Faith is first and foremost a personal interaction between an individual and God.
God and each individual have personal ownership of this relationship.
From our understanding of this revelation, faith is also a primary building material for the local church.
Heb. 11: 1 " ... faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen … "
In this verse, we prefer the literal translation used in the King James version for the Greek word "hupostasis", "substance" in place of "assurance" … actually … the word more literally means to "stand under" with the connotation of a supporting foundation for a building or with a little extension the meaning can be the primary essence of an object or action.
The Greek word translated here as "conviction" is "elegcho" which more literally means a "legal proof" … like a property deed is the legal proof of ownership or a marriage license is the legal proof of relationship …
The Greek word translated here as "things" is "pragma" … the implication in the use of this word is not so much a reference to physical objects … rather … "a repetitive action or set of repetitive actions which maintain relationship" … perhaps a good way to look at it is those activities which a couple do together repeatedly while maintaining relationship … or … if you prefer, the repetitive activities of legal relationship that two companies will pursue which have a shared, contractual, business relationship … tracing the meaning of this word (pragma) to its root verb "prasso", we find additional clarification in that verb’s definition as an action "performed repeatedly or habitually"... by extension, it is an action which is "practiced" resulting in some level of "accomplishment" ... sometimes, we also consider extension of this thread to our daily use of the English word "pragmatic" … we find this scripture's focus for the use of this word, pragma, is not with reference to theoretical actions ... rather to ... practical and repeated activities. practiced endeavors, which work well based on cultural consensus, the situation and common sense.
The last word in this passage which we find interesting is the Greek word "blepo", translated here as "seen" … pretty much a literal translation … the interesting consideration of "blepo" is that the word is seldom, actually never, used else where in the New Testament except three times in this specific chapter of Hebrews. Paul reinforces the intended meaning of the verb by repeating its use in the third and seventh verse, note:
Heb. 11: 3 " … by faith … the world was created by the word of God ,,, so that … what is seen (blepo) was made out of things that do not appear … ".
Thus … if we summarize our study so far ... what we see of creation is made from that which is not seen by the Word of God … and … with regard to faith … faith is the "supportive foundation" for our repeated, or if you prefer practiced, actions to seek, establish, maintain and grow in a relationship with God … faith is also God’s "proof" to us … that is … our guarantee … that God reciprocates our effort to seek, establish, maintain and grow in this relationship … this thread of revelation continues:
Romans 10: 17 … "Faith comes from what is heard and what is heard from the Word of God"
So faith is pretty much what most people consider it to be … from a starting foundation, it is for each person what he/she consider their personal faith in God to be ... in our study so far ... faith is the supporting foundation for those repetitive activities in a person’s life which permit a person to seek God … this is true for each of us as an individual and it also seems to be appropriate within the context of the local church … faith is also God’s repetitive activity to confirm that the spiritual attributes of creation which we are not able to perceive, in the physical world, are indeed real and that God does seek reciprocal relationship with us …
We seem to consistently find that complex spiritual truths, like faith, always function, practically, in complete simplicity … faith has been perceived, embraced and has provided spiritual support for people across all cultures for thousands of years … the intent of our study is not to make complex that which God has intentionally made simple and available to everyone … rather to understand concepts of faith a little better for personal growth in our own relationship with God …
Continuing this scriptural thread:
Isaiah 52: " you bear the vessel of the Lord … you shall not go out in haste … you shall not go in flight … that which has not been told, you will see … that which you have not heard, you will understand"
Jeremiah 31, 32, 33 + 34: " ... says the Lord … I have loved you with an everlasting love … and … continue my faithfulness to you … I will gather you from the farthest parts of the earth … I will lead you back … in a straight path on which you shall not stumble … you shall be radiant … over the grain, wine and oil … your work shall be rewarded … I make a new covenant … (1) I will put my law within you … (2) I will write it on your hearts … (3) you shall know me … (4) nothing is too hard … I will reward each man according to his ways … according to the work of his doings … you will dwell in safety … you will be my people … I will be your God … I will give you … (1) one heart … (2) one way … (3) that you may revere me forever … (4) for your good and the good of your children …"
The scriptural thread which we are following originates in Heb. 11: 1 and finds first that faith deals with our relationship to God … faith is the supportive foundation, the essence, for our personal repetitive activity to establish, maintain and grow in relationship with God ... and ... it is also God’s guarantee for reciprocation as this relationship develops …
As Christians, our relationship with God is through Jesus Christ … Christ is the supporting foundation (hupostasis ) of our relationship with God … while it takes a while to think about this principle … it is not that we have "faith in" Jesus Christ … rather … Jesus Christ "is our faith" in God …this seems a bit semantic at first though is helpful as we continue to study this thread of revelation ...
