Your Particip-ACTION in the Household Economy of Jesus Christ: The only Protection from Shipwrecking Your Soul
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We have seen
Have you ever read someone elses mail? Note passed in class Or bill or finaicl letter - last notice cut off - rush across the street… Welll know there is context you need - we got that in frist two sermons - Epaphras from Ephesus - echoe to L Valley -started chrches, now 10 years later - trial, imprionsment - Epharphas reports -terribel false teaching jeproadizing good start - Like church in NA today - false teaching lurks to pull us off - but not just doom and gloom - Paul very wise solution - not cranky scolding type of guy - Starts wth solid hope and solution in Christ - faith hope and love all the blessingw and spiritual power you’ll need, then takes theme of false teaching FULNESS - says not going to find that, not going to get to next levelsspirituallly - by any silver bullet, program, teaching spirinciple - but PERSON - like Mitch Marner -
AGENT - blows us away i Creation, In Redemption - first born from among the dad - Preminance, and then also AGENTY at end - present us befor him spotless - like Valanna before Simon - do what you can - perfect agent in our lives now with unlimited resources - redeem humanity … Well wrapping up introduction ,b efore turns to the body of the letetr - deal with false teaching, deal with how to live - Reme3mber never met these guys, and see in 2:1 and at the end of the letter in 4:13 Laodeicia Hieloplis, imagine even you and me - as we face dangers, Paul wants to make deep personal connectio, as apostle sent by Jesus to Gentile to passionately set before us the goal of avoiding shipwreck of false teaching, by coming to Christina maturity - Here he very personally lays out key truth:
KEY: By participation in the economy of Christ’s Church avoid shipwreck
A. Participation in Chris’s Body Involves Suffering & Joy in Service
Before looking at the partiicpation of usffering and service, do you see the personal element here. YOu cn see in three prhases: i.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
i.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
Paul is no masochist, doesn’t rejoice because of suffering, as if Devil’s plan to mess up your life, and Christ church - is a good thing in itself - not sickness,not death, not loss of job, not hardship in relationships, not evil , not sin - But he does rejoice in, in the middle of suffering FOR YOUYOUR SAKE. Ever see that - ie Jack - parent willing and even happy to suffer to help their child. HUPER on behalf of is a huge word in the NT - at the heart of the gospel - Christ suffred and died and was raised FOR OUR SAKE, on our behalf. Like Paul here the LROD in his flesh - so identiified - we have saying I have skin in the game. IE Investment $$ in companay or frieds venture - not dispassionate bystander....
Paul says I am suffering for you - in chain, uneer arrest , I am moved by plight of your church - as if suffering with you. Ie. Can’t really love a human being, be with them, unless sympathy felt it - Paul has here - have you WHY?
so interesting - though Paul just saying Christ’s sacrfice in his body on the Corss - complete nothing lacking, said it was finished -= trust in that secure in salvatio. aul just said Chrsti Premeint not only in creation but in Redemption, saving you and me. But now as and Hebrews says, don’t see allthings rdeemed and put in order under Christ’s feet, though exalted and truipmhed, this in between time stage that profgressively bring broken things on earth under His reign of grace from heaven, by Spirit and his word!
Paul so passionately ssays, and here is the personall participation that matters so much as the foundation of all the other particiat9ing we will do - you are in Christ by faith - then you are mystically, organically joined to Him - as the God-man not only represented you, but you are included in him. First Adam was living being, but fell, a sinner, in bondage to darkness at first,lost his dominoin of this world, But in His seed, in Christ - Second Adam, enw hamnity - we are his body on earth, FIRST BORN OF THE DEAD - - like leading all his brothers and sisteres from broken humanity, inetresting novel INDUALOTOIA - margert Tahcher - no more such thing as SOCIETY - individuals, suicide , ehtunaisa ...... but now those belive in Christ, untied to HIm, as it were out from the grave as new SOCIETY , new community - part of that body the Church!
