Matthew 16:17-20
This is Jesus' response to Peter saying that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. The key words are rock, keys, bind and loose. Jesus draws a direct link between what Peter does on earth and what happens in heaven to indicate the extreme authourity that he is giving Peter. At least I think it is to Peter. My Bible doesn't differentiate between the plural you and the singular you. If it is plural, then this authourity is given to the disciples as a group.
There have been lots of debates as to what Jesus is talking about when he says he will build his church on this rock. The question is, what is the rock. Some people say that the rock is Jesus which is what the writer of Hebrews talks about when he describes Jesus as the rock which the builders rejected becoming the chief cornerstone of the Church. However, in context, to make this work Jesus has to be saying, "You are right Peter. I am the Messiah and on this rock (the Messiah) I will build..." This is a bit awkward and negates the play on words between Peter adn rock (although some would say that Jesus is not comparing Peter and rock but contrasting Peter - stone - and rock).
Some people say that Peter is the rock upon which Jesus will build the Church. This fits well in the context and with the play on words that Jesus uses. There is even evidence for this in Acts - Peter was often, maybe even always, the one who went to the new regions to release the Holy Spirit and welcome the new believers into the Kingdom of God. Protestants are hesitant to emphasize the role of Peter in reaction to the Catholic position on Peter.
The third position is that Jesus is talking about Peter's confession - Jesus will build his Church on the confession that Jesus is the Messiah. To me, this seems like too much of a compromise position: we know it isn't Jesus who is the Rock but we don't want it to be Peter so...
Obviously this is a passage that I need to do some more reading and study on. However, even with my questions, I am encouraged because Jesus will build his church. It belongs to him, he takes responsibility for its growth and he promises that it will be built. I am also challenged by the role that I play in joining Jesus in building his Church. The method he has choses is through the sharing of the gospel with the world and he has annointed me to be a messenger of that gospel. I am his amabassador and I must speak and act in accordance with that office.
Showing posts with label the church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the church. Show all posts
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
growing up
Ephesians 4:7-16
The key words and ideas in this passage are: growing up, maturing, and building up. Paul uses a whole bunch of images: a body made up of members whose whole role is the maturing of the other members of the body, an infant who has no power to carry out his will, a stormy sea that invokes its will on a powerless object.
The main point is that Christ has given each one of his followers gifts and the purpose of those gifts is to build up the rest of the body of Christ until it reaches unity and maturity. This will prevent the Church from being overly affected by every new method, philosophy, doctrine or teaching that comes along. There will be a maturity and a depth to what the Church teaches and does as it speaks the truth in love. It will reflect the character of Jesus who is the head of the Body.
Paul returns to an idea that keeps popping up through the whole letter: the church attains the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Again, my imagination is captured by that phrase and yet it plays just beyond the horizon of my comprehension. I can't grasp this except that I think it is the same idea as at the end of chapter 2 where the Church is the dwelling of God. As God dwells in us and fills us and as the Church reflects the character of Christ, it radiates with the fullness of Christ. I still can't quite picture it because I haven't really seen anything close to it before.
The key words and ideas in this passage are: growing up, maturing, and building up. Paul uses a whole bunch of images: a body made up of members whose whole role is the maturing of the other members of the body, an infant who has no power to carry out his will, a stormy sea that invokes its will on a powerless object.
The main point is that Christ has given each one of his followers gifts and the purpose of those gifts is to build up the rest of the body of Christ until it reaches unity and maturity. This will prevent the Church from being overly affected by every new method, philosophy, doctrine or teaching that comes along. There will be a maturity and a depth to what the Church teaches and does as it speaks the truth in love. It will reflect the character of Jesus who is the head of the Body.
Paul returns to an idea that keeps popping up through the whole letter: the church attains the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Again, my imagination is captured by that phrase and yet it plays just beyond the horizon of my comprehension. I can't grasp this except that I think it is the same idea as at the end of chapter 2 where the Church is the dwelling of God. As God dwells in us and fills us and as the Church reflects the character of Christ, it radiates with the fullness of Christ. I still can't quite picture it because I haven't really seen anything close to it before.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
we're making God's wisdom known
Ephesians 3:7-13
The mystery in this paragraph is explained in the previous paragraph: Gentiles and Jews are equal heirs through the good news of Jesus. Paul's specific role was to bring the Gentiles into the family of God by taking this good news message and revealing this mystery to the Gentiles.
