Title The Church as Manmin Community
Content 1. Words that begin
A common characteristic of ancient human societies is discrimination. To a large extent, there was discrimination between races, ethnic groups, or countries, and to a lesser extent, there was discrimination between men and women or status within the same race and race and within the same country. Even within the same religion, gender discrimination and class discrimination existed. Unfortunately, such discrimination can be found in modern human societies where culture and civilization have developed. Such discrimination is a challenge to the will of God who created all people, and a challenge to the love of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day to save all people. When God created men and women, He created them differently, not discriminated against them. Also, Jesus Christ did not discriminate in any way when he saved mankind. Therefore, the Apostle Paul is teaching about the union of Jews and Gentiles, that is, the church, the community of all people.
2. The former state of the Gentiles
The apostle Paul first describes the state of the Gentiles before they believed in Jesus Christ. In other words, they are Gentiles who are not Jews by descent, and they are despised as uncircumcised by Jews who claim to be circumcised, which Jews believed to be the sign of salvation. Even worse, because they were outside Christ, they did not receive the grace of salvation and all the blessings that come through Christ, and they were outside the nation of Israel, which was made up of Jews, and were not concerned with the promises of God. Therefore, they are atheists in the sense that they have no hope, neither in the world to come, nor in the world, and do not know the only and living true God.
The Apostle Paul sharply criticized the various religions of all Gentiles who worshiped all kinds of gods in the following way: It is said, “They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images made in the likeness of corruptible man, and of gold and worms” (Romans 1:23), and “that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, making the creature more valuable than the Creator” (Romans 1:23). worship and serve…” (Romans 1:25).
It can be said that all the misery of the Gentiles mentioned earlier comes from being outside of Christ. In that sense, Jews who did not have the correct view of the Messiah and crucified Jesus Christ are no different from Gentiles.
How are we? We too do not know whether we are outside of Christ or not. If we do not think, judge, speak, act, and live in Christ, we are outside Christ. I hope that our thoughts, judgments, words, and actions will come from Christ. In fact, we must live as one united to Christ.
3. Christ Who Made One Church
The apostle Paul refers to Gentiles who have been saved by believing in Jesus Christ, saying, "You, who were afar off, have been made near by the blood of Christ in Christ Jesus." That is, the Gentiles received redemption, the forgiveness of sins, through His blood in Christ, and became children of God.
Christ, who shed His precious blood to save us, who were dead in our sins and trespasses, is our peace. Therefore, there can be no real peace between humans outside of Christ. This fact can be seen from the fact that Adam and Eve, who were at peace in God's love, sinned, and instead of peace, strife and anxiety, shame and fear, resentment and enmity, resentment and hatred were created. Gentlemen, true inner peace and peace between God and man and between man and man can only be enjoyed in Christ the Redeemer.
Christ is our peace because he has broken down the barriers in between, making the two, the Jew and the Gentile one one. In other words, Christ is our peace, since the commandments of the law, which were the decisive factor in the enmity between Jews and Gentiles, were abrogated by Christ's death on the cross. Romans 10:4 says, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." More specifically, Christ abrogated the law by fully fulfilling the fundamental spirit of all law, love, by his own death to save sinners.
The first purpose of Christ's abolition of the law was to make peace by making both Jews and Gentiles, who were enemies, into the same new man through faith in him. Ladies and gentlemen, to become one and to become one, that is, to achieve peace with each other, does not mean that I become you, nor do you become me. Everyone! Please believe that I will enjoy true peace only when I become a new creature in Christ, and you too become a new creature in Christ, forming one body, the church, with Christ as the head.
The second purpose of the abolition of the law by becoming a sin offering is to reconcile the Jews and Gentiles, who have formed one body, that is, the church, in Christ to God as new people. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
That Christ came again as the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension to heaven, proclaiming peace through his disciples. The reason was to open the way for Jews and Gentiles, who had been enemies, to become one as new people and to approach God the Father in the same Spirit.
4. A Growing Church
Because the church, in which Jews and Gentiles are united as one new person through Christ, has come to God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, all of them are not foreigners or guests, but are citizens of Heaven with the saints and are one family with God as their Father. The foundation of the church made up of those who believe in Christ is, of course, the gospel lesson taught by the apostles and prophets, and the cornerstone that unites and sustains the church is Christ. Therefore, the members of the church must constantly grow in order to connect with each other in Christ to form a complete temple. In other words, we must mature together in Christ Jesus to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
It is the most basic mission of the church to receive nourishment from Christ and to grow continuously so that the Spirit of God can dwell in him fully.
The goals of the church's maturity or growth as individuals or associations today have been degenerated into overly outward appearances. To name a few, an increase in the number of members, an increase in the size of church buildings and land, and an increase in finances. However, please believe that the goal of the church's maturity and growth that is pleasing to Christ is humble service and servanthood of love poured out by the Holy Spirit. To achieve this goal, we must meditate on the Word day and night and practice it, pray without ceasing, and be faithful to death for the Lord's work. Above all, we must diligently participate in the worship service that is the culmination of all these things.
5. Conclusion
The amazing work of God, who transcends all of our will and plans, has resulted in the preparation of a temple that we could not have imagined. We also made donations to build buildings according to God's work, and also gave joy and glory to God while working on the interior, by prayer, materially, talents and talents, or by allegiance with our bodies. However, not everything is over. From now on, we must become more united in Christ and work toward peace day by day. We must grow together and grow together in Christ in peace with one another. And we will have to work hard to preach the gospel to all those who still do not believe in Jesus Christ, whether in season or out of season.