In meditations 30, 34 and 45, we saw that God’s Spirit directs the transformation process into Christ-likeness in all God’s reborn children during their walk on earth.
Yet, there are many reasons why God’s Spirit might be hindered in continuing this Christlike transformation in people’s lives. It is even possible that this transformation to Christ-likeness never even starts in some people who have been born again. It is also possible that it stops prematurely.
When Christlike transformation never really starts...
It is possible that I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord and know that I am God’s child, yet at the same time have no knowledge about being born again by God’s Spirit.
This might be caused by the kind of teaching that I have received. It is possible that the church’s teaching focuses on 'God’s grace' and 'salvation by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice' without ever underlining the work of God’s Spirit in leading a person to rebirth.
Surely, in this case, I am a genuine child of God since saving faith itself is a work of God’s Spirit (see the ‘salvation pictures’ in meditations 38 to 43). However, through a lack of biblical knowledge regarding the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives, the process of Christlike transformation might never really start...
The apostle Paul shows the link between saving faith and the reception of God’s Spirit when he writes to the Ephesian Christians: “You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...”
(Ephesians 1:13)
Jesus himself teaches that a real conviction of sin is the work of God’s Spirit in someone’s heart: “When he [God’s Spirit, the Comforter] comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgement.” (John 16:7)
The apostle Paul is clear about the fact that being God’s child means having God’s Spirit. He writes to the Christians in Rome:
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
Actually, the early church might not have known this problem. As we read the New Testament, it is clear that the followers of Jesus had all received God’s Spirit and knew about His work in their lives. In the same way, God wants us to know about the person of the Holy Spirit and his work in us. The Bible teaches clearly that the Holy Spirit wants to start this Christlike transformation in our hearts right from the day of our salvation!
When the seed of Christlike transformation never really germinates...
We just mentioned that this transformation process is hardly possible if I am not taught about the presence of God’s Spirit in my life from the start of my faith in Christ.
However, it is also possible that I have experienced rebirth by God’s Spirit without ever being taught about the prospect of Christlike transformation.
I might have been taught about the work of God’s Holy Spirit and his gifts to the church. I might have an immense knowledge about all kinds of biblical facts and figures. I might even be a pastor or a Bible teacher. And yet, I might also lack a clear vision about God’s desire to change my life by his Spirit into the likeness of his Son.
In that case a true and genuine transformation into Christ-likeness might hardly germinate. As we mentioned before, the early church in the book of Acts and the letters of the apostles was thoroughly aware about God’s intention to change them into the likeness of Christ. They might not have had this kind of problem.
When Christlike transformation only develops partially...
If I know about 'life through God’s Spirit', but focus on 'spiritual gifts' and 'spiritual experience', I might be in danger of only partially growing into the likeness of Christ.
‘Spiritual pretension’ about what I am and what I possess 'through God’s Spirit' might hinder a genuine transformation into Christ-likeness. I think that this was one of the problems of the church in Corinth.
Speaking about 'the wisdom of God’s Spirit', the apostle Paul says to the christians in Corinth:
“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.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3a)
Growing into Christ-likeness initially has to do with character building rather than spiritual gifting and experience.
When Christlike transformation is obstructed by disobedience...
I might have started a life with Christ and have enjoyed the Spirit’s work in my heart. I might even have experienced the process of transformation we have spoken about so often – until the moment I opened my heart to sin and gave in to temptation.
The apostle Paul warns the christians in Corinth of such a danger when he writes:
"All these events (of Israel’s history) 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 10:11-13)
The sorrow I have brought to God’s Spirit by my disobedience will be taken away when I acknowledge my waywardness and commit myself again to being led by God’s Spirit.
The apostle John comforts us by saying: “If we confess our sins to him [God], he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” (1 John 1:9)
When Christlike transformation is frustrated...
I might have known the Spirit’s transforming work in my life but then might return to a lifestyle of self-righteousness in trying to obey God’s laws in my own strength. In that case I will frustrate the transforming work of God’s Spirit.
Paul alerts the Galatian christians of such a heresy:
“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 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?” (Galatians 3:1-3)
In this case I could stifle the work of God’s Spirit in my heart and return to a life of self-reliance and self-righteousness. I would need to learn anew what Christlike transformation is all about and how only God’s Spirit is able to accomplish this.
When Christlike transformation comes to a halt...