If you were to ask me how God reveals his wisdom (before I read this passage) I would probably say something about through Jesus or through his divine providence, possibly through history or even through the Word. Never in a million years would I say that God reveals his manifold (I like that word!) wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms through the church. Paul is clear: the rulers and authorities look to the unity between Jew and Gentile in the Church to find evidence of God's wisdom. Wow! I still can't fathom it - that the rulers and authorities are struck by how wise God is when they look at the church. The next verse goes on to say that the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the Church was his eternal purpose which he accomplished in the work of Jesus Christ. This means that before time began, God determined that he would prove his wisdom to the angels and demons by bringing Jews and Gentiles together into one body.
So here's the question for me: am I helping to accomplish the eternal purpose of God? Am I helping my local expression of the Body of Christ to testify to God's wisdom or do I cause the spiritual realm to scoff at God's idea of unity? The point that is driven home to me is that the Church is God's idea, God's plan and reveals God's glory. I can either get on board in pointing to the glory of God by joining him in building his Church or I better get out of the way.
The mystery in this paragraph is explained in the previous paragraph: Gentiles and Jews are equal heirs through the good news of Jesus. Paul's specific role was to bring the Gentiles into the family of God by taking this good news message and revealing this mystery to the Gentiles.
If you were to ask me how God reveals his wisdom (before I read this passage) I would probably say something about through Jesus or through his divine providence, possibly through history or even through the Word. Never in a million years would I say that God reveals his manifold (I like that word!) wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms through the church. Paul is clear: the rulers and authorities look to the unity between Jew and Gentile in the Church to find evidence of God's wisdom. Wow! I still can't fathom it - that the rulers and authorities are struck by how wise God is when they look at the church. The next verse goes on to say that the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the Church was his eternal purpose which he accomplished in the work of Jesus Christ. This means that before time began, God determined that he would prove his wisdom to the angels and demons by bringing Jews and Gentiles together into one body.
So here's the question for me: am I helping to accomplish the eternal purpose of God? Am I helping my local expression of the Body of Christ to testify to God's wisdom or do I cause the spiritual realm to scoff at God's idea of unity? The point that is driven home to me is that the Church is God's idea, God's plan and reveals God's glory. I can either get on board in pointing to the glory of God by joining him in building his Church or I better get out of the way.
Friday, February 22, 2008
This is my prayer
Ephesians 1:15-23
This section is a prayer that Paul has for the Ephesians. This is also my prayer for my students:
I give thanks for them when I hear about their faith in Jesus and their love for his people. I constantly ask that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they can know Jesus better and so that they can make wise choices that would both protect them from emotional, physical or spiritual harm and bring the most glory to God. I pray that they would understand the hope of heaven; that they would constantly hear the whisper in their ear that reminds them that this world does not reflect the kingdom of God and that there is a better way. I pray that they would realize the amazing riches of grace and love and life that God has for them as his children. I pray that they would comprehend the power that God want to work on their behalf as his children and that they would used that power responsibly ("with great power comes great responsibility"). I pray that their hearts would thrill again to the wonderful news that Christ is risen from the dead and God wants to do the same in their lives - bringing them from death to life, resurrecting them from sin to grace. I pray that they would have a view of the King - seated on his throne far above any other king or power or kingdom - and that they would remember that he is their King (and while he may not be safe, he is certainly good!). I pray, finally, that they would catch a glimpse of the Church as God and Christ intended it to be. The last phrase of this passage captures my imagination: the Church is the fullness of Christ who fills everything in every way.
Taking this at face value, this means that the Church is much greater than I ever thought: it is the fullness of Christ. Somehow, in our unity between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman, all races and traditions, we represent the fullness of Jesus. I feel like I'm being a bit of a heretic here but all of Christ (his character, his work, his teaching, his attractiveness, his power, etc.) is somehow displayed in the Church. Like we were talking about on the way home for Waterton: it's time for the Church to step up and be the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways.
This section is a prayer that Paul has for the Ephesians. This is also my prayer for my students:
I give thanks for them when I hear about their faith in Jesus and their love for his people. I constantly ask that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they can know Jesus better and so that they can make wise choices that would both protect them from emotional, physical or spiritual harm and bring the most glory to God. I pray that they would understand the hope of heaven; that they would constantly hear the whisper in their ear that reminds them that this world does not reflect the kingdom of God and that there is a better way. I pray that they would realize the amazing riches of grace and love and life that God has for them as his children. I pray that they would comprehend the power that God want to work on their behalf as his children and that they would used that power responsibly ("with great power comes great responsibility"). I pray that their hearts would thrill again to the wonderful news that Christ is risen from the dead and God wants to do the same in their lives - bringing them from death to life, resurrecting them from sin to grace. I pray that they would have a view of the King - seated on his throne far above any other king or power or kingdom - and that they would remember that he is their King (and while he may not be safe, he is certainly good!). I pray, finally, that they would catch a glimpse of the Church as God and Christ intended it to be. The last phrase of this passage captures my imagination: the Church is the fullness of Christ who fills everything in every way.