And here’s the most comforting message to you who suffer like Paul, like the Colossians, you who are in crisis , who struggle with doubt, who get stuck in sin, woh grieve and die - your afflictions - are Christ’s affliction - Isaiah In all your affliction I was afflicted… - Paul Paul why do you persecute ME? Until Christ comes again all the suffering you and I go through as memebers of Christ, is what’s lacking in Christ’s suffering until he comes again. What the OT and Jesus himself called the birthpains befre the fulness of the Messianic Age.
Ever love someone it costs - selfgiving love that creates beauty out ofg ugly and hard thigs .Costly love. And Jesus says share in that love, that suffering love - commuinon with Christ means commuion with each other - bear each other burdenes.
And that’s why Christians can rejioce not because, but in afflictions. In the middle Christ is bearing that suffering, for a purpose, in any suffering we are to steward it. These kinds of suffering not obstacles for joy, but as Calvin experienced really lovig refuggee Chrstians from France, Pland, Germany, Engalnd - seeing them go out and suffere - hearts knti together, - give all he had for their welfare - Suffering in and for Christ with each other, gives place for joy. It is the occassion of joy.
Suffer forthe sake of others, like Christ is to commuon with greatest joy of salvion. Paul underlines he’s got this perosnal conecion to theri suffering, do you with anyone around here? Do we with the suffering, tested, tempted church? Do we with congretgations going through struggle?
There are Messianic afflictions not yet filled up that Pual had to parcticpate in - to hepp others - some for you and me too.
And I think that is why Paul doesn’t say, bacuase of this God made me an apostle to the Gentiles. But empahsizing his solidatrity with them, he says, that in this body that you and I are a re apart of:
which I became a minister/servant according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
Col 1:25
Not official title - REv, Dominee, pASTOR., ACTUALLY WROD FOR DEACON, but not as a title. What all of us, inclduing the exalted Paul called to do - be a servant! Servant not just of people here and there in their need, but of what?
THIS STEWARDSHIP from God - steward was a manager of a large and wealthy household, doesn’t mean nuclear family - but estate with father/mother, grandparents, children, servants, freedman in the fmaily business, what’s this a needy, a widowed… attached to this body ACUTALLY THE WORD ECONOMY , household - is an adminstration - Christ’s household the church is an adminstering of grace , done’st exist just to give glory to God, doesn’t axist just so you can show up here and get heaven and some nice feelings - it exists - admnistered so broken people like you and me ,isnners and revbels, outcasts - RECEIVE AND ARE ORGANIZED BY NEW RELATIONSHP OF LOVE WITH GOD IN CHRIST< with
Paul given particualry task in this admin, big one, but al of us young old, many talents are few - GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU…
Do you get that among us - scattered all sorts of grace, all sorts of gifts, time , given you love, words of counsel, given you hand - What ever is not given is lost, - not for nice indivudal life - but FOR OTHERS.... none of us belong to ourselves anymore, and all are called to partiicpate for commoon good - in the middle of sufferings.
IE man in hospital prayed with Pastor Jack. Loneliness of grief, unwatned singleness,- walk beside others.. .
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
You experience this then like Paul say - feel it is God toiling through me, Feel it I am ready to struggle for you… Olympic word , represent not only athlete but there city … Paul says , I am strguglin agnzing in great taask of comfort for you. Ever feel that committed to somehting so much bigger than my middle class comforts, that as a church exist more for than just ourselves - and I am ready to spendand be spent in this gospel partnership work! This ithte foundation of parictinpating in Christ’s body and coming to maturity in Christ.
But if you can say, yah I am signed up, invested in this communion of the body of Christ both in sufferings and th joy of comfort, of service.United ot hte body of Christ, I am a member here in the household the adminstration of his grace. The question then is what is the currency of that economy… what is it we trade in, what is it w give and share and receive and build up among others, and invite those not yet part of this fellowship into?