If I have known God’s work in my life, but then return to a worldly lifestyle, give up the faith and/or follow false teachings, then I bring the work of God’s Spirit in my heart to a halt. The Bible warns us earnestly about such a ruinous attitude.
Paul writes to his co-worker Timothy: “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica...”
(2 Timothy 4:10)
The apostle John warns us for such conduct when he writes: “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.
For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.
And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
The apostle Paul instructs Timothy: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
We bring joy to God - Father, Son and Spirit – when we entrust ourselves to being led by the Holy Spirit.
As I am God’s reborn child, He wants me to understand that my body is a vehicle [temple] of His Spirit in this world.
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Corinth of the importance of their bodies in the transforming work of God’s Spirit: “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 6:19-20)
Paul urges the christians in Ephesus: “Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
Paul cautions God’s reborn children in Thessalonica not to obstruct the leading of His Spirit in their hearts by taking the reins of life in their own hands again: “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Finally, to the christians in Rome Paul writes: “Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind he will accept.
When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new [Christlike] person by changing the way you think.
Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
(Romans 12:1-2)
Christlike transformation might be prevented or stifled in people’s private lives. However, it also might be hindered or halted in the life of entire churches or other Christian communities. That will be the theme of our next meditation.
The Bible verses Ephesians 1:13, Romans 8:9, Galatians 3:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:10 and 1 Timothy 4:1-2 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
48. GOD’S MAJOR PROJECT : TRANSFORMING ME AND MY CHURCH INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST ( d )
Here in the West we live in a culture that we could characterise by individualism, hedonism and materialism. Ours is a culture that focuses among other things on experience, well-being and health. It’s a culture of self-improvement with a post-Christian outlook on life. It is a culture that rejects divine authority and is critical to human authority.
Traits of these cultural phenomena have not passed by the doors of our churches and individualism reigns supreme in many of our Christian circles. We see the effect in the way people easily change churches for the latest teaching or experience. We see it in the lack of commitment to church life, especially ‘when the going gets tough’. We see it in the consumer mentality when people expect an ‘inner circle’ in church to do all the work. We see it when Christians abandon churches and spiritual leadership for independence and private piety, etc.
How far-removed this spirit of western culture is from the way God expects his people to live!
God’s church is not like a shopping centre where you take what you like. Nor are God’s people like spectators at a rock concert who only happen to find themselves at the same place because of their common interest.
The apostle Peter writes about commitment when he reminds the followers of Jesus: “God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.” (1 Peter 2:5)
How different are bricks carefully cemented together in a building from bricks laying uselessly around the place!
The apostle Paul writes about the same theme to God’s reborn children in Corinth: “God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Also to the messianic community in Ephesus (modern Turkey) Paul writes about the fellowship of believers in Jesus as God’s temple:
“We are his [God’s] house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Through him [Jesus] you ... are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22)
To the Christians in Rome, Paul shows that God sees his church as a living organism, not as a loose organisation:
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's Body.
We are all parts of his one Body, and each of us has different work to do.
And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)
If you ever made the gruesome discovery of finding a human body part, you would probably immediately ask whose body the part belongs to? Separate body parts simply do not walk around! And this is the same with Christ’s local Body: all reborn children of God belong together in one living and loving organism.
In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul explains that there is no place for rigid individualism in the Body of Christ:
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the Body of Christ.
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles [non-Jews], some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's Body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
Suppose the whole body were an eye-- then how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.
What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!
Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.
And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.
So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care.
So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Now all of you together are Christ's Body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-25)
Not only does God want Jesus’ followers to devotedly live together and love each other. In meditation 47 we saw that God’s Spirit also wants every local church to grow into the likeness of Christ.
In that way God the Father answers the prayer of his Son:
“... that they may be one (in the same way) as we are one: I in them and you in me.” (John 17:22b-23a)
And in that way God the Spirit wants to prepare every local expression of Christ’s universal Body for the wedding celebration of the Lamb at the end of the ages.
Meanwhile the apostle Paul urges the church in Philippi and our churches to live Christ’s way in the midst of our God-less 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 (i.e. the Bible)...” (Philippians 2:15-16a)
All this leaves us with some heart-searching questions concerning our local congregations:
-- Are the members of my church lovingly committed to each other?
-- Is my church conscious of the fact that it is a ‘vehicle’ [temple] of God’s Spirit in our self-centred and God-less society?
-- Does my church hunger for Christlike transformation?
