Church Universal and Local Matthew 16:18
This post concerns the use of the word church, in a universal and local sense.
‘Church Universal and Local’ discusses the meaning of church. Church in our Bibles comes from a Greek word meaning a called-out body of people. When the scriptures discuss all the Christians called from the world into God’s service, the word church falls into the universal sense. Jesus forecast the use of this word before there were any congregations, Matthew 16:18. “…on this rock I will build my church.” Jesus meant that this future group of called out people, designated as a church, would include those He would save.
Then, the Apostle Paul clarified the term church, Ephesians 5:23. “…as Christ … the head of the church, his body, and …himself its Savior.” Calling the church the body of Christ fits because as the head, He supplies salvation for it.
In addition, this universal group comprises a fellowship with Deity, 1 Corinthians 1:9. “God… faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Thus, as described in the New Testament, this group which includes all of God’s people everywhere, does not have an organization or an earthly head. Therefore, fellowship with Deity embraces the entire purpose of the universal church. Christ, as the Head and Savior, provides payment for sins.
Also, a different use of the word church embraces local congregations. The Apostle John wrote to seven local churches in Asia, Revelation 1:4-5, 11. “… Grace to you and peace … and from the seven spirits… before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness…. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…
…Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Local churches make up the only earthly organization of Christians in a particular place with elders and deacons as leaders. Its fellowship embraces Deity and the local membership.
So, what did we learn?
1.The church in the universal sense includes all the saved.
2.In the local sense, the church consists of local Christians.
For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com
#universalChurch #localChurches #fellowshipWithDeityLocalChristians
The Unjust Judge Luke 18:1-8
This post concerns lessons from a parable about an unjust judge.
‘The Unjust Judge’ discusses what we should learn from a widow’s interaction with a worldly judge. After the discussion of the end of time in the previous chapter, Jesus provides a parable, Luke 18:1-8. “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
In this parable, an unjust judge would not hear and rule for a widow. But she continued to ask him for help. Finally, the judge decided to think only of himself and rule for the woman because she would eventually wear him down.
Some have concluded that God personifies the unrighteous judge. That is, even though we pray to and plead with God, He does not want to help us. Jesus corrects this error, Luke 18:6-8. “And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
This parable stresses a single point.
Luke explains the point being taught in the first sentence: the disciples should always pray and not lose heart. Jesus makes it plain that the character of God is the exact opposite to the judge by using a lesser to the greater argument. If the lesser—the unrighteous judge who was reluctant to hear the widow but finally listened— then how much more will the greater—a loving, just God— hear and help. In contrast to the judge, God will speedily give justice when His people plead with Him day and night.
Jesus also asked about the perseverance of His disciples over a long time period, Luke 18:8. “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” This question shows that a real possibility exists for disciples to fall away. The solution: Not losing heart and praying to a heavenly Father who hears and acts.
So, what did we learn?
1.Unlike the unjust judge, God answers prayer speedily.
2.Disciples should not lose heart or trust in God and pray constantly.
For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com
#unrighteousJudge #GodWillSpeedilyHear #lesserGreaterArgument
The Role of Women Mark 14:8
This post concerns the role of women.
‘The role of women’ explores Jesus’ comments about a woman who anointed Jesus, Mark 14:3. “…a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.”
After this, some of those present complained saying that the ointment, worth 300 days of pay, should go to people with low income. Jesus defended her, Mark 14:6. “Leave her alone… She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
As a result, Jesus explained that they could always care for people with low incomes, but not for Him. Then, Jesus commended her, Mark 14:8. “She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.”
In effect, this woman sets an example of women in the service of Jesus: ‘Do what you can.’
Women were created as a helpers fit for man, Genesis 2:18. Since creation, women have separate roles from men. Jesus recognized this by saying she did ‘what she could.’ Jesus focused on what she could do, not what she could not do.
For example, in the church, women occupy a different role during worship, I Corinthians 14:34-35. “…the women should keep silent in the churches. For they … not permitted to speak… in submission… shameful for a woman to speak in church.” Thus, women should show silence and not take vocal actions such as preaching or public prayer.
Likewise, the role of women differs in everyday life from that in the church. In the New Testament, we read of a woman engaged in business, Acts 16:14. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods…”
Also, the Old Testament shows Deborah as both a prophetess and as a military leader.
Proverbs 31:10 compliments women, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” Next in Proverbs, some compliments and accomplishments of women make up a list, including buying a field and making and selling clothes.
So, what did we learn?
1.Jesus commends a women doing what she could.
2.The Bible shows women in various commendable roles.
3.Women’s role in the church differs from that of men.
For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com
#women’sRoles #serveJesus #doWhatCan
The Perfect 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
This post shows that spiritual gifts will disappear when the perfect comes.
The Perfect discusses what the Bible says about the end of spiritual gifts and the arrival of the completed word of God, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. “…As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
The need for and the use of spiritual gifts disappears when something—the perfect—comes. The Apostle Paul explains the identity of the perfect in three ways: Firstly, each person with a spiritual gift knows only part of the gospel. Additional knowledge about Christianity from others with spiritual gifts completes the picture. The perfect allows full knowledge of the gospel to a single person or reader.
Secondly, Paul makes an analogy between the adult mind of the Corinthian reader to a child earlier in life. As adults we reason as a man and use more than the partial knowledge a child has.
Thirdly, life for the possessor of a spiritual gift compares to looking in a mirror where we see only part of how we appear. At that point, we realize the invisibility of the back side.
Thus, each person with a spiritual gift knows only a part of the gospel.
When the completed New Testament becomes available, the need for partial knowledge by people with spiritual gifts evaporates.
Thus, a prophecy about the future combination of all the inspired writings—the perfect—appears. This combination of inspired writings will contain all of the gospel as the perfect revelation of God’s will.
In the meantime, Christians stress three characteristics: faith, hope, and love. For young Christians, faith built on hope should comprise their major outlook. But the Apostle emphasizes the importance of love in pleasing God at all stages of life.
So, what did we learn?
1.The scriptures prophesy the end of spiritual gifts but emphasizes the permanence of love.
2.Each possessor of a gift knows only part of the gospel.
3.The need for Spiritual gifts would cease when the combined books of the New Testament—the perfect word of God— becomes available.
For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com
#spiritualGiftsDisappearl #perfectCombinedNewTestament
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