87. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (y): Pursuing Christlike holiness (12)

Because of the details of these meditations, we can easily lose the overall picture. Therefore, I would like to remind ourselves of the current main theme “Corporate, Christlike love for the Father and His Son”.  Since Meditation 63, the question has been how God’s Spirit wants to empower my church for mature, Christlike worship of God. We have understood that the Holy Spirit wants to do that in such a way that my church fulfills ever more God’s 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).

 

From Meditation 76 onwards, we looked into a third characteristic of a church that loves our triune God wholeheartedly: “To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ wholeheartedly as a church means to pursue holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.”

Since Meditation 84 we have been looking at the unholy actions of the Corinthian church and what God might want to say to our churches today through the way He disciplined the New Testament congregations.

Today’s meditation deals with:

Licentiousness within the Corinthian church

In New Testament times, Corinth was a port city on the Aegean See at the west end of the isthmus between the mainland of Greece and the Peloponnese. It contained the temple of Aphrodite (the goddess of love) with its 1,000 temple prostitutes. Consequently, the city became known for its legendary immorality.

In Meditation 78 we mentioned that sexual immorality was an enormous problem in the Corinthian church. In both letters to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul mentions this point in question various times.

These new Christians had just been saved from a culture of free sexual relations. The apostle Paul had to teach them how God wanted them to live as ‘children of light’, in a way that pleases Him. In the same way, Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus: “Though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!” (Ephesians 5:8)

As Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians, his keynote on sexual immorality is: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Our bodies and our church community are residents of God’s Spirit. Therefore, we should learn to treat them as it pleases God.

In a different way the apostle writes about the same subject to the Christians in Rome: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13)

1. Incest and other related issues

The first case of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church which Paul mentions, has to do with someone who lived in sin with his father’s wife. This might have been a case of incest or related to the second wife of this man’s father. The apostle writes to the church: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief?...” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)

It seems that the church in Corinth was in favour of such an immoral practice. Was it not a sign of ‘true freedom’?

God addressed this subject extensively in Old Testament times and continues to speak about it in the New Testament.

Here are some Old Testament examples:

“While Israel (= Jacob) was living in that region, Reuben (his oldest son) went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” (Genesis 35:22)

Later Reuben is punished for this immoral act. Before his death, Jacob pronounced: “Reuben, you are my oldest son, the child of my vigorous youth. You are first on the list in rank and honor. But you are as unruly as the waves of the sea, and you will be first no longer. For you slept with one of my wives; you dishonored me in my own bed.” (Genesis 49:3-4)

At mount Sinai, as God made His covenant with Israel, He commanded His people: “Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife; that would dishonour your father” (Leviticus 18:8) and “If a man has intercourse with his father's wife, both the man and the woman must die, for they are guilty of a capital offense.” (Leviticus 20:11)

Absalom dishonoured his father, king David, gravely when he slept in public with his father’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:21-22). Later God punished him as he died at the hand of Joab, king David’s army commander (2 Samuel 18).

By mouth of the prophet Amos (8^th century B.C.) God warns Israel already for His coming judgment. Also here the sexual misconduct of dishonouring one’s father is mentioned: “... Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy Name.” (Amos 2:7)

In Ezekiel 22, God confronts Jerusalem with all its detestable practices. Among many other sins, God mentions: “In you (Jerusalem) are those who dishonour their fathers' bed...” (Ezekiel 22:10).

Because of her many sins, God declares to the city of Jerusalem by His prophet Ezekiel (ca. 590 B.C.): “You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughing-stock to all the countries. Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.” (Ezekiel 22:4-5).

In the Mosaic or Sinai Covenant, God forbade incest and sexual intercourse between near relations within the family:

“If a man has intercourse with his father's wife, both the man and the woman must die, for they are guilty of a capital offense. If a man has intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both must be put to death. They have acted contrary to nature and are guilty of a capital offense. ... If a man has intercourse with both a woman and her mother, such an act is terribly wicked. All three of them must be burned to death to wipe out such wickedness from among you. ... If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, it is a terrible disgrace. Both of them must be publicly cut off from the community. Since the man has had intercourse with his sister, he will suffer the consequences of his guilt. ... If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, whether his mother's sister or his father's sister, he has violated a close relative. Both parties are guilty of a capital offense. If a man has intercourse with his uncle's wife, he has violated his uncle. Both the man and woman involved are guilty of a capital offense and will die childless.” (Leviticus 20:11-20)

In Israel these were all capital offences. God ordered that those who sinned in this way should be expelled from God’s people and punished with death.