1 Cor 1: 30 … " … God … is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom … righteousness … sanctification … and … redemption …"
Ep 1: 9 … " … He has made known to us in wisdom … the mystery of His will … according to His purpose … set forth in Christ … to unite all things to Him … in heaven and … on earth …"
We’ve always felt that this verse from Ephesians connects with the thread from Jeremiah 31 – 34 very nicely … God's purpose to unit "all things" in heaven and on earth has a lot to do with our consideration that "Jesus is our faith" ... we present the concept not as a semantic argument … rather … we feel that there is practical value if we can come to understand a little better the meaning of pragma … what ever activities we pursue as an individual, or the local church, to establish, maintain and grow in relationship with God, as Christians, the supporting foundation of that activity is Jesus Christ … at this point in this study this often still seems a semantic argument to many folks … that is … the consideration: is our faith as Christians "in" Jesus Christ … or … is Jesus Christ "our" faith … when we were younger we would often get stuck at points like this … now we just keep going … the answer which serves us best is that it is of course both … and we continue with this study ...
The verse 1 Cor: 30 continues the spiritual thread to define to purpose of pragma … our repetitive actions to establish, maintain and grow ... note that by grow we mean to develop our relationship with God dimensionally in many ways ... anyway these repetitive actions result in and increase wisdom … by wisdom this verse is referring to a specific spiritual attribute which is termed wisdom in many bible verses … if we are to maintain and continue to develop depth in our relationship with God, we require the spiritual attribute of wisdom … at the risk of being far too repetitive ... as we are to grow in our relationship with God, we require increasing use-of or perhaps practice-with or perhaps amounts-of the spiritual attribute: wisdom … as Christians, God has made Jesus Christ our source for spiritual wisdom (1 Cor. 1: 30) … spiritual wisdom is both necessary for and fundamentally responsible for the growth of our relationship with God … we will not focus on them in this study though we should also note that the outcomes of this activity (pragma) which generate spiritual wisdom include: righteousness, sanctification and redemption … each pretty much a separate study on its own ...
Prov 9: 10 … " … reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom …"
Jas 1: 5 … " … if you lack wisdom … ask God … and it will be given …"
Ecc 2: 26 … " … to those who please Him … God gives wisdom … knowledge and joy … "
Jas 3: 13 … " … who is … wise … and understanding … let him show his works … in the meekness of wisdom … "
Going back to that reference from Isaiah 52 … " … you bear the vessel of the Lord … you shall not go out in haste … you shall not go in flight … that which has not been told, you will see … that which you have not heard, you will understand …" … perhaps the vessel referenced here is faith …
If we consider that faith is a spiritual vessel which we bear in our on-going activities to establish, maintain and grow (develop) our relationship with God … one thought is that most vessels are utilitarian in nature, they are meant to hold, that is contain, something … composition, form, capacity and fullness are all considerations which define the usefulness of a vessel … e.g., the composition of a vessel is important because vessels of porous composition may make good containers for dry goods (grain) but perhaps not such good containers for liquids (wine and oil) ... a vessel’s capacity is dependent on the intended use and need ... a salt shaker and a rail road box car are both important containers though of much different capacity … fullness is also relative to both use and need … some containers are functional only when full while other vessels are not intended to ever be full …
If we are correct and faith is the vessel referenced in Isaiah 52, then our study is taking us to a consideration that Jesus Christ, in each of our lives, is a vessel with considerations of composition, form, capacity, fullness, etc. … if this is true, what does this vessel, Jesus Christ, contain?
