21b).
That promise is repeated in verse 23: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Without doubt these words of Jesus show us another characteristic of a mature church: Its wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which manifests itself in unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible].
Jesus repeatedly promises that the triune God will reveal Himself to those Christians and those churches who love Him and obey Him. Yet, how could we love God wholeheartedly and obey His Word unconditionally if selfish pride and disobedience rules our hearts by nature? (see Meditation 19).
The answer to that question is found in the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. (see Meditations 27-34).
Sandwiched between Jesus’ two calls to love Him and obey his Word, he speaks about the empowering work of God’s Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you [from Pentecost onwards].” (John 14:16-17)
The apostle Paul rejoices about the fact that it is God’s Spirit who fills our hearts with God’s love: “...We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5)
And as we just read, the Lord Jesus shows that it is God’s Spirit who will be with us. He will give us the understanding of God’s Word and the strength to obey it: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth.” ( John 14:17a)
When we talk about the indestructible link between loving God and obeying God’s Word, I think that we touch on one of the greatest problems in the lives of many Christians as well as in the conduct of many local churches today.
We might know God’s Word, we might even preach it but still not put it into practice. Jesus says that this is the surest way to deceive ourselves and others:
“Not everyone who says to me,`Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,`Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly,`I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Matthew 7:21-27)
Earlier in this Meditation we read that the Lord Jesus has promised that God – Father, Son and Spirit – will reveal himself to all those who love Him and obey His Word (John 14:21b and 23).
Therefore, it is most important that we pause for a moment and see how God’s Word secures the link between loving God and obeying His commands. I can only choose a small selection out of a nearly unlimited range of Biblical texts:
In the 14th century B.C., Israel’s leader Joshua urges on the tribal leaders of Ruben, Gad and Manasseh by saying: “Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)
About 900 years later the statesman Daniel pleads with God and acknowledges the strong link between loving Him and obeying His Word: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands.” (Daniel 9:4)
Nehemiah, the cupbearer of the Persian king, lived shortly after Daniel. He starts his rueful prayer with the same acknowledgment: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands...” (Nehemiah 1:5).
After one of his discourses, Jesus announces: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21)
Later on Jesus proclaims: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
In this Meditation we have already mentioned Jesus’ words: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). And again in verse 23 Jesus warns: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”
That same evening before his death, Jesus explained to his disciples: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10). Christlike love reveals itself in obeying the commands of Jesus and his heavenly Father!
Years later the apostle John reminds us of Jesus’ teaching: “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult.” (1 John 5:3).
In the context of Jesus’ teaching, John is right: If we have not capitulated to the authority of God’s Spirit and God’s Word in our lives and in our churches, then obeying His Word is impossible!
Yet, if God’s Spirit and His Word truly rule our lives and our churches, then obeying God’s Word is really not difficult!
These days many Christians and churches search after the experience of God’s presence and power. Yet, unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible] is a problematic theme in many lives and churches with all the calamitous consequences that that brings about.
How about you and your church?
(to be continued)
Romans 5:5, Daniel 9:4, Nehemiah 1:5, Luke 8:21, 1 John 5:3 are quoted from the New Living Translation. All other quotes are from the New International Version.
(Matthew 22:37)
We mentioned as a first characteristic:
a.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to them in prayer.
(See Meditations 66-73)
Today we want to look into a second characteristic:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to obey them unconditionally. (See Meditations 66-73)
In Jesus’ last discourse to his disciples on the evening before his suffering, He shows his friends the indestructible link among our love for God, the imperative of obeying God’s Word, and the work of God’s Spirit in us.
Jesus starts this passage by saying: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
He finishes it with the words: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21a).
Then follows a promise: “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
(John 14:21b).
That promise is repeated in verse 23: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Without doubt these words of Jesus show us another characteristic of a mature church: Its wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which manifests itself in unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible].
Jesus repeatedly promises that the triune God will reveal Himself to those Christians and those churches who love Him and obey Him. Yet, how could we love God wholeheartedly and obey His Word unconditionally if selfish pride and disobedience rules our hearts by nature? (see Meditation 19).
The answer to that question is found in the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. (see Meditations 27-34).
Sandwiched between Jesus’ two calls to love Him and obey his Word, he speaks about the empowering work of God’s Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you [from Pentecost onwards].” (John 14:16-17)
The apostle Paul rejoices about the fact that it is God’s Spirit who fills our hearts with God’s love: “...We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5)
And as we just read, the Lord Jesus shows that it is God’s Spirit who will be with us. He will give us the understanding of God’s Word and the strength to obey it: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth.” ( John 14:17a)
When we talk about the indestructible link between loving God and obeying God’s Word, I think that we touch on one of the greatest problems in the lives of many Christians as well as in the conduct of many local churches today.
We might know God’s Word, we might even preach it but still not put it into practice. Jesus says that this is the surest way to deceive ourselves and others:
“Not everyone who says to me,`Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,`Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly,`I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Matthew 7:21-27)
Earlier in this Meditation we read that the Lord Jesus has promised that God – Father, Son and Spirit – will reveal himself to all those who love Him and obey His Word (John 14:21b and 23).
Therefore, it is most important that we pause for a moment and see how God’s Word secures the link between loving God and obeying His commands. I can only choose a small selection out of a nearly unlimited range of Biblical texts:
In the 14th century B.C., Israel’s leader Joshua urges on the tribal leaders of Ruben, Gad and Manasseh by saying: “Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)
About 900 years later the statesman Daniel pleads with God and acknowledges the strong link between loving Him and obeying His Word: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands.” (Daniel 9:4)
Nehemiah, the cupbearer of the Persian king, lived shortly after Daniel. He starts his rueful prayer with the same acknowledgment: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands...” (Nehemiah 1:5).
After one of his discourses, Jesus announces: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21)
Later on Jesus proclaims: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
In this Meditation we have already mentioned Jesus’ words: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). And again in verse 23 Jesus warns: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”
That same evening before his death, Jesus explained to his disciples: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10). Christlike love reveals itself in obeying the commands of Jesus and his heavenly Father!
Years later the apostle John reminds us of Jesus’ teaching: “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult.” (1 John 5:3).
In the context of Jesus’ teaching, John is right: If we have not capitulated to the authority of God’s Spirit and God’s Word in our lives and in our churches, then obeying His Word is impossible!
Yet, if God’s Spirit and His Word truly rule our lives and our churches, then obeying God’s Word is really not difficult!
These days many Christians and churches search after the experience of God’s presence and power. Yet, unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible] is a problematic theme in many lives and churches with all the calamitous consequences that that brings about.
How about you and your church?
(to be continued)
Romans 5:5, Daniel 9:4, Nehemiah 1:5, Luke 8:21, 1 John 5:3 are quoted from the New Living Translation. All other quotes are from the New International Version.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
