“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3; ESV)
Easter is a time where many look to the resurrection of Christ as a reminder of their hope in God. Easter, for some, is more than a bunny, eggs, and candy along with the official ushering in of the spring season. For religious people, it is a reminder.
While Easter may be a reminder of the resurrection of Jesus, let us be mindful that our hope does not occur once a year, but our hope is an everyday hope. The tomb of Jesus is empty today, will be empty next Sunday and it was empty last week.
Our hope for salvation is in the promise Jesus made and He kept (Matthew 16.21; Luke 9.22). Jesus promised a resurrection and He fulfilled that promise (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)
It is because of the resurrection of Jesus salvation is found in Him. He has brought us victory as we obey His word. We, too, can arise from the death of sin in the water of baptism,
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:4-5)
I baptism we are united with the resurrection of Christ. Are you united with Him?
In a few short weeks, the world will turn to look and discuss the Messiah. Every year, one day has the world looking at the cradle which would rock the world. Whether you celebrate December 25th as the birth of Christ or another holiday in the giving/receiving of gifts, the fact is, people are thinking about the baby Jesus. Most likely, your family and friends will be thinking about Jesus.
While we know that Jesus grew into a man, the Christmas season causes us to reflect on the baby Jesus. It was a humble birth that God chose to bring His Son into the world. It would not be a birth that would amaze the world as it does now, but it would be a quiet entrance of the Promised Deliverer.
The first years would be a silent reflection of the humility of His life. Common people would be His first visitors and around two years of age magi from the east would bring Him earthly, honorable gifts. As His life would be sought by a power-hungry king, His family would become refugees. Finally, returning to His homeland, His family settled in a common town.
Amazingly enough, the Messiah grew up among the people without notice. Even after He grew into adulthood and began His earthly ministry, the people still saw His as Joseph and Mary’s boy. As His fame was growing and multitudes followed Him, some still saw Him as an earthly man and others saw Him as the Messiah the nation had waited so long to see. To the latter, He was their deliverer, their Savior, their King.
My name is Mandy Heard. I am thirty-eight years old. I have been a member of The Lord’s Church since I was fifteen. However, recently I began to second guess my baptism. Did I do it for me, or for My Lord? Was it because I thought I was earning my salvation by going through motions? To remove all doubt, I made my way down the aisle and was baptized a second time. This time, it wasn’t done out of fear of hell’s fire. It was done out of love and appreciation for My Jesus and the desire to be identified as His Church. Which leads me to the purpose of this article…who or what is the blood-bought Church, and what do I love about it?
First of all, the word “church” comes from a Greek word “ekklesia” which is defined as “an assembly” or “called ones.” So you see, the Church is not a building, but a body of believers.
Now, I mentioned to you already that I have been a member of the Church for a long time. I have grown up being taught from these Biblical principles. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled with identifying who the Church is.
You see, my friends are from many different denominational backgrounds. My friends and I pray together. We have attended Christian based conferences and events together. I do my best to encourage them, and they most definitely encourage me. I do consider my friends to be believers, and I know they love Jesus just as I do.
People often ask, “What’s the difference in the Church of Christ” and other denominations. Most people first recognize that we have no instruments. Others may notice our weekly participation in The Lord’s Supper. And while these are noticeable differences that others may recognize, I have noticed something else that has begun to decrease my confusion regarding who The Church is.
I have recognized in most denominational churches; there seems to be some disagreement or confusion about how they operate. They are usually based off opinions, ideas, or what they’ve learned from other organizations. There seem to be issues that arise based on change. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever, so why would we expect His Church to be different?
While these opinions and ideas are not always bad, they can make things quite interesting. They can draw others in; they can make things fun and exciting but eventually, comes conflict and confusion. Why? Because they are ideas of “good people,” but not from God The Father. Only God has the authority to direct and lead The Church. Any other assumed authorities will fail. It’s not a matter of if, but when. It’s coming.
Only what God authorizes will stand.