We believe that the answer, in part, is spiritual wisdom. Wisdom the spiritual attribute which "accumulates" during the dynamic activities involving faith and our relationship with God … remember that our definition, for pragma, from Heb. 11: 1 includes the consideration that the repetitive actions (activities) are "practiced" and result in some level of "accomplishment" … partially through our efforts and partially as God’s guarantee.
Each person and each person’s vessel is unique because the relationship of each person with God is unique … consequently faith as a vessel for each person contains spiritual attributes, like wisdom, in a unique way … it is unique for each of us and it is also unique when considered for various time periods of our life …
Wisdom, its own unique attributes, its extent and the degree of its accumulation at any give time in our life is dependent on our personal effort, that is our personal effort seek, establish, maintain and grow in our relationship with God.
Faith permits growth through our efforts and God’s guarantee … the consideration of faith as a vessel permits the concept that wisdom is gained and carried … that is, spiritual wisdom accumulates within our faith … as our relationship with God develops dimensionally, so also does the spiritual attribute of wisdom ... faith as a vessel changes dynamically in our life as we gain more spiritual wisdom or perhaps it is not more so much as a change in quality, an interesting consideration for vessel composition - grain/wine/oil … from God’s perspective, wisdom, is dependent on the choices of our free will and functions to open avenues to new depths in our relationship with Him … Prov 3: 19 – 20 … " … by wisdom the Lord founded the earth … by understanding established the heavens … by His knowledge the deeps broke forth and the clouds drop down dew …"
Perhaps we should digress to a practical perspective or if you prefer application for this principle … it is sometimes difficult to perceive the sincerity of faith in an individual or group of individuals ... faith constitutes repetitive activities which for most folks are a true and sincere seeking of God and God’s will ... at other times these same actions can be an intentional or unintentional masquerade … however … what cannot be counterfeit is spiritual wisdom ... wisdom is the outcome of repetitive activities which are a sincere seeking of God and God’s will … and of some interest … spiritual wisdom has specifically defined outward signs … a good tool for discerning the intent of spiritual activity within the local church … one might ask, how do you discern the presence of spiritual wisdom?
Jas 3: 13 … " … who is … wise … and understanding … let him show his works … in the meekness of wisdom … "
Jas 3: 17 … " … wisdom … is first pure … then peaceable … gentle … open to reason … full of mercy … and … good fruits … without uncertainty or insincerity … "
Gal 5: 22 … " … fruit of the Spirit … love … joy … peace … patience … kindness … goodness … faithfulness … gentleness … and … self-control …"
Prov 3: 9 … " … honor the Lord with your substance … and … with the first fruits of your produce …"
Prov 3: 13 – 18 … " … happy the man who finds wisdom … who gets understanding … the gain is better than silver … profit better than gold … more precious that jewels … that man’s … ways will be pleasantness … his … paths are peace … all who hold fast … will be … happy …"
Prov 3: 21 – 23 … " … keep sound wisdom … you will walk on your way securely … and … your foot will not stumble … "
We’ve been studying faith … faith is pretty much what everyone thinks it is and it is also something else … faith is Jesus Christ, for us, because we are Christian … for us, Jesus Christ is the supporting foundation or if you prefer the essential reason that we seek God … Jesus is also our guarantee, from God, that our efforts to seek, establish, maintain and grow in our relationship with Him are reciprocated … as we accomplish more growth and depth in this relationship, we accumulate or grow or change the quality of the spiritual attribute - wisdom … wisdom uniquely expresses itself in an individual though in specific ways … God has made it possible for us to identify folks who are accumulating, that is growing, in spiritual wisdom … we have conceptualized that faith is a vessel for spiritual wisdom … Jesus Christ, for us as Christians, is a vessel for each of us as an individual and for our local church group … Jesus is our vessel which holds spiritual attributes, like wisdom … our study may reference: capacity, composition, form, and fullness … now we should continue:
B. Biblical models for faith as a vessel
Noah (Gen 6 – 9, Heb 11; 7)
Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25; 10 – 22, Deut 10, 2Kings 4)
Elisha and the Widow’s oil (2 Kings 4; 2 – 7)
Jesus' miracle at Capernaum (John 2; 1 – 12)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/184509395@N06/
C. Three people that Jesus notes in the gospels for their faithThree individuals whom Jesus notes for their faith:
