THE ECCLESIA - 2

REVIEW

Right now you are seeing unchecked use of power without moral or legal authority. Who is responsible for this? The authorities who are supposed to regulate the use of power.

Definition of ecclesia 1: a political assembly of citizens of ancient Greek states especially : the periodic meeting of the Athenian citizens for conducting public business and for considering affairs proposed by the council

Apostle and Church are terms of authority.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:18–20 AMP

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

The word translated “authority” is taken from the Greek word “Exousia.”

2026 ἐξουσία (exousia), ας (as), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; Str 1849; 1. authority to rule 2. jurisdiction, the sphere of authority 3. symbol of authority. 4. ruler (one who has authority over) 5. control, a state of control over someone power, implying authority 7. supernatural power. 8. right to judge, freedom to action.

The words translated “make disciples” came from one Greek verb; “mathēteuō.”

3411 μαθητεύω (mathēteuō): vb.; Str 3100; 1. follow, be a disciple, be a committed student 2. LN 36.37 make followers, make disciples 3. instruct, teach

The action of pursuing the kingdom results in a change in identity.

3101. μαθητής mathētēs, ; from 3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:—disciple.

All nations, Ethnos, ethnic groups.

The word translated “baptizing” is from the Greek word “baptizo.”

907. βαπτίζω baptizō, bap-tid´-zo; from a der. of 911; to make whelmed; used only in the N. T. of ceremonial ablution, espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Chr. baptism:—baptist, baptize, wash.

911. βάπτω baptō, bap´-to; a prim. verb; to whelm, i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; in the N. T. only in a qualified or spec. sense, i.e. (lit.) to moisten

St Jerome (Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus

When the word baptizo appears in the New Testament, it is generally followed by one of three prepositions—all of them indicating an influence that alters a previous condition.

eis-communicates movement or direction of entry, indicates that something goes in, but does not come out.

epi- meaning “on or overlapping,” indicates to be covered; something resting on something else.

en- signifies “by” or “with.” In this case, the subject becomes the passive recipient of the baptism; in the case under discussion, it is generally applied to the Holy Spirit as the agent.

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptizo) [submerged] in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary [bapto]. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change [baptizo].3

Silvoso, Ed. Ekklesia (p. 125). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The dipping of the cucumber in hot water softens its skin, making it receptive to the vinegar into which it is submerged later. Without the former dip, the unsoftened skin would prevent or delay its transformation into a pickle. This is why in the case of an individual, the initial power encounter (bapto) by the Holy Spirit must be followed by a permanent submersion (baptizo) in the Word (the teachings of Jesus). The same is true for nations. I wonder if the divisions we see today in the Body of Christ on the subject of the Holy Spirit are not caused by antagonistic schools of thought focusing primarily on one of these aspects at the expense of the other. This, in turn, prevents us from understanding how to disciple nations.

Silvoso, Ed. Ekklesia (p. 125). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The word translated as “age” is from the Greek words “aiōn, ōnos.”

172 αἰών (aiōn), ῶνος (ōnos), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; Str 165; era, a unit of time as a particular stage of history 2. universe; 3. world system, practices and standards of those without God long ago, forever, eternal, without end 6. the Devil, formally, the god of this world non-religious people.

“We need to shift our paradigm of the church to become the ecclasia described by Jesus.”

FIVE ESSENTIAL PARADIGMS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

1) The Great Commission is about discipling nations and not just individuals. “[As you go] make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19).

2) The Atonement secured redemption not only for individuals, but also for the marketplace, which is the heart of the nation. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10; see also Ephesians 1:7–10; Colossians 1:19–20).

3) Labor is worship, and since all believers are ministers, they are to turn their jobs into places of worship to God and ministry to others. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23; see also Galatians 6:9–10; Ephesians 2:10).

4) Jesus is the One who builds His Church, not us. Our assignment is to use the keys of the Kingdom to lock and unlock the Gates of Hades in order for Him to build His Church where those Gates stand. “I will build My church. . . . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18–19).

5) The elimination of systemic poverty in its four dimensions—spiritual, relational, motivational and material—is the premier social indicator of transformation. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18; see also Acts 4:32–34; 20:

Silvoso, Ed. Ekklesia (p. 36). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.