Why did God give His people such rigorous laws at mount Sinai? I can mention two main reasons:

1.) The apostle Paul says about God’s Mosaic Law: “The Law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ [the Messiah] came...” (Galatians 3:24)

In other words, the Law prepared us for Christ’s coming. The Law kept us on track towards Christ’s future. 

Paul explains to the Christians in Rome: “No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his Law commands. For the more we know God's Law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it” (Romans 3:20) or as the New International Version translates: “... through the Law we become conscious of sin.” It is also through the Law that we see the need for the sin offering of God’s Son at the cross of Calvary to make us right with God.

2.) As God used His Law as both guardian and teacher to lead His people until the Messiah would come, He also used it to separate His people from the lifestyle and customs of the nations around them.

We can read in Exodus 19:3-6: “Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain and said, 'Give these instructions to the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I brought you to myself and carried you on eagle's wings. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites.'”

Furthermore, God says in Leviticus 20:22-26: “You must carefully obey all my laws and regulations; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you will vomit you out. Do not live by the customs of the people whom I will expel before you. It is because they do these terrible things that I detest them so much. ... I, the LORD, am your God, who has set you apart from all other people. ... You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.”

Next time we will see how God wanted the New Testament churches to deal with cases of incest and other grave sins.

(to be continued)

Matthew 22:37, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Romans 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, Genesis 35:22, Genesis 35:22, Ezekiel 22:10, Ezekiel 22:4-5 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.

86. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (x): Pursuing Christlike holiness (11)

(continuation of Meditation 85)

The arrogance of some church members

The next issue in the Corinthian church with which the apostle Paul had to deal, was the arrogance of some church members. This problem might well have been related to the leadership controversy mentioned previously (see Meditations 78, 84, 85).

Paul addressed this matter in 1 Corinthians 4:18-20: “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.”

Some verses earlier Paul addresses the entire church and indicates that these arrogant church members were boastful about their favourite leader in the church: “Dear brothers and sisters, ... If you pay attention to the Scriptures, you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.

What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?
You think you already have everything you need! You are already rich! Without us you have become kings! I wish you really were on your thrones already, for then we would be reigning with you!” (1 Corinthians 4:6-8)

One wonders if arrogance among church members and specially among church leaders is one of the causes of devastating problems in churches. Humility and even spiritual authority can be used as a cloak for pride.

The problem of pride is addressed in God’s Word at length. We find its source in the story of the Fall. Satan seduced Adam and Eve with the words: "... when you eat of it (the forbidden fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...” (Genesis 3:5).

Rebellion against God’s dominion and arrogance are tied together and are powerfully displayed in the uprising of Babylon’s king with his resolve to overthrow God’s governance: “You said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:13-14)

In the 11^th century B.C., the prophet Samuel explained to the disobedient King Saul that self-worship lies at the heart of pride: “Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)

The book of Proverbs warns: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

Furthermore, the book of Proverbs states that “pride only breeds quarrels...” (Proverbs 13:10)

Jesus declares that “the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” (Luke 14:11)

The apostle Peter reminds us of Jesus’ words, saying: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5).

With this assertion, we return to one of the problems in the Corinthian church. They lacked Christlike humility towards each other and experienced in their church what Proverbs had already said: “Pride only breeds quarrels...” (Proverbs 13:10)

We read that some members of the Corinthian church did not obey God’s Word [the Bible] and bragged about their leaders instead of following Paul’s advice: “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done." (1 Corinthians 1:31)

As often said before, in every local church and in every reborn child of God, God’s Spirit wants to display the character of Jesus who said of Himself: “... I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Matthew 11:29) 

Pride is the antithesis of humility, and the entire Bible is clear about the way God deals with it. It is against the character of our triune God as shown by Jesus; pride does not reflect God’s image in man and therefore it must be punished.