Before we begin our review of these three individuals it might be good to consider a dialog that Jesus has with his disciples in Mat: 18; 1 – 3 concerning who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven: " … unless you turn and become like children … you will never enter the kingdom of heaven … who ever humbles himself like this child … he/she is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven …" … remember … Rom. 4; 13 – 25 tells us that the kingdom of heaven, our inheritance, purchased through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is available now through the righteousness of faith … the kingdom of heaven … or … if you prefer … the kingdom of God … is here now and available for occupancy through faith … faith is both the primary "support" for our repeated, or if you prefer practiced, actions to seek, establish, maintain and grow (develop) in our relationship with God and it is also God’s "proof" … that is … our guarantee, of that relationship … now let us review these three individuals of faith which Jesus noted …the Centurion of Mat. 8; 5-10
the Canaanite Woman of Mat. 15; 21 – 28
the Woman at the well of John 4; 7 - 26
C.1. Centurion with a sick servant
- a person of faith noted by Jesus
There are two statements important to our current study on faith:
Centurion says to Jesus … " … I am not worthy to have you come under my roof … say the word … "
Jesus says to the Centurion … " … be it done for you as you have believed …"
There are two words that we find interesting:
worthy … hikanos … from the Greek verb hiko, to arrive, and by extension … "ample in capacity or amount" … or … "ready as in proper season", e.g. a fruit tree blooms and then bears fruit in its proper season
done … ginomai … perhaps in the Greek a meaning closer to: " to come to be "
The Centurion says to Jesus: "say what must be said" … and … Jesus' reply: "what you can believe will be" … pretty interesting when you get it down to a current day's vernacular … and … consider that the frame of reference is that, following the event, Jesus feels that this Centurion has more faith than anyone he has met in Israel … there is something to be learned here …
We've been considering a concept that faith is a vessel … the Centurion has the external signs of sincere faith in God if our premise that the spiritual attribute wisdom accumulates as one practices her/his faith and there are discernable manifestations of wisdom …
Jas 3; 13 … " …. who is wise and understanding … let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom …"
Jas 3; 17 … " … wisdom … is first pure … then peaceful … gentle … open to reason … full of mercy … and … good fruits … without uncertainty or insincerity … "
In addition to the spiritual attribute wisdom, this encounter suggests that there is another dimension at which this dialog occurs … the Centurion says to Jesus … "… say what must be said and it will be done …" … note that in James 3; 13 + 17 that the outward, discernable, manifestations of spiritual wisdom deal with a person's interrelationships with other people, e.g.: meek, works, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, etc. … in contrast … this dialog by the Centurion is a statement of understanding … he understands how this spiritual process works … essentially … the Centurion understands "what is important" and "what is actually going on" from God's perspective … note that it is good for us all to remember that "how" spiritual principles "work" is usually pretty close to "how" everything else that we understand "works" … not too unbelievable when we consider that God is present every where and is with us in all things that we do …
The thread of our study deals with faith and the concept that faith is a vessel … Heb 11; 1 is the scripture verse which provides a definition for faith and selected text from Isaiah 52 introduces the context in which we conceptualize faith as a vessel: " … you bear the vessel of the Lord … you shall not go out in haste … you shall not go in flight … that which has not been told, you will see … that which you have not heard, you will understand … " … the Centurion understands something he has never heard … for that matter … something no one ever heard except Jesus who is the living Word of God … faith as a vessel is unique for each person and uniquely different at various times in each person's life … the vessel changes as the contents change … the contents are spiritual attributes … we have noted wisdom and in this encounter with the Centurion we can see a second spiritual attribute: understanding …
Prov 2; 2 … " … make your ear attentive to wisdom … incline your heart to understanding …"
Prov 2; 3 … " … raise your voice for understanding … seek it like silver … search … as for hidden treasure … then you will understand reverence for the Lord … and … find the knowledge of God … "
Prov 2; 6 - 12 … " the Lord gives wisdom … from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding … you will understand righteousness, justice, equity and every good path … for wisdom will come into your heart … knowledge will be pleasant to your soul … understanding will guard you … "
Prov 3; 19 - 20 … " … by wisdom the Lord founded the earth … by understanding established the heavens … by His knowledge the deeps broke forth and the clouds drop down dew … "