B. The Currency of the Economy of Christ is the WORD, THE MYSTERY, CHRIST!
Do you have any treasures in your home? I fyou had a fire what phyical opssessions would yourun out with. Treaures… phone, jewelery. What about story of your life any treasured moments - look back wouldn’t want htose removed .. How about your household any traditions, habits, ways of doing - family meals, games, reading,movie night. Certain camping time together?
How about your faith your rleigious life - what is the centre Indiscipenwsible What is it you talk about to others if talking church? If God gave you opporotunity to speak to nieghbour . If conversation with family member turned ouff by church what would you direct the convesation too. When you think about what you like about his congregation - even boast about - what’s the centre - fellowship, programs, doctrine, as minsteres is it the worship service, is it the sacraments - hear Paul wants these Chrsitians to have a crystal clear focus a to what the treasure of the church is - not experience, not secret higher learning, not theolgoy, not prnciples, or new method - not IIIII disicpleship spiritual disciplines. No listen to the curreccy of that we da lin if we are in the body of Christ, th household , thenew community, the economy of grace!
It’s how you answer that question What is the Treasure? Listen to how Paul answers that question.
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully know
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
Col 1:
It is the Word of God - how living God works in this world - actions he takes, and with every action He is a God who comujicates - HE Speaks to us of those actions - expalin and pally them - Fullest way and culminating way - fulfimment of al lHe’s said and promised, and threated i -is Jesus Christ who is the fuliment of the Word, - God’s final and fulest refvealtion. That’s the treausre the currecny we deal in - Chris as the Word expaling and aplying the grace of God, the Truth of God the wisdom of God the ohoiness of God to our lives! And this isn’t just an add on to our spiritual lives, or our church life it is the centre and the only thing that can save us from shipwreck! FULLY make known… Recently heard a story of a Chinese exchange student - got to America - asked a pastor tell memore about his Christainity about Jesus - heard abit but not much - What have you heard from the Simpsons - only exposure to living Christ throug Ned Flanders church goer mocked inth Simpson and Rev Lovejoy … Laugh but tha is maybe as much thoguht as much exposure that your fellow classmates, fellow workers, even sadly fellow family memmbers may have to the ONE WHOMMADE THIS WORDL SAVED THIS WEORD AND ONE Day will Jduge this World. But Paul says, this Word is I’m charged to make fully known!
Many Christians don’t have the word of jesus as something progressively grow in knowing - a little each day more and more knowing Christ through his wor.d
Paul goes on to say this rteasure of God’s Word fullknown - is
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Do you remember when the Reubics cube came out - study and bothered utnil could do at least 2 sides, A mysery hidden at first - Want to hear the answer to mystery of happiness, to great love, to becomoing a miillionaire - hddeen to you - but boy give anything to have it revealed. Paul saying, the mystery of Christ, Messiah - shadowy before angels didn’t fully undertandat dawn of creation, in ages of this world covered over, only in shadowy form, and local thing., …
But Paul is saying, compared to the gimmicks of gnostics - full knoweldge, ecstaci experience of fulness, bodily ritual discipline … I’ve got the foundain of youth, eternal life , got the answer to death, Got the tree of life - eat of it, I’ve got deepest satisfaction of pleasure, got the ansewr to justice - Got wisdom - so unsure accepted - got full assurance loved, adoptwed by God, - This mystery once hidden, now fully revealed for all who will come to Christ. And not just come once good for heaven, but come contiually - draw from HIm life. Jesus said abide in Him, he will abide in You! So he says this mysteryi s Christ in you the hope of glory.