God had already warned us through Isaiah (ca. 700 B.C.) : “I, the LORD, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and the haughtiness of the mighty.” (Isaiah 13:11)

God’s Spirit wants to empower every local church to display Christ’s humility and to pursue Christlike holiness. Therefore, there should be no place for pride and arrogance. That’s why the apostle Paul warned the Corinthian Christians: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)

Reflecting on the problem of pride in the first century Corinthian church, one wonders how our churches today are faring?

-- Are pride and arrogance hindering God’s Spirit from manifesting Christ’s humility and Christlike holiness in my church?

-- Does my church suffer from partiality and favouritism with regard to church leaders?  

-- In what way is God dealing with pride and arrogance in my church?

-- Do I have a problem with pride that hinders God’s Spirit from displaying Christ’s humility in me?

-- Do I cause problems in my church by favouring one leader/elder/teacher above others?

Genesis 3:5, 1 Samuel 15:23, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 13:10, 1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 13:10, Matthew 11:29, 1 Corinthians 4:21 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.

85. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (w): Pursuing Christlike holiness (10)

Introduction

Our entire blog wrestles with the question: how do I (personally) and my church congregation (corporately; see point 1 below) grow into Christlike maturity?

We know from the Bible that this is God’s plan. (see Meditations 45-48)

We have seen that both, personal and corporate Christlike maturity manifest themselves in two ways:
(a.) in wholehearted love for God and (b.) in wholehearted love for others. (see Meditation 56).

Since Meditation 63 we have explored the first aspect of the second theme and have asked ourselves: How does corporate Christlike maturity manifest itself in wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ?

So far we dealt with the following themes:

1. God sees my church as a ‘corporate personality’. (Meditation 63)

2. My church needs a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for Christlike love for God. (Meditation 64)

3. My church needs people, guided by God’s Spirit, who are bearers of that divine vision for corporate, Christlike love for God. (Meditation 65)

4. My church needs to grow in unconditional and persistent devotion in prayer. (Meditation 66)

5. My church needs to grow in fellowship with God in true worship. (Meditations 67-73)

6. My church needs to learn how to study and obey God’s Word. (Meditations 74-75)

7. My church needs to learn how to pursue Christlike holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory. (Meditations 76-84)


This time we want to see how God responded to the leadership controversy in the Corinthian church (see Meditation 84). We also will ask ourselves what He might say to us and to our churches through the way He dealt with it.

a.) God reminds us by the apostle Paul of the fact that the community of Jesus’ followers is God’s residence on earth:
-- “You are ... God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
-- “ Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
-- “God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

b.) The apostle Paul shows us that the beginning of a solid church project is based on God’s calling of people who are trained by Him for this specific ministry:
-- “We are God's fellow-workers ...” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
-- “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder.” (1 Corinthians 3:10)

c.) The person, the teaching and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are the basis of any healthy church:
-- “No-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

d.) God calls every follower of Jesus to contribute to the growth of his church in quality and quantity:
-- “...someone else is building on it (i.e., the foundation) . But each one should be careful how he builds.” (1 Corinthians 3:10)

e.) God calls us to build with ‘Christlike building materials’ so that the church may grow into Christlike maturity:
-- “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones...” (1 Corinthians 3:12)

In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus (modern Turkey), the apostle Paul explains how these ‘Christlike building materials’ look like in practice:
“... 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)

f.) God warns us not to use ‘unchristlike building material’ which would obstruct the church in growing into Christlike maturity:
-- “If any man builds on this foundation using ... wood, hay or straw...” (1 Corinthians 3:12)

Paul told us earlier in this letter what wood, hay and straw look like. First he mentions the brouhaha about church leadership (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and 3:4). Then he writes to the Corinthian church: “ ... you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ... You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:3)

g.) Paul declares by order of God that each of us will be called to account for the way we act in our church: “... his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.” (1 Corinthians 3:13)

h.) Obviously, if we build our churches with ‘Christlike building material’ (see point e.), our work will have eternal value. The apostle declares: “If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” (1 Corinthians 3:14)

i.) God warns us that in the Day of judgment, we will lose it all if we have built our church with ‘unchristlike materials’ (see point f.): “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)

Nothing of what we have built in our own strength, will survive this Day of reckoning. ‘Christlike building materials’ are produced by God’s Spirit in our hearts and in our churches. That’s why it remains eternally!