From the verse Prov 3; 19 - 20 there is a dynamic relationship between wisdom, knowledge and understanding … wisdom requires our free will and desire to seek God while understanding, that is spiritual understanding, is very much available only from relationship with God … we gain or if you prefer increase in wisdom via that word pragma from Heb 11; 1 … knowledge of God's will and knowledge of God is like the clouds dropping down dew and the deeps (within ourselves) providing the medium which permits our perception of "what is going on" and "what is really important" from God's perspective or if you prefer understanding … wisdom, knowledge and understanding are acquired and contained within our "vessel of the Lord" - that is faith … the mix varies from individual to individual and over time for everyone …
When Jesus says to the Centurion … " … what you can believe will be …" … the word "believe" in Greek is from the same word group which we translate as faith throughout the New Testament … pisteuo = to trust or have faith, pistis = conviction or persuasion, peitho = to rely … we could rephrase the words of Jesus: "… what your faith can hold will be …" … at this point we will leave the considerations of capacity and fullness for a little bit later in the study … however … we should not forget the consideration that Jesus Christ is our faith … Jesus is the vessel which we are considering … if you consider that reference to Isaiah 52 … this vessel in not a burden …
In both gospel accounts, the Centurion uses the Greek word hikanos as worthy, or perhaps better to state the context as "not worthy" … his "spiritual capacity" is not ready or if you prefer "the season is not correct - as in the season for a fruit tree to bear fruit or a wheat field to be ready for harvest … we could consider that this is a social formality however it is Jesus who remarks on the Centurion's level of faith … if that is the case … then … we can conclude that as our faith changes with increasing levels of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, we come to know both God and ourselves better … with a better knowledge of God's will, a better understanding of what is really important and what is really going on from a spiritual perspective … from God's perspective.
We find the encounter of Jesus and the Centurion from a consideration of faith is best summarized by Prov 2; 10 - 12 … "… wisdom will come into your heart … knowledge will be pleasant to your soul … understanding will guard you … "
end of section C.1. on faith: Centurion with a sick servant
C.2. Jesus and the Canaanite Woman of Mat. 15; 21 - 28
- a person of faith noted by Jesus
C.3. Jesus and the Woman at the Well of John 4; 7-26
While Jesus does not single out this woman for her faith, his dialog with her concerns faith ... it is interesting that, at this point in the gospel of John, Jesus also identifies himself as the Messiah, the Christ ...
Dialog between Jesus and this woman, again, concerns faith though it does not mention the word ... the focal point seems to be in verses 23 + 24: ... "... the hour is coming ... and ... now is ... when ... true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth ... such the Father seeks to worship Him ... God is a spirit ... those who worship Him ... must worship ... in spirit and in truth ..."
In this study on faith we have used Heb. 11; 1 as our key definition ... within that definition, the Greek word pragma permits our conceptualization that faith, as a collection of actions, is repetitive, practiced and practical in order that we might find, establish, maintain and grow in a relationship with God ... here, in verse 23 + 24, Jesus tells us that the Father is also seeking us, though the requirement is that we as individuals or a local church must find God and establish relationship in spirit and truth ... to restate this ... our relationship with God requires the practical application of spiritual tools (attributes like wisdom and knowledge) and truth (understanding) ... repetitive use of these spiritual attributes, or if you prefer - practice with them, permits us as people to meet God and for God to meet us ... pragma again seems best defined as those repetitive actions which permit two individuals to grow in relationship ... as Christians, Jesus is our Messiah/Christ ... that is ... Jesus is the vessel which permits the development of this mutual relationship between ourselves and God ...
D. Faith as the building block of the local churchThe individual of faith, her/his local church and Jesus Christ, our Messiah, are all very closely linked in God's plan or if you prefer God's purpose to join that which is of heaven and that which is of earth ...
Ep 1: 9 … " … He has made known to us in wisdom … the mystery of His will … according to His purpose … set forth in Christ … to unite all things to Him … in heaven and … on earth …"
Col. 1; 17 - 20 ... "... in him ... all things hold together ... he is the head of the body ... the Church ... for in him ... the fullness of God is pleased to dwell ... and ... through him ... reconciles all things ... on earth ... or ... in heaven ... making peace ... by the blood of his cross ..."
