(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.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
76. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (n) : 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.
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