In
the current meditations we reflect on the question: is the full armour of God
of which Paul talks in Ephesians 6:10-17 only meant for individual Christians
or also for the local church as a whole? Does God’s armour only protect
Christ’s life in us personally against Satan’s assaults? Does it equally
protect Christ’s life within the local church which is the Body of Christ? So
far we have seen that Jesus wants to manifest His life in our churches through
our passionate love for God and for each other. We have realized that God’s
Spirit is well able to produce this Christlike love in our hearts and in our
congregations. However, the question remains: how do we protect Jesus’ life in
our churches against Satan’s attacks? The apostle Paul encourages the church in
Ephesus (Turkey) to “be (or: grow, become) strong in the Lord...” (Ephesians
6:10**). In the present meditations we ask ourselves: how does a church that
wants to grow strong ‘in the Lord’ practically look like?
If our churches want to grow
strong ‘in the Lord’ and want to learn how to imitate Christ, I think we need
first to talk about how our churches grow strong in a corporate Christlike love
for God and our fellowmen.
My Church and its Corporate Christlike Love for
our Triune God
In the Meditations 63 to 100 we
reflected in depth on the theme of my church and its corporate Christlike love
for our Triune God. Therefore, there is no need to repeat this subject here
again.
My Church and its Corporate
Christlike Love for our Fellowmen
In this meditation we need to see
what God’s Word says about my church and its corporate Christlike love for our
fellowmen. How does my church model itself on Jesus Christ? Please consider the
following points:
(a) Love is the most characteristic trait of our
Triune God: Father, Son and Spirit
If my church wants to learn how
to imitate our Triune God, it needs first of all to know something about God’s
main character trait, i.e. His love for us. Here are a few verses, chosen from
the many biblical texts that speak of God’s love for us.
--
God’s love is an abounding love. God reveals Himself to Moses (ca.
13th century BC) saying: “The
LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in
love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness,
rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the
children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth
generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7**)
--
God’s love is a saving love. In numerous texts in the Old
Testament we read about God’s great love for His people Israel. Moses reminds
them of God’s saving love, saying: “It was because the LORD loved you and
kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a
mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of
Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:8**). We find the most well-known
text about God’s saving love in the Gospel of John: “God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16**)
--
God’s covenant with His people is a covenant of love. Moses told God’s
people Israel: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the
faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those
who love Him and keep His commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9**)
--
God’s love is an everlasting love. The prophet Jeremiah (7th
century BC) exclaims: “Long ago the
LORD said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.’” (Jeremiah 31:3*)
--
God’s love is full of grace and mercy. The apostle Paul writes to
the church in Ephesus (Turkey): “God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so
very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life
when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that
you have been saved!).” (Ephesians 2:4-5*)
--
God’s love is a forgiving love. The apostle John writes in
his first letter: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10**)
--
Jesus’ love is a love without limits. The apostle Paul writes to
the church in Ephesus: “I pray that from God’s glorious, unlimited resources
He 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*)
-- Jesus’ love is a
self-sacrificing love. The apostle John writes about the
self-sacrificing love of God the Son: “This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (1 John 3:16**)
--
The Spirit’s love. Paul mentions the love of God the Spirit when
he asks the church in Rome to pray for him: “I urge you, brothers, by our
Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by
praying to God for me.” (NIB Romans 15:30)
(b) For imitating the love of our Triune God,
we need the gift His Spirit
If
God wants my church to imitate His love, we have a problem. By nature we all
rebel against God’s laws and commands. We go our own way and do what we want.
The prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul have understood deeply how God in His
holiness looks at us:
--
The prophet Isaiah (8th century BC) confesses: “All of us have
strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the
LORD laid on Him (Jesus) the guilt and sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6*)
-- Later on Isaiah cries out: “We
are all infected and impure with sin (i.e. disobedience to God). When we
proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like
autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.”
(Isaiah 64:6)
--
The apostle Paul recites the Old Testament when he describes our naturally rebellious
attitude to God: “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is good-- not even one. No
one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. All have turned away from
God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12*)
So the question is: how would we
ever be able to imitate our Triune God when we have by nature such rebellious
and selfish hearts? Two things are necessary to solve that problem which we
cannot solve by ourselves:
1.
We need reconciliation with God. The apostle Paul writes to the church
in Rome: “For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him
through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we
be saved (from God’s eternal judgment) through His life!” (Romans 5:10**)
2.