Taking this at face value, this means that the Church is much greater than I ever thought: it is the fullness of Christ. Somehow, in our unity between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman, all races and traditions, we represent the fullness of Jesus. I feel like I'm being a bit of a heretic here but all of Christ (his character, his work, his teaching, his attractiveness, his power, etc.) is somehow displayed in the Church. Like we were talking about on the way home for Waterton: it's time for the Church to step up and be the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Imagine...
Ephesians 3:17-21
After Paul prays that the Ephesian church would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit living in them and Christ being completely at home in their hearts, Paul asks that they would be able to grasp the dimensions of Christ's love and experience the reality of it in their lives. It is a love that is knowable but it cannot be fully known. A love that can be experienced and is very vast. Upon experiencing this love, Paul says that we will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This reminds me of the verse at the end of chapter one which says that the church is the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways. As we (I don't think it's just about me as an individual but about us as the body) understand the mysterious unity of the Church and the love that Christ has for us (as his Bride and Body), we somehow express the fullness of Christ. I don't understand it but I have to believe it.
As Paul reflects on the dimensions of Christ's love he bursts into praise of God. This is worship! It is Paul's response to his experience with God. So often it feels like we come and manufacture worship and we blame the worship team, the song selection or the atmosphere when we don't experience worship. The truth is that a) worship is not about us getting a good feeling, it is about expressing our praise to God and b) we are to blame because corporate worship is actually supposed to be about all of us bringing our individual experiences with God and sharing them with each other, giving glory to God.
Paul declares God to be the one who can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. This must come directly from his experiences on missionary journeys and even his own conversion - who'd have imagined that! I really like Paul's description: the one who can do immeasurable more than all we can ask or imagine. Not just a little bit more but immeasurably more. I don't know about you but I can imagine some pretty big things...
After Paul prays that the Ephesian church would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit living in them and Christ being completely at home in their hearts, Paul asks that they would be able to grasp the dimensions of Christ's love and experience the reality of it in their lives. It is a love that is knowable but it cannot be fully known. A love that can be experienced and is very vast. Upon experiencing this love, Paul says that we will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This reminds me of the verse at the end of chapter one which says that the church is the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways. As we (I don't think it's just about me as an individual but about us as the body) understand the mysterious unity of the Church and the love that Christ has for us (as his Bride and Body), we somehow express the fullness of Christ. I don't understand it but I have to believe it.
As Paul reflects on the dimensions of Christ's love he bursts into praise of God. This is worship! It is Paul's response to his experience with God. So often it feels like we come and manufacture worship and we blame the worship team, the song selection or the atmosphere when we don't experience worship. The truth is that a) worship is not about us getting a good feeling, it is about expressing our praise to God and b) we are to blame because corporate worship is actually supposed to be about all of us bringing our individual experiences with God and sharing them with each other, giving glory to God.
Paul declares God to be the one who can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. This must come directly from his experiences on missionary journeys and even his own conversion - who'd have imagined that! I really like Paul's description: the one who can do immeasurable more than all we can ask or imagine. Not just a little bit more but immeasurably more. I don't know about you but I can imagine some pretty big things...
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
On Display
Ephesians 3:7-13
Paul continually expresses his amazement that he was chosen by God in the first place and then called by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles above that. His humility seems genuine (like I have any reason to doubt it!) but I know that if I spoke those phrases - the chief of sinners, the least of all God's people, etc. - it would not be true humility but reverse pride. I'd be looking for someone to say, "You're not so bad." When I realize how pervasive my pride is, I begin to recognize just how much of a sinner I am.