God’s only comfort is that, even if ‘all my unchristlike behaviour in church’ will burn up on Christ’s judgment day, my very soul will be saved, if I have accepted Christ as my Saviour during my life on earth. Elsewhere the apostle Paul declares: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

j.) The apostle closes this section with a very severe warning to anyone who ruins the church by destructive behaviour: “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)

It is clear from what we have just read in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, that his statements on church behaviour are not only meant for that specific church in the first century.

God has used the misbehaviour of this church in Corinth to address any local church throughout the centuries until Christ’s return! Therefore, my church and I need to ask ourselves the following questions:

-- Does my church congregation realise that the church is God's building, God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us?

-- Is our church a ‘sound project’ in God’s eyes? Is it governed by people who are called by God and trained by Him for this divine ministry? Are they in God’s opinion ‘expert builders’?

-- Is my church based on the person, the teaching and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

-- Am I and the other members of my church contributing to the inward and outward growth of our church by means of ‘Christlike building materials’, so that our church may grow into Christlike maturity?

-- Would I or other members of my church be in danger of using ‘unchristlike building materials’ which would obstruct our church in growing into Christlike maturity?

-- Would I or other members of my church need to heed God’s severe warning not to ruin our church by destructive behaviour?


1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 4:15-16 and Romans 8:1 are quotes from the New Living Translation. All other quotes are from the New International Version.

84. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (v): Pursuing holiness (9)

(continuation of Meditation 83)

Introduction

We saw earlier that in the New Testament God couples Christlike holiness in individual and church life with disciplining churches to safeguard that holiness. The letter to the Hebrews encourages individual Christians and churches, saying: “Make every effort ... to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Furthermore, Hebrews reminds us that “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” Hebrews 12:10

So, what might God want to say to our churches today through the way He disciplined New Testament congregations? Let us carefully reflect upon all the cases mentioned previously.


The Church in Corinth

Today we want to find out what God might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with the church in Corinth:

Controversy because of leadership preferences

As we noticed in Meditation 78, the lack of Christlike holiness first of all came to light through the controversy because of leadership preferences (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). This caused divisions in the church and a tragic loss of unity and peace, mutual love and care and a joint cause of action. Through it all it seems that the congregation had lost its God-given vision for the salvation of the lost. Instead, it was locked up into shameful infighting.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul describes the state of this church: “...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. ... you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ... You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

Proverbs 13:10 exposes pride as the root of quarrels: “Pride only breeds quarrels...”

Jesus points to the fact that the human heart is the seat pride: “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts ... envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you...” (Mark 7:20-23)

When the apostle Paul speaks in his letters about our sinful or evil nature, he means the same as said by Jesus in Mark 7:21 about the human heart. Paul says: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: ... hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group ... and other kinds of sin.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

Referring to our sinful or evil nature, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus: “You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an    evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)

Jesus declares that such sinful attitude of the human heart “... makes you unacceptable to God.” (Mark 7:23)

The apostle Paul restates this declaration of Jesus in Galatians 5:19: “Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Here are some other examples from the New Testament where the apostles warn the churches for ‘unchristlike’ and unholy behaviour:

-- Paul’s laments in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “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.” (2 Corinthians 12:20)

-- He warns the Galatian Christians, saying: “... if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.” (Galatians 5:15)

-- Again in Galatians 5:26 the apostle writes: “Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.”

-- The apostle James cautions Christian congregations: “If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don't brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.” (James 3:14-16)

How does a church escape this kind of power struggle?

By focusing on God’s Word. The apostle Paul shows the Christians in Corinth that focusing on God’s Word prevents us from quarrelling. He writes : “Dear brothers and sisters, ... If you pay attention to the Scriptures (i.e. the Bible), you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)

By seeking God’s Will. David asks God: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” (Psalm 143:10)

By the guidance of God’s Spirit. Paul explains to the Galatian Christians: “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)

I think this is an appropriate moment to reflect prayerfully on the disposition of my church:

-- Is my church affected by quarrels, divisions or power struggles regarding our church leadership?