Note: we feel that we should never discount God's other initiatives of faith with so many other peoples, in so many places and across uncounted years of time ... however ... we are Christian, so this study is about Jesus Christ and God's revelation which is specific to the life of Jesus and his life in us as Christians. Over the years, we have found that the same measures of true faith ( attributes of spiritual wisdom ), which have been give to us as Christians as tools for the Church, are also very good measures for the identification of true faith in God no matter how or where it manifests itself ... we feel that faith is first and foremost a personal interaction between an individual and God ... God and each individual have personal ownership of their relationship ... from our understanding of this revelation, faith is also a primary building material for the local church ... to review the measures of true faith which are actually the attributes of spiritual wisdom ...
Jas 3: 13 … " … who is … wise … and understanding … let him show his works … in the meekness of wisdom … "
Jas 3: 17 … " … wisdom … is first pure … then peaceable … gentle … open to reason … full of mercy … and … good fruits … without uncertainty or insincerity … "
Gal 5: 22 … " … fruit of the Spirit … love … joy … peace … patience … kindness … goodness … faithfulness … gentleness … and … self-control …"
So why is faith a building block of an individual's local church ... and ... why not extend this consideration to include any given region's denomination group ... or ... an entire Christian denomination ... or ... for that matter ... why not the entire Christian church on earth ... perhaps a good question ... when we were younger - we'd often get "stuck" on points like this though now we just consider it can be all or what ever any given individual best feels represents their on-going and personal interaction with fellow Christians ... one cannot grow in spiritual wisdom without personal interaction with other Christians ... interaction with all peoples is important in an individual's life ... however ... as Christians, we need personal interaction with other Christians, for the generation of spiritual wisdom ... without spiritual wisdom a person cannot grow in her/his relationship with God ... there is dimension in all relationships ... both individuals in a relationship have responsibility for the growth and dimension of their relationship ... God does His part ... as Christians, we need to interact with each other as part of our part ... we find that pretty interesting ...
Ep. 3; 16 - 21 ... "... he may grant ... you ... to be ... strengthened with might through his spirit ... that ... Christ may dwell in your heart ... through faith ... that you ... may have power ... to comprehend ... the ... breadth ... length ... height ... and ... depth ... to know the love of Christ ... which surpasses knowledge ... that you may be filled ... with all the fullness of God ... "
We could digress on fullness at this point though feel it is better to note that we have four dimensions in this image from Ephesians chapter 3 ... breadth, length, height and depth ... if we return to our consideration that faith is a vessel ... then ... in addition to attributes like: composition, capacity and fullness ... we need to consider what constitutes the fourth dimension of a vessel ... or ... at least for our image that faith is a vessel ... remember ... our study developed this concept and extends it to suggest that Jesus Christ is actually our faith ... why is it necessary to consider that our faith "is Jesus" rather than "in Jesus" ... perhaps we can begin to find an answer:
Ep. 1; 22 - 23 ... "... he (God) has put ... all things ... under his (Jesus Christ's) feet ... and has ... made him (or if you prefer: given him) ... head ... over all things ... for (or if you refer: to) ... the Church ... which is his body ... the fullness of him ... who fills ... all ... in all ..."
The local church is the body of Jesus Christ ... our consideration that Jesus Christ is the "vessel of the Lord" ... now ... extends to the local church ... the local church is the vessel in which we accumulate the spiritual attributes which are necessary of our personal growth in relationship with God ... so far we have encountered four spiritual attributes associated with our personal relationship to God: wisdom, knowledge of God's will, knowledge of God and understanding ... we find it important to remember that it is in the experience of all people of faith that they intrinsically wish, and need, to "congregate" with others of similar faith ... while it is often difficult to conceptualize Jesus as this vessel which we have been considering with limiting characteristics like composition, capacity and fullness ... the image may now be of some use as we study how faith works as a basic building block of the local church ... the body of Christ ... we have no argument against the hierarchic organization of various Christian church groups ... we actually feel that they, pretty much, represent a healthy and active interaction of the Holy Spirit with various peoples who have slightly different perceptions of God ... the local church group becomes the primary focus in these threads of revelation as that is where the far majority of Christians are interacting with each other ... for those folks who practice their faith and Christian calling at other levels of organization, then that is where they are interacting with other Christians for growth and depth in their relationship with God ... essentially, the definition of what the "local church" is references what is "local" for each individual of faith ... it is relative ...