We need God’s love poured out in our hearts. Paul reminds the church in Rome of that revolutionary
event which they all experienced when they were reconciled with God. He says: “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*). Paul writes to the church in Corinth about this exciting occurrence,
saying: “God has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our
hearts as the first installment of everything He will give us.” (2
Corinthians 1:22*)
(c) The transforming power of God’s Spirit will
produce Christlike love in my church
First
of all we must not forget that the love of our Triune God has been completely manifested
in Jesus Christ! We wrote about that in Meditation 135. It means that our
church will grow more and more stronger in Christlike love if it grows stronger
in imitating Jesus Christ. Now we understand that this process only can be generated
by God’s Spirit who also has the character of Jesus! The apostle Paul teaches the
church in Galatia, saying: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will
produce this kind of fruit in us: love...” (Galatians 5:22*)
(d) What does Christlike love, produced
by God’s Spirit, practically look like in my church?
It
is a true miracle of God when His Spirit transforms our churches into
communities of Christlike love. Paul shows the most characteristic qualities of
divine love in his first letter to the church in Corinth. Actually, they are a
description of Jesus’ character as we meet it on every page of the four
Gospels!
--
“Love is patient...” (1 Corinthians 13:4*). The New King
James Version renders: “Love suffers long.” Such a loving church is
forbearing in stressful situations. It continuously expresses Christlike love
by bearing patiently all the shortcomings in their midst and all the
unrighteousness from the outside world.
--
“Love is kind...” (1 Corinthians 13:4*). If a Christian community is
characterized by kind and gentle behaviour to its members and to outsiders, a
sweet-tempered atmosphere rules the community. Such a community graciously embraces
those who suffer and tenderly upholds the weak.
--
“Love is not jealous...” (1 Corinthians 13:4*). In Christian
community that knows no jealousy, people rejoice in each other’s gifts and
successes. They enthusiastically encourage each other to develop existing
talents instead of being resentful and sceptical. They don’t covet each other’s
health, happiness, possessions, intelligence, reputation, functions in church,
etc. True Christlike love makes such a church a divine beacon light of
salvation for many a man.
--
“Love is not boastful...” (1 Corinthians 13:4*). In a church in
which Christlike love reigns, true humility, respect for each other and
Christ-centered praise outshines everything. Such a church does not brag about
its ‘spiritual successes’ and does not regard other churches with contempt.
--
“Love is not proud...” (1 Corinthians 13:4*). The pastor(s),
elders and ministry leaders in such a church serve others in Christlike
humility. They don’t act out of selfish ambition and are not known as ostentatious
people who want to dominate others. They are examples of Christlike service to
everyone in their community and beyond. If such a church is specially blessed in
a particular way, it wants to serve other churches respectfully in Christlike
humility.
--
“Love is not rude...” (1 Corinthians 13:5*). In a Christian
community in which divine love reigns, there is no place for disrespectful and
indecent language and behaviour towards others, whatever their high or low position
in church might be. The apostle Paul writes about that to the church in Colosse
(Turkey): “Let your conversation be gracious...” (Colossians 4:6*). To
the church in Ephesus (Turkey) he says: “Don't use foul or abusive language.
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement
to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29*)
--
“Love does not demand its own way...” (1 Corinthians 13:5*) or as the New
International Version translates: “Love is not self-seeking”. In true
Christlike love there is no place for selfishness. Such love moves the hearts of
church members to care for each other, to be committed to the welfare of each other
and of the whole church. It seeks to strengthen and enhance the Christlike
maturity of the church and its members. What a challenge to any church in our
individualistic Western society!
--
“Love is not irritable...” (1 Corinthians 13:5*). In a church in
which Christlike love reigns, there is no place for petty irritations. Its members
are not easily upset because of the displeasing behaviour of others or because of
the things in church they disagree with. They will patiently consider what is
the right way to respond. Where divine love reigns, church members also hold
their temper in check when they are treated unjustly. God’s Spirit gives them
the strength to imitate Christ’s way in every situation.
--
“Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged...” (1 Corinthians 13:5*). If Christlike
love permeates a congregation, its members learn to trust and forgive without
dwelling on past hurts, uncaring attitudes and disrespectful words done to each
other.
--
“Love is never glad about injustice...” (1 Corinthians 13:6*). It is clear
that there is no place for malicious pleasure at the misfortune of others in a
church in which Christlike love reigns. The apostle Paul urges the church in
Rome: “When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share
their sorrow.” (Romans 12:15*). When Christlike love holds sway in a church,
its members will oppose any kind of injustice.