Need to understand that the OT said God would dwell among his poeple Numb , Jews coud undertand if holy, kept law, special people tabernacle prsesen, could understand even fill special peope for a while, But Jeuss reveals all just a s symbol to say - God now really dwell not with but in soul of everyone who comes to him. NOt just “religious peole” but the Gentiles - that’s the hope of glory. You know faith is memory of what God did in the past in Christ, but you knwo what hope is its the memory of what God will do in the future through Christ for you. Do you spend time with this Christ, not just as an add on, but in prayer, cintual hunger fo rhis Word, do you governed by His Spierit who brings his word into rememberance, do you live daily dying to sin and living to God’s good will and teaching in Christ?
That is Pau;l’s point - this treaure this mystery is not just for afew spritual people here, its for all who are in Christ, for all who in him are saints - given inheritance of richses of wisdom and knoweldge in Christ.
Why Paul says:
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
THis is what we are about - we the body of Christ, every member - we warn people - that’s the repent part the change in life part - don’t just live for money sex or power, don’t waste your life turn it in God’s direction but not just warn, in presdnting Christ to each other, we teach everyone with all wisdom! That’s the faith part - here is the treasures of knwoeldge and all spiritual wisdom - what you are to belive.
I just spent time up onthe North - amazing how remote these places are. When first exporers came they would leave CACHES of supplies, materials, Imagine shipwrecked, or boat forzen into ice - got to survive. Well thos cache’s would be hidden - so bear wouldn’t eat up all those supplies and destory al lthe selter, and much up the matches. Well that’s a world without Christ who is prememeintent treasure - the catlyst and the linch pinthe centyre and purpose and goal and -
And that treasure that cache of all knowledge and wisdom and power for holy living - hidden to peopl - until explores search out and latch on .. And then what do theos eexploresers do they - all that treasure was stored up and deposited for them, and now they must take it out - God’s got teaure in Christ, that you are supoosed to spend the stock here and now!
ie Sister saying to me money is to spend too. Freedom to take out and use. I ate real chcken not jus ricriceronoi, I had real lean ground beef, not just meat in the sauce.. Like bumper sticker - SApending my children’s inheritance. IIE money now used … Welll Fulness in heavn, but Christ unitdd to you know draw on all the reosuces that are in him.
That’s what is to be happening here, that’s the hope and wisdom, practical comfort, and warning we offer to each other - Christ in his fulness for life now and for eternity . Background is God says hidden widom and knowledge, - hidden to king but to his servant revealed, all about Messiah’s kingdom.
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
How we are to live now - eternal kingdom being built right here, eternal King here , Why we must live like
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Happen individually, familyies, happen in catechiszing , hpappen in study groups, happen friend open word and pray at coffee… Time to make this the treasure… Christ in you the hope of glory!
But once you commit to participating in the body and using the currency of the mystery, the last thing Paul wants to have us fix our sights on is the goal and the result of really participating in the body of Christ.
C. The Goal is to BECOME COMPLETE IN CHRIST
Do you get it the reason we conitnually die to sins -new ones old, perseistent ones, the reason why we make our life a continual repentance, the reasons why we teach the wsidomof Christ share and it and pseka to eath other isn ot just so we can be holier than tou with other- moralists, nor elite doctrinal snobs -
No, we enter into the suffering with Christ and we take hold of his mystery and filled with him by faith live in Him, we with Paul - because the whole reason we rest in Christ, learn of Christ live in Christ - is that we reflect Christ.
that we may present everyone mature/complete in Christ.
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Now of course when we are done our life here on earth, we will live on tranfomed seeing Christ and being made completely like him -soul compoletly purified and even our bodies raised up in glorified bodies never more to suffer decay and reach full purpose we were created for . But it is intereesting that word Paul choses for mature here, though sometmies translated perfect which we ill become in glory, is actually the word the OT uses for COMPELTE - a person with integrity - TAMIM not a person who is sinless but a person who by faith despite sin has life re-built and re-organized and ordered for God’s gloryand neighbours good. In the Psalms wonder how a man like David could call himself inconcent, complete , rightoues but it is this word.