Matthew 16:18- “…upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
You see friends; God is not the author of confusion. The meaning of The Church wasn’t meant to be complicated.
1 Corinthians 14:33- “…for God is not a God of disorder…”
We have all that we need to fulfill our purpose within The Church. We are equipped. We don’t have to figure out the right way and the wrong way. We just have to know God’s way.
Hebrews 13:21- “…”may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”
We have been given an example by the early church. Why fix what is not broken?
We don’t have to add to it or take away from it. Simply follow it.
My husband and I have been blessed with two amazingly wonderful, yet hormonal teenagers. Now if you’re a parent, you understand the need for boundaries and rules. What would happen if there were none? Anything goes. Stay out as long as you like. Eat what you want. Go ahead, if it feels good, do it. How long would that last? Eventually, our family would crumble. Wouldn’t it?
Guess what? So will the Church.
Often, the Church of Christ is accused of being legalistic. I’ll be real with ya. I’ve struggled with believing this myself at times. But a few weeks ago, my favorite preacher helped me understand this a bit better. Legalism comes about when we act on our own behalf. In other words, it benefits us in some way by following the rules…but, obedience is when we act out of love, honor and for the Lord’s sake. You see, our salvation has been bought and paid for with a price we can never repay. We don’t work for our salvation, but because of it.
So to sum things up, I guess I love the Church because My Jesus first loved me.
May God bless you and keep you!
Mandy Heard is married to Jamie Heard. They have 2 teenage children, Anslee and Cain. Mandy is a home health nurse and considers her job to be an opportunity for ministry. She enjoys sharing with others how Christ has changed her life. She is a member of Roanoke Church of Christ.
Christians should never feel that they can overstate the importance of the body of Christ. They should never stop talking about it with fondness and love. Whether we refer to it as “The Church” or “The Kingdom,” this institution which was created by God through His only begotten son Jesus Christ, is one that I love. It is my prayer that not only I but all members of the body of Christ never forget its importance.
First, I love the Church because it provides a unified and definitive way to worship God with fellow believers.
In our ever changing world, the need to update, adjust and accommodate the masses has made its way into most groups who profess Christ. However, the Bible tells us of how we should worship God. As a body, we should be unified in Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6 & I Corinthians 1:10ff). Our worship, therefore, should also be done in unity and performed in a manner that is orderly, performed with a sincere heart before God, and done to magnify God.
In the nearly 2,000 years since the Church was established on this earth, the parameters for how we are to worship God have been in place and have not been altered. The holy scriptures tell us that we are:
to sing (Ephesians 5:19, Col 3:16),
to pray (I Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:14-15)
to study the scriptures: teaching and preaching (Acts 20:7, II Timothy 2:15)
to take up a collection for the saints (I Corinthians 16:1-2)
to remember the sacrifice of Christ through the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, I Corinthians 11:23-29)
Those components have been in place since the first century. These basic elements of worship allow for those in the body of Christ to worship and give praise to our heavenly Father in a cohesive, unified manner. Man, however, has allowed his desire and pleasure to usurp what God has permitted for approved and orderly worship; and in doing so has created divisiveness which I believe is the catalyst for the countless groups who profess Christ in our world today. Still, the scriptures tell us what acceptable worship is, and that worship is what is found within the Lord’s Church.
Secondly, I love the Church because it provides a refuge on earth for enduring worldly cares.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, the Hebrews author instructions the 1st century Christians to encourage one another, not forsaking the assembling of themselves as was the custom of some. The author was aware of the worldly struggles that the brethren would endure. Not only did they have to worry about the struggles of temptation and sin but, the 1st century Christians also struggled with the desire and peer pressure of returning to the old law.
Today’s world is no different. Though the struggles appear to be more intense, the sinfulness appears to be more outward, and the pull to return to our prior state pulls at our hearts and minds, the world, in general, has always provided its share of lures. These lures continually strive to pull us towards anything that is opposed to the Lord’s Church. Alone, all Christians are at risk of being pulled or lured back into the world and its destructive ways.