--
“Love rejoices whenever the truth wins out...” (1 Corinthians 13:6*). A Christian
community that is committed to knowing and obeying God’s Word (i.e. the Truth)
rejoices when divine truth starts to transform their church and its members
under the guidance of God’s Spirit. The apostle John writes to Gaius, for us an
unknown follower of Christ: “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come
and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in
the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in
the truth.” (3 John 1:3-4**)
--
“Love bears all things...” (1 Corinthians 13:7***). Actually, the
original Greek verb stegô strictly means ‘to put a roof on’.
Therefore, we could translate this verse also as: “Love covers all things”. It
indicates that true Christlike love draws a veil over all kinds of disapproved behaviour.
The apostle Peter persuades the churches: “Above all things have fervent
love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (1 Peter
4:8***). Peter wants to show that if divine love envelops the church, people’s imperfections
and misbehaviour are not constantly blazoned out. How often are churches not
suffering because of malicious gossip among its members?
Another
possible rendering of the Greek text could be: “Love endures all things”
(Aramaic Bible in Plain English). When Christlike love bears or endures all
things, it means that it has the strength to suffer in silence and to refrain
from revenge. The apostle Peter points us to Jesus’ attitude under pressure: “Christ,
who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in His steps. ..... He did not
retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get
even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1
Peter 2:21-23*)
--
“Love never loses faith...” (1 Corinthians 13:7*). The New International
Version renders: “Love always trusts.” Paul probably wants to say that a church
in which Christians lovingly trust each other, there is no place for baseless distrust.
--
“Love is always hopeful...” (1 Corinthians 13:7*). Christlike love
never loses faith in God because it knows that He is well able to save the
greatest sinner and to turn around the most hopeless situation. The apostle
writes to the church in Rome: “We know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him...” (Romans 8:28**). What a positive attitude
this brings to any Christian community where Christlike love reigns!
--
“Love endures through every circumstance...” (1 Corinthians 13:7*). In a community
of Christlike love, members are patient – even willing to suffer – under the
pain and distress caused by others from inside or outside their church, because
they know that God is testing their love and will justify them in the end. The
apostle James writes: “God blesses the people who patiently endure testing.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those
who love him.” (James 1:12*). The author of the Book of Hebrews says: “Our
great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life
lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.” (Hebrews
6:11*)
This
description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful picture of the character
of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also clear that we never could reach such a
standard of love by our own efforts because of our rebellious heart and our
sinful life. It is only God’s Spirit who is able to pour such Christlike love
in our hearts and in our churches. I think of the words of the apostle Paul to
the Christian communities of Rome and Galatia: “God has poured out His love
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5**) and
“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*)
(e) “Love each other just as Jesus Christ
loved you”
On
the evening before Christ’s death, He said to His friends (and to us!): “Now
I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved
you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34*)
And
again: “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**)
And again: “My command is
this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John
15:12**)
Christ’s love for His heavenly
Father and for us was a public manifestation of God’s Old Testament commands
which Jesus summarized by saying: “Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as
yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40**)
My church’s Christlike love for
God and fellowmen, produced by His Spirit, should likewise be a public
manifestation of God’s commands. The apostle Paul writes to the church in
Ephesus: “Live (plural!) a life of love, just as Christ loved us and
gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2**)
The
question that remains is whether true Christlike love could ever permeate a church
completely as every church on earth consists of ‘saved sinners’? Is this not an highly unrealistic church concept that is impossible to achieve? Let’s talk about
that in our next meditation.
Translations: * New Living
Translation; ** New International Version; *** New King James Version
About “Jesus’ love for His heavenly Father”, see Meditation 15.
About “What is sin and how to overcome it?”, see Meditation 19-21 and
101-108.
About “Salvation and rebirth”, see Meditations 22-27, 44.
About
“Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His ministry?”, see Meditations 27-34.
About “The Church as a new (messianic) community, consisting of
all the followers of Jesus”, see Meditation 29.
About "God's major project: Transforming me and my church into the likeness of Christ", see Meditations 44-48, 56.
About
“Corporate, Christlike love for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ”, see Meditations
63-99.
About “The Church as a
‘Corporate Personality’”, see Meditation 63-65.
About “The two Tracks of Maturing in
Christlikeness”, see Meditation 100.
About “How to overcome the power
of sin in my church?”, see Meditations 131-135.