-- In what way do I see God’s Spirit transforming my local congregation into the likeness of Christ?
-- In what ways does my church differ from modern society?
-- In what way does my church reflect modern society?
-- Is my church aware of the fact that God’s Spirit prepares it for the celebration of the wedding feast of the Lamb?
The Bible text John 17:22b-23a is a quote of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
The next meditation will be published on Friday 25 March 2011.
Traits of these cultural phenomena have not passed by the doors of our churches and individualism reigns supreme in many of our Christian circles. We see the effect in the way people easily change churches for the latest teaching or experience. We see it in the lack of commitment to church life, especially ‘when the going gets tough’. We see it in the consumer mentality when people expect an ‘inner circle’ in church to do all the work. We see it when Christians abandon churches and spiritual leadership for independence and private piety, etc.
How far-removed this spirit of western culture is from the way God expects his people to live!
God’s church is not like a shopping centre where you take what you like. Nor are God’s people like spectators at a rock concert who only happen to find themselves at the same place because of their common interest.
The apostle Peter writes about commitment when he reminds the followers of Jesus: “God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.” (1 Peter 2:5)
How different are bricks carefully cemented together in a building from bricks laying uselessly around the place!
The apostle Paul writes about the same theme to God’s reborn children in Corinth: “God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Also to the messianic community in Ephesus (modern Turkey) Paul writes about the fellowship of believers in Jesus as God’s temple:
“We are his [God’s] house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Through him [Jesus] you ... are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22)
To the Christians in Rome, Paul shows that God sees his church as a living organism, not as a loose organisation:
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's Body.
We are all parts of his one Body, and each of us has different work to do.
And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)
If you ever made the gruesome discovery of finding a human body part, you would probably immediately ask whose body the part belongs to? Separate body parts simply do not walk around! And this is the same with Christ’s local Body: all reborn children of God belong together in one living and loving organism.
In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul explains that there is no place for rigid individualism in the Body of Christ:
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the Body of Christ.
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles [non-Jews], some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's Body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
Suppose the whole body were an eye-- then how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.
What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!
Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.
And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.
So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care.
So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Now all of you together are Christ's Body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-25)
Not only does God want Jesus’ followers to devotedly live together and love each other. In meditation 47 we saw that God’s Spirit also wants every local church to grow into the likeness of Christ.
In that way God the Father answers the prayer of his Son:
“... that they may be one (in the same way) as we are one: I in them and you in me.” (John 17:22b-23a)
And in that way God the Spirit wants to prepare every local expression of Christ’s universal Body for the wedding celebration of the Lamb at the end of the ages.
Meanwhile the apostle Paul urges the church in Philippi and our churches to live Christ’s way in the midst of our God-less 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 (i.e. the Bible)...” (Philippians 2:15-16a)
All this leaves us with some heart-searching questions concerning our local congregations:
-- Are the members of my church lovingly committed to each other?
-- Is my church conscious of the fact that it is a ‘vehicle’ [temple] of God’s Spirit in our self-centred and God-less society?
-- Does my church hunger for Christlike transformation?
-- In what way do I see God’s Spirit transforming my local congregation into the likeness of Christ?
-- In what ways does my church differ from modern society?
-- In what way does my church reflect modern society?
-- Is my church aware of the fact that God’s Spirit prepares it for the celebration of the wedding feast of the Lamb?
The Bible text John 17:22b-23a is a quote of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
The next meditation will be published on Friday 25 March 2011.
Friday, March 11, 2011
47. GOD’S MAJOR PROJECT: TRANSFORMING ME AND MY CHURCH INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST ( c )
In meditation 46 we discovered that God aims at preparing Christ’s Body for ‘the wedding feast of the Lamb’ and for being with Jesus forever.
That raises the question: how will God prepare Christ’s universal Body for that divine wedding celebration at the end of the ages?
In the following texts we will see that God - Father, Son and Spirit - prepares Christ’s universal church for that glorious end-of-time wedding celebration of the Lamb. We will note that He does that on a minute scale: one local church at a time within its own geographical and cultural setting!
That is truly, breathtakingly divine!