Col. 1; 17 - 20 ... "... in him ... all things hold together ... he is the head of the body ... the Church ... for in him ... the fullness of God is pleased to dwell ... and ... through him ... reconciles all things ... on earth ... or ... in heaven ... making peace ... by the blood of his cross ..."
Col. 2; 9 - 10 ... "... in him ... the fullness of the deity dwells ... bodily ... you ... have come to ... fullness of (or if you prefer: complete) life ... in him ... who is the head ... of all ... rule and authority (or if you prefer: principality and power)
Faith, that is the composite faith of church members, is what builds the local and extended church into the habitation of God ... we see in 1 Cor. 12: 4 - 11 that faith is the 3rd gift of the Holy Spirit ... this thread continues in Ep. 4; 11 - 16 ... "... his gifts were that some should be ... apostles ... prophets ... evangelists ... pastors ... teachers ... for ... the perfecting of the saints ... the work of the ministry ... the building up of the body of Christ ... until ... we all attain ... the ... unity of faith ... the knowledge of the Son of God ... to ... mature manhood ... to the measure of the fullness of Christ ... so that ... we may no longer be children ... carried about with every wind of doctrine ... by the cunning of men ... by their craftiness in deceit ... rather ... speaking the truth in love ... we are to ... grow up ... into him who is the head ... into Christ ... from whom ... the whole body ... joined and knit together ... is working properly ... making bodily growth ... up builds itself in love ..."
Each person, of faith, brings to the local church her/his accumulated spiritual wisdom ... and ... as each person grows in their faith within the local church, this spiritual attribute increases both for the individual and for the congregation of the local church ... we have a feeling that the other three spiritual attributes are also involved: knowledge of God's will, knowledge of God and a spiritual understanding of God's purpose ... these three accumulate ... not so much within the individual ... as ... within the body of Christ ... the local church ... the individual members of a local church benefit and grow in these attributes ... though ... the medium in which they are gained is the local church ... note that the gifts of the Spirit from 1 Cor. 12; 3 - 11 ... and ... church structure definitions from Matthew 5 and 1Cor. 12; 28 ... do not represent the management of individuals ... the manifestation of spiritual attribute wisdom within a local church group that is seeking relationship with god provides appropriate controls for the management of individuals within that local church group ... rather ... the gifts of the Spirit and church structure definition are controls for acquiring, accumulating and using these additional three spiritual attributes to grow, or perhaps a better term might be "move", closer to God both as individuals and as the local church group ... this enables ... God to move closer to us as individuals within the structure of the local church ... note a prayer of Jesus to the Father in John 17; 22 - 23 ... "... the glory which You have given me ... I have given to them .. that they may be one ... as we are one ... I in them ... and ... You in me ... that they may be made perfect in one ... so that ... the world may know ... that you have sent me ... and ... loved them ... as you have loved me ..."
This is a good time to note again that these principles are not complex ... rather ... God has made them very simple ... even the smallest children in our churches understand these principles ... we see them constantly at work in our local church groups ... the purpose of this study is to follow a thread of scripture that we might better understand and utilize these spiritual attributes in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ in our local church ... the gateway to the presence of God is the local church ... again, a simple principle perceived by almost everyone ... note this passage Heb. 10, 19 - 25 ... "... we ... have confidence to enter the sanctuary ... by the blood of Jesus ... the new and living way ... opened for us through the curtain (torn curtain of Holy-of-Holies in Lk 23; 44 - 45) ... that is His flesh (or body) ... let us draw near ... in full assurance of faith ... (1) hold fast the confession of our hope ... (2) stir one another up to love and good works ... (3) not neglecting to meet together ... (4) encouraging one another ..." ... the local church is the body of Christ ... it is the gateway to the presence of God ... it is a vessel for four spiritual attributes: wisdom, knowledge of God's will, knowledge of God and understanding ...
1 Cor. 3: 9 - 10 ... "... you are God's building ..."
Eph. 2: 2 ... "... you are built together for a habitation of God through the spirit ..."