-- Do envy, gossip, slander or pride prevent unity, peace, mutual love and care to blossom in my church?

-- If one or more of these attitudes are found in my church, Christlike holiness might not be a pursuit of my church.

-- Here is a personal question: do I hinder Christlike holiness to flourish in my church because of my involvement in any of the above-mentioned attitudes?

How good to know that God wants to encourage and comfort me and my church with the words from 1 John 1:7: “If we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.”

Next time we will see how God responded to the leadership controversy in the Corinthian church and what He might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with it.


Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:10 and Proverbs 13:10 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.

83. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (u): Pursuing Christlike holiness (8)

(continuation of Meditation 82)


We have seen earlier in the New Testament that God couples Christlike holiness in individual and church life by disciplining churches to safeguard that holiness. The Letter to the Hebrews encourages individual Christians and churches, saying: “Make every effort ... to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

Furthermore, Hebrews reminds us that “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10)

So, what might God want to say to our churches today through the way He disciplined New Testament congregations? Let us carefully reflect upon all the earlier mentioned cases.

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

In Meditation 78 we mentioned this couple, that by their hypocritical action endangered the purity of Christlike love and compassion in the early church in Jerusalem. The apostle Peter exposes their performance as a satanic assault on the church.

From the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3), Satan has been God’s adversary. He is always bent on destroying God’s work. Jesus says of him: “He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

The apostle Peter warns his fellow-Christians: “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
(1 Peter 5:8)

I think that through this dramatic story God gives us and our churches some serious warnings:

1. Satan and our sinful action

Although each church member bears the blame for his or her own hypocritical behaviour within the church, it is Satan “who fills the human heart” to act in an evil way. (Acts 5:3)

The apostle Paul explains that Satan is determined to use the sinful action of Christians and non-Christians for his own dark strategies! He uses sinning man as pawns in his evil schemes.

Therefore, Paul urges the Ephesian church: “Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground...” (Ephesians 6:11-14a)

We can find the same notion elsewhere in God’s Word. See 1 Kings 22:21-22, 1 Chronicles 21:1-3, Luke 22:3, John 13:2 and 27.

2. Sinning against each other is sinning against God

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostle Peter says to Ananias: “You lied to the Holy Spirit ... You weren't lying to us but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). To his wife Sapphira, Peter said later on: "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)

We might tend to forget that in sinning against each other, we first of all sin against God! He has given us the command to love each other. In breaking that command we actually sin against God.

In 2 Samuel we read how the prophet Nathan charged king David with his adulterous behaviour against Uriah’s wife: “Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?”
(2 Samuel 12:9)

Later on in David’s penitent prayer he acknowledges that in his adulterous behaviour he was first of all sinning against God: “Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:4)

3. God’s judgment is certain

In executing His righteous judgment on this couple, God saved the young church in Jerusalem from an early descent into compromise as far as sin is concerned. The untimely death of Ananias and Sapphira was a terrible punishment of God that shocked the church back onto the right track; that of pursuing Christlike holiness.

Although the Old and New Testament tell us of other similar divine punishments (e.g., Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Achan, the Corinthian and Thyatiran churches, etc.), I don’t know of any contemporary examples.

However, it does not mean that God overlooks our evil actions. The apostle Paul warns the Corinthian church and us by saying: “We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

None of us will ultimately escape from God’s righteous judgment of our public and hidden sins. Yet, in the face of God’s holiness, the apostle John comforts us when he writes: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ...
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins...” (1 John 1:9 and 2:1-2a)

The fatal story of Ananias and Sapphira is a severe warning to us and our present-day churches. It shows that God does not ignore our sins or the sins of our churches. We might take misconduct  within our churches lightly. We might brush aside the idea of a judging and punishing God.

Yet, the Lord Jesus-Christ warns our contemporary churches just as He did when He warned the New Testament churches:
“All the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” (Revelation 2:23)

We better take heed!


(to be continued)


Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:10, 2 Samuel 12:9, 1 John 1:9 and 2:1-2a are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.