God has an eye for universal perspectives as well as for the local situation of the smallest church at any time and in any geographical situation. Jesus even said: "Where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20)
The apostle Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (modern Turkey) that Jesus Messiah wants to transform their local Christian community into his likeness to prepare it for the future universal wedding celebration of the Lamb:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word (i.e. 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)
To the messianic community in Corinth (Greece) Paul discloses the reason for his commitment to their church. He wants to prepare them for that future wedding celebration of the Lamb:
“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)
The apostle Paul shows the churches in Galatia (modern Turkey) that his passion to see them transformed into Christ-likeness actually drives him, as he labours for their well-being:
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...” (Galatians 4:19)
Paul commits a crucial part of his letter to the Christians in Ephesus to the theme of local communal transformation into Christ-likeness.
In chapter 4 he mentions the task Jesus himself gives to the (Christlike) leaders of the churches whom he himself appoints:
“He [Jesus Christ] is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his [God's] work...” (Ephesians 4:11-12a)
In the following verses Paul explains what this work consists of: “... to build up the church, the Body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12b-13)
The apostle continues to explain this transformation process in Christ-likeness:
“Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Furthermore, Paul makes clear from what kind of traits a church breaks free when it grows in Christ-likeness:
“Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:14)
Earlier in the same letter, the apostle shows how God’s Spirit directs the process of Christlike transformation within the messianic community, i.e. the local Body of Christ:
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he [God the Father] will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
By now we understand that not only the universal Body of Christ, but also every local community of Jesus’ followers, is birthed by God’s Spirit.
It is also God’s Spirit who directs the ongoing transformation process into Christlikeness, so that Christ’s entire Body, spanning all ages, will be prepared for the glorious celebration of the wedding of the Lamb.
In meditations 45 to 47, we saw that God’s Spirit aims at changing our individual lives as well as our communal life into Christ-likeness.
As ‘maturing in Christ-likeness’ is the theme of our meditations, we need to focus in the future on both tracks: our individual lives as followers of Jesus and our communal life as the local Body of Christ.
So, join me as we start to follow both tracks.
The Bible verses Ephesians 5:25-27 and Galatians 4:19 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
That raises the question: how will God prepare Christ’s universal Body for that divine wedding celebration at the end of the ages?
In the following texts we will see that God - Father, Son and Spirit - prepares Christ’s universal church for that glorious end-of-time wedding celebration of the Lamb. We will note that He does that on a minute scale: one local church at a time within its own geographical and cultural setting!
That is truly, breathtakingly divine!
God has an eye for universal perspectives as well as for the local situation of the smallest church at any time and in any geographical situation. Jesus even said: "Where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20)
The apostle Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (modern Turkey) that Jesus Messiah wants to transform their local Christian community into his likeness to prepare it for the future universal wedding celebration of the Lamb:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word (i.e. 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)
To the messianic community in Corinth (Greece) Paul discloses the reason for his commitment to their church. He wants to prepare them for that future wedding celebration of the Lamb:
“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)
The apostle Paul shows the churches in Galatia (modern Turkey) that his passion to see them transformed into Christ-likeness actually drives him, as he labours for their well-being:
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...” (Galatians 4:19)
Paul commits a crucial part of his letter to the Christians in Ephesus to the theme of local communal transformation into Christ-likeness.
In chapter 4 he mentions the task Jesus himself gives to the (Christlike) leaders of the churches whom he himself appoints:
“He [Jesus Christ] is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his [God's] work...” (Ephesians 4:11-12a)
In the following verses Paul explains what this work consists of: “... to build up the church, the Body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12b-13)
The apostle continues to explain this transformation process in Christ-likeness:
“Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Furthermore, Paul makes clear from what kind of traits a church breaks free when it grows in Christ-likeness:
“Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:14)
Earlier in the same letter, the apostle shows how God’s Spirit directs the process of Christlike transformation within the messianic community, i.e. the local Body of Christ:
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he [God the Father] will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
By now we understand that not only the universal Body of Christ, but also every local community of Jesus’ followers, is birthed by God’s Spirit.
It is also God’s Spirit who directs the ongoing transformation process into Christlikeness, so that Christ’s entire Body, spanning all ages, will be prepared for the glorious celebration of the wedding of the Lamb.
In meditations 45 to 47, we saw that God’s Spirit aims at changing our individual lives as well as our communal life into Christ-likeness.
As ‘maturing in Christ-likeness’ is the theme of our meditations, we need to focus in the future on both tracks: our individual lives as followers of Jesus and our communal life as the local Body of Christ.
So, join me as we start to follow both tracks.
The Bible verses Ephesians 5:25-27 and Galatians 4:19 are quotes of the New International Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)