And the goal and purose of who being part of Christ’s Church and of Having HIm LIive in You is that you become a TAMIM person, competle person of spiritual integrity in Christ m roe and more even before perfected in heaven! And as you and I share in suffering and speak mystery and encourage it in each other - what God is working in you for other as you serve Him.
Some people know no more of Christ than when they first belive, cocuppied in all sorts of things a t church or in community, som nay causes, but have no experience of Christ than when they first begun. There lives are like trees I saw great Western Cedars, or Red Woods. Well balanced, upward shooting. But plant them in Europrean parks - but roots can’t grow - mishaped grow weird. not gorwing where theyare supoosed tobe gr. Or like stupoid trees, that when a tree around it falss, puts all its nergy in growing new limbs down low - won’t survive. Not to be so ..all the prclaimation of Christ, admonition, counsel, the teaching of Christ hIs person Office, HIs ways - result in a person who is really growing in loving people and steady and firm through faith. Look at how Paul describes how maturity in Chris is to grow among us
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
Two steps there, in doing a gospel ministry of this mystery of Christ. Our whole being, mind, emotions, will, - our heart is strengthe in two things. The first is that this knowing and esperinfce the treasure of the univrse who is Chirst, is a knowing that results in what happened in the garden of Eden, this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. Given this big task in the world - dominoin - but now helpmate not from head or toe - but one like me - share the task with. Ezer like living God says he will be to us!
Well, when Christ proclaimed, suffering shared, you shw up in other person life here - that’s what happens - boudn of love - knit together in our lives needs and sorrows - like Christ is to us: That’s how Paul elsewhere decrbies the body of Christ growing to maturity: Eph every part builds itself up in love … like sinews…
Like Valanna and Simon - cord of three strands - not just two pressing against each other for suport , but enginneered strongest is threee - in body of Christ -what happens. You are a strand - drifting apart from those in the body, reaching out in love - stretch you, inonvinenct may even invovled absorb some sufferingmay have to swllow your pride, check that bitterness, risk - experience and even more improtant grow in this love maturity.
Paul says only in that context can you get the second step - as living in the body of Christ in love , you will reach the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowldge ofGod’s myseryi -which is Christ.
Some just want full assurance, by intellectual, or waiting form emotional mystical experience, found only as bound to Christ body in service, as simply hold Christ and live in Him with other - you do reach a new level of assurance - deep roots in knowing, experiencing Him and his fulness more and more. In Christ to be alive, I am living member of his body. Two errors of presumption - false assurance without living in the body of Christ, live outside it or above it, presumption of live anyway I want no real repentance no real faith - don’t need perfect repentance or perfect faith, need real. But the other error is that look into ourselves and say never good enough, problem is you got yo let go seeking your righteousness, or spiritual experience, trusting Christ, live for other sin him - assurance will come!
Paul so concerned because boat sprung a leak - wants to fill it - doesn’t think its going down, but how to fix that leak. Confident they will and again looks at those participating in the body of Christ, taking hold of the revealed mystery and says, listen as you love others and as you seek riches of full assurance, be encouraged in this
For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Those are both military terms - inspect the troops there the front line - each member great small there united , but not just the front line - deep -firmness - not going to fail. STABLE, steadfast, not hifting fromt he hope of the gospel! 1 :23 Like phalanx , hoplights, arrows raining down, at same time, take little shields but all up at the same time, like little roof … Coming to the table next week - come participating in the body - come faith as memory of what Christ did for you, come hope of what he will do on the Last day, Come engaged in this love for each other as body of Christ. and for this world that God so loved.
Dear Congergation of the Lord Jesus Christ, this Christ, the faith in him, the love of and through Him, the faith its the treaure you can’t live without And if you want o know if you are reaching, stretching growing to maturity in loving hoping, and believing in Him, just simply ask rereading the hymn in 15-21. This Christ as preeminent in Creation, Redemption, and as Judge at he End of the World, is he becoming preeminent in my life! Is he my treasure.