The verse that blows me away is v. 10. We, the Church, display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms (which I think are angels and spirits). Specifically, in the context, the wisdom of God is seen in the uniting of Gentile and Jew. I think that we can take the principle and apply it to our context: we display God's wisdom to the degree that we, the Church, are spiritually united. I can't get over this: that the "show" that God decided to put on for the spiritual rulers of the heavenly realms was the church. I wonder how many standing ovations God has received based on the "show" the church puts on. I wonder how many times the spiritual rulers of the heavenly realms have wondered if God really knew what he was doing based on the behaviour of the church. But God has committed himself to this choice. He will reveal the wonders of his wisdom through the Church.
What an amazing responsibility we have! No wonder Paul prays in a different epistle that we would be worthy of the calling that we have received. This calling is not just to represent Christ to the world but to display the wisdom of God to the heavenly realms. This should make me fall to my knees and ask God to help us, his Church, to live up to this. There is no way we can do it on human effort (which is maybe why Paul immediately breaks into prayer for the Ephesian church after this section).
Paul continually expresses his amazement that he was chosen by God in the first place and then called by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles above that. His humility seems genuine (like I have any reason to doubt it!) but I know that if I spoke those phrases - the chief of sinners, the least of all God's people, etc. - it would not be true humility but reverse pride. I'd be looking for someone to say, "You're not so bad." When I realize how pervasive my pride is, I begin to recognize just how much of a sinner I am.
The verse that blows me away is v. 10. We, the Church, display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms (which I think are angels and spirits). Specifically, in the context, the wisdom of God is seen in the uniting of Gentile and Jew. I think that we can take the principle and apply it to our context: we display God's wisdom to the degree that we, the Church, are spiritually united. I can't get over this: that the "show" that God decided to put on for the spiritual rulers of the heavenly realms was the church. I wonder how many standing ovations God has received based on the "show" the church puts on. I wonder how many times the spiritual rulers of the heavenly realms have wondered if God really knew what he was doing based on the behaviour of the church. But God has committed himself to this choice. He will reveal the wonders of his wisdom through the Church.
What an amazing responsibility we have! No wonder Paul prays in a different epistle that we would be worthy of the calling that we have received. This calling is not just to represent Christ to the world but to display the wisdom of God to the heavenly realms. This should make me fall to my knees and ask God to help us, his Church, to live up to this. There is no way we can do it on human effort (which is maybe why Paul immediately breaks into prayer for the Ephesian church after this section).
Friday, February 9, 2007
The secret of piety
1 Timothy 3
What I observe:
The deacons had to pass some kind of test before they could become deacons (v. 10). Judging from v. 9, it would seem that the test probably checked on their knowledge of the deep truths of the faith and that they were living with a clean conscience.
Paul's purpose for this letter was to be an instruction manual on church conduct when the church is in crisis or chaos (v. 14-15). I know I'm reading into it a little bit but it is obvious from chapter 1 that this is a church in crisis.
The church plays a very important role - it is the pillar and foundation of truth (v. 15). I think this means that the community of disciples plays a large role in determining truth. I know that truth is ultimately found in the Scriptures but the community plays an important role in the interpretation of those Scriptures.
What I learn:
After all the instructions about deacons and elders, Paul gets down to the secret of the pious or godly life: Jesus and his incarnation. This reminds me that everything I believe is based on a person, not a creed. It all comes down to Jesus - he is the secret and the mystery. I love that Paul bursts into song here - almost as if the secret has to come bursting out of him. The point of conducting ourselves well in the household of God, the church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of the truth is the glory of Jesus. Conversely, and mysteriously, it is Jesus that allows us to conduct ourselves well.
What I observe:
The deacons had to pass some kind of test before they could become deacons (v. 10). Judging from v. 9, it would seem that the test probably checked on their knowledge of the deep truths of the faith and that they were living with a clean conscience.
Paul's purpose for this letter was to be an instruction manual on church conduct when the church is in crisis or chaos (v. 14-15). I know I'm reading into it a little bit but it is obvious from chapter 1 that this is a church in crisis.
The church plays a very important role - it is the pillar and foundation of truth (v. 15). I think this means that the community of disciples plays a large role in determining truth. I know that truth is ultimately found in the Scriptures but the community plays an important role in the interpretation of those Scriptures.
What I learn:
After all the instructions about deacons and elders, Paul gets down to the secret of the pious or godly life: Jesus and his incarnation. This reminds me that everything I believe is based on a person, not a creed. It all comes down to Jesus - he is the secret and the mystery. I love that Paul bursts into song here - almost as if the secret has to come bursting out of him. The point of conducting ourselves well in the household of God, the church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of the truth is the glory of Jesus. Conversely, and mysteriously, it is Jesus that allows us to conduct ourselves well.
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