Within the Church, there is a refuge on earth. The body of believers, with their focus on its head Jesus Christ, is to be working constantly and to be aware of the weaknesses that abound within itself. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you brother, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”. This command and admonition are to be done with the love of God at its heart (I John 4:7ff). Furthermore, we are to strive to be a unified body with our many parts (or members) serving the one body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-31).
Another reason for why I love the Church is that it provides a glimpse into who my fellow inhabitants of heaven might be.
Continuing with the previous point of being a place of refuge and encouragement on earth, as we are working to build up one another as well as preach to the lost in this life, we are doing so as a means of preparation for the life to come.
The conversion of the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts, as well as the letters he would send throughout the world, is a testament to this very idea. Paul, as Saul, was well known and respected Jew. As a defender of his faith in the Jewish system, he not only strove to maintain order within the old law, he sought to put out the fire of the new testament faith that was emerging. Still, from Acts 9 and onward, we see where Christ made his appearance to Paul, the eventual teaching by Ananias to Paul of Christ’s commands, Paul’s conversion and ultimately the great work that was done for the sake of the Lord. Paul, through Christ Jesus, became the great evangelist who was the ultimate encourager among the Jews and the Gentiles to continue to follow the steps of Jesus.
Colossians 1:23 – If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Paul’s parting words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 speak precisely as to what our mission should be in the ministry of the Church as its ultimate destination and goal should be heaven. But, the last two verses in that passage should be how we view our relationship to the Church, its work and the desire to get to heaven. Speaking at the close of his life, Paul says to Timothy:
I Timothy 4:7-8 – I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Finally, I love the Church because it was bought and purchased in love by the blood of Christ.
Paul wrote in Colossians 1:13-14:
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
Paul also wrote in Ephesians 1:7:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
The significance of this redemption and its relationship to the Church (the Kingdom of God) can not be overstated. Our faith as a body of believers and our salvation are tied together as one. The blood of Christ was shed as a sacrifice for our sins. This atonement for our sins sets us apart from the world. As we are set apart from the world and its sinfulness, we are added to the collective body of believers, that is the Lord’s Church. Furthermore, this sacrifice made by Jesus Christ was done so out of obedience and submission to the Father and out of love for all of mankind.
Jamie Davis and his family attend the Cawson Street Church of Christ in Hopewell, VA where Jamie works as the Youth Director. He is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University (B.S. Bible 1999).
Human understanding is great to the human mind, but it can be fatal when adding a dose of emotions which overtakes personal responsibility. When personal understanding is based on unstable emotions, as opposed to responsible thought, the human mind tends to side with emotions instead of truth.
Religiously, the “what if” game is a dangerous game negating personal responsibility and shifting it to one of a theologically quandary. Personal responsibility must not be taken out of the theological process. There are many scriptures which speak of the responsibility of each individual to receive and share salvation. While Christ bore the burden of our lives on the cross, it is our responsibility to live for Him and bear our cross.
The “what if” game usually goes like this, “What if someone lives on a remote island in the Pacific and never hears the gospel?” But this question simply needs rearranged to make it closer to home, “What if a neighbor, who is an atheist, teaches their children atheism and they never hear the gospel?” Why do people reach for a remote island? I believe it takes away from our personal responsibility as Christ followers (as Christians). Using such an extreme examples places the work on someone else in the example than ourselves.
Playing the “what if” game begs the question, “What are you doing to reach everyone?” Is it our desire to plant the seed of Christ, water the seed and let God give the increase? Or is our desire to speak of endless possibilities of “what if” without reaching the people nearest to our home?
Passages such as 2 Thessalonians 1.5-15 reveal God’s words regarding ignorance. As Christ-followers, God-believers and Holy Spirit filled followers, Paul’s inspired words of 2 Thessalonians should cause tears because of the fate of those lost. Those tears should lead us to action on their behalf. The responsibility should inspire us to reach every person and not play a game of shedding responsibility.
My friends, let us put off the ‘what if” and begin putting on the “what can I do.”
