January 20, Community of Faith

An actual picture of church members regathering after separation by the Covid 19 virus.

“Consequently, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizenswith the saints (God’s people) and members of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the cornerstone.”                  Ephesians 2:19

What is the church?  

The Apostle Paul referenced an archeological term: members of God’s household.  The idea of a physical structure represented permeance of belonging. In ancient law, the foreigner stood opposed to any formal home, which was only for the family.  No individual had a right into a home unless identified with the family.  In Christ, Paul announced, even the Gentile (the one considered an outsider) was now a member of God’s household because of permanent membership into God’s Kingdom and His church.  

So, every Christian represents a formal and permanent part of the church in a supernatural and spiritual sense because of what God has accomplished through Jesus. This should drastically and dramatically change how we view church membership and church attendance.  We are a part of something wonderful and supernatural.  This was the truth then through the teaching of the Apostles and prophets, and this is the truth now.    

May we remember how vital constant fellowship with the church, the community of faith, is to every follower of Christ.   The great preacher, Dwight L. Moody, creatively observed, 

Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.      

The uniqueness of the Christian community is that all things center on Jesus Christ, and not for the community itself.  Remember, church is not the experience of burdens from the practice of religion, but rather the experience of blessings from the privilege of relationship.  And, this is possible because of Jesus (the “Cornerstone”).   Apart from Him, the church has no reason to exist.  

You are a fellow citizen with all of God’s people, and you are a permanent member of God’s household. So today, celebrate that you are a part of the church. And celebrate this great truth with your community of faith.

Blessings.  

READ

Read Ephesians 1:1-23 to be remined of what Jesus has done to make you a part of His Church!