Jude: 20 ... "... build up yourselves on your most holy faith ..."
Isaiah 28: 16 ... "... I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation ..."
1 Cor. 3: 11 ... "... no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid in Jesus Christ ..."
Colossians 2: 7 ... "... rooted and built up in Christ, established in the faith ..."
God establishes faith with each individual and then uses the composite faith of the local church group as the building blocks for His habitation on earth. We find faith linked to the Word of God:
Rom 10: 17 ... "... faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God ..."
Acts 20: 32 ... "... the Word of God's grace is building you up ..."
Heb. 11: 3 ... "... by faith the world was created by the Word of God ..."
Heb. 4: 12 ... "... living and active, the Word of God is sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart ..."
Isaiah 55: 11 ... "... so shall my Word be that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it ..."
John 14: 21, 23 ... "... he who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him ... if a man loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him ..."
John 17: 17 ... "... part of a prayer of Jesus ... sanctify them through Your truth, your Word is truth ..."
1 John 2: 5 ... "... whoever keeps His Word, in him love for God is perfected ..."
1 John 5: 1 - 5 ... "... everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God ... everyone who loves the parent loves the child ... by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments ... this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments ... His commandments are not burdensome ... whoever is born of God overcomes the world, this is the victory which overcomes the world, our faith ... who is it who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ..."
Eph. 5: 25 - 27 ... "... Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word ... that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish ..." ... note: a link to the spiritual principle of sanctification: Word of God -to- faith -to- sanctification
E. Faith and the Kingdom of Heaven or if you prefer the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God ... or if you prefer ... the Kingdom of Heaven ... is not just where we are or where we will be ... it is where God is and has dominion ... our free will, our faith, Jesus Christ, our engagement in and with our local Church, the personal growth we achieve in our relationship with God ... all ... represents considerations for our conceptualization of what and where and when God's kingdom is ... we like to think of the Kingdom of God (heaven) as that state of our being in which God rules ... when God is able to rule, heaven and earth are reconciled or if you prefer: united ...
Ep 1: 9 … " … He has made known to us in wisdom … the mystery of His will … according to His purpose … set forth in Christ … to unite all things to Him … in heaven and … on earth …"
Col. 1; 17 - 20 ... "... in him ... all things hold together ... he is the head of the body ... the Church ... for in him ... the fullness of God is pleased to dwell ... and ... through him ... reconciles all things ... on earth ... or ... in heaven ... making peace ... by the blood of his cross ..."
Jeremiah 31, 32, 33 + 34: " says the Lord … I have loved you with an everlasting love … and … continue my faithfulness to you … I will gather you from the farthest parts of the earth … I will lead you back … in a straight path on which you shall not stumble … you shall be radiant … over the grain, wine and oil … your work shall be rewarded … I make a new covenant … (1) I will put my law within you … (2) I will write it on your hearts … (3) you shall know me … (4) nothing is too hard … I will reward each man according to his ways … according to the work of his doings … you will dwell in safety … you will be my people … I will be your God … I will give you … (1) one heart … (2) one way … (3) that you may revere me forever … (4) for your good and the good of your children …"
We find this consistent with the concept that God is seeking to be closer to us as individuals: Gal. 4: 9 ... "...now that you have come to know God, or rather be known by God..." ... and ... James 4: 8 ... "... draw near to God and he will draw near to you ..."....
Ps 16; 11 ... "... show me the path of life ... in thy presence ... there is ... fullness of joy..." ... consider the harmonic-of-3: righteousness, peace and joy ...
Mark 12; 28 - 34 ... this is the dialog of Jesus with the Scribe who answers wisely in verses 33 (Deut 4; 39) and verse 34 (Hos 6; 6) ... there is only one God, we need to love God with our whole heart, understanding, soul, strength and love our neighbor as oneself, these are more than the whole of burnt offerings and sacrifice ... what we find important to this thread of inquiry, for this study, is the response of Jesus in verse 34 ... "... you are not far from the kingdom of heaven ..." ... it is obvious and it also may bear some thought ... why is this wise Scribe "not far" from the kingdom of heaven ... perhaps he is "not far" from that point of being where God could have dominion in his life ...
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.