Ephesians 4:11-12 - Prophets and Apostles

Ephesians 4:11-12 - And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

Message: Prophets and Apostles

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I continue to look at Ecclesiology - the doctrine of the church - I have thus far done 12 lessons the are broken down into defining the church as Christ's Body and the church we see (visible) and the church we do not see (invisible) and yet Christ knows. Then I looked at defining truths about the Church as seen from the Apostles Creed throughout time and history. The church marches on throughout time united as one people, holy, and one people from every tribe and tongue built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching. Then I saw that the churches today need to have core understandings of their mission. They need to be preaching the Word of God, Administering Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism) and they need to have a focus on church discipline. Going forward for the last 11 lessons, I will look at the key church leadership offices - apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, deacons and elders, though the latter will be touched on in a future lesson. Then several lessons on the purpose of the church and finally highlighting key pastors and theologians from church history. 

In the Bible there are discussions about belonging to a church and in this belonging there is service. And in considering service there is talk of spiritual gifts. In a reading of the Old Testament, certain individuals had offices, but in the new covenant we are all to serve with Jesus as our example - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). There are various lists given of these gifts in Scripture:  Romans 12:3–8, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and Ephesians 4:1–16 and First Peter 4:10–11. And yet there seems to be distinct gifts spoken of for the those that lead the Body. Today's passage begins to list these offices and it says in verse 12 -- to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Thus, I believe there are certain gifts for leaders. Today, I focus on Prophets and Apostles and the belief that while these officers are important they are foundational and therefore do not repeat throughout the age of the church. 

Let's start with Ephesians 2:19-21 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. -- Thus, there is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. The foundation is a part of the building and building is mentioned by Paul in speaking of the church (I Corinthians 3:9-10). The ministry of the apostles and the prophets and their lives seem to be the basis of the church. Matthew 16:18 speaks of one of the apostles -- And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

As Jesus called his disciples it seems they were to listen and follow and then as his ministry goes on he asks them to do the things that he has been doing. And it also seem significant that the apostles brought about the beginning of the church after Jesus ascended to heaven following His resurrection. Prophets is a little harder to navigate. Paul often mentioned Israel's prophets in his writings, and often in a sense of laying the foundation. But what is not clear from me if these are the prophets he is referring to here. 

There are some belief systems that believe these role of prophets and apostles occur today. But with Jesus as our cornerstone, this distinction seems unlikely. It seems unlikely that there would be new information that would need to be told. And I have previously discussed this idea of the Church in scriptures and the belief of the invisible church only known by God. The foundation is the infallible word of God and I don't thing there are other source books that can be added later, like a Book of Mormon for instance. Or even raising up a certain leader that speaks such as the Pope. 

Hebrews 1:1-2 says -- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. The last days are the time of Jesus and therefore I don't think last days is extended to include other divine beings. 

Naturally we have leaders in the church but I think we work collectively to define interpretation of the scripture and then applying it to our lives. The danger always is how we interpret it. Once again, I think there are central messages of grace and Jesus as Savior and Lord that cannot be altered, but perhaps whether there are prophets today or whether beliefs in how often the Lord's Supper is performed fall into negotiables. The challenge always then is figuring out what is essential and what is non-essential. 

Summary: There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets.

Promise: From Tabletalk, God gave the Apostles and prophets for the good of His people, and they fulfilled their task by delivering to us His infallible Word. If we want to benefit from what these officers have to offer us today, we must pay heed to what they give us in Scripture. There is no other place today where we can find God’s special revelation to His people.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for raising up people like me to deliver your message to all people. Thank you for showing us how these individuals were messengers and were not to be worshipped or set apart. It is you who is to be glorified and praised over and over throughout the ages. Help us always to have our focus centrally on You and the work that You are doing and have done and will do. Continue to help us not to be divided in our world, but to be about a people that is intent always on doing your will. Thank you for the church. Thank you for this Body that you have brought together and thank you for showing us the work that you do continually through us. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Matthew 18:15-20 - The Discipline of the Church

Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Message: The Discipline of the Church

Time: Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, is credited with this book, despite the fact that he did not sign it. Dating it's writing is difficult, but most agree it to be AD 60-65 since it does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. A Jew, he includes 50 direct citations and many other indirect citations from the Old Testament. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Church discipline is a defining characteristic of the church - whether it is a part of sacraments or a separate distinction it signifies that a person is not allowed to be a part of the visible church fellowship and therefore is not to partake of the Lord's Supper. 

The reason church discipline is important is the church is commissioned to walk in holiness and be free of flagrant sin and false teaching. I Peter 1:13-25 includes - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. In addition - love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. The church is the obedient children and we are not to engage our lives in a manner that mirrors our behavior and actions of our life before Christ. Instead, we are to be holy and act holy in all of our conduct. The congregation of the church or the visible church is meant to be different from the world. Yesterday, in Sunday School we talked about characteristics found in Christians that are distinct from the people of the world like Joy and Happiness (something I've always struggled displaying), forgiveness, be encouraging, showing comfort, humility, peace. Admitting your sin is one I hold in high value for I am a person that makes mistakes often and there is no harm in stating you made a mistake. I think also honesty is important. Thus, in church discipline we need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart. 

To me church discipline comes about when you have someone in the Body that does not agree that a sin has been committed or is not willing to change from their behavior. 

In this passage today from Matthew 18, Jesus is explaining the practice of discipline or seeing sin in your brother and confronting it. Step 1 in the process - see the sin and tell your brother you have seen it. I can't say in my life I have much experience in this. I think I attempt to bring attention to people their sin when we share the gospel and ask them questions about the ten commandments, but in general it is quite hard these days to confront sin. Step 2 is to bring someone else. Step 3 is to bring it before the church. Step 4 is to treat the person like an outsider in the church. Basically, if someone is unwilling to see their sin then they have no business being in the church. Sounds simple, but the practice I think is more difficult. 

Our goal in all of this is restitution. We do not treat the person as evil. We also hope that forgiveness will follow. Disciplined sinners that turn from their sin are to be restored. 

2 Cor 2:5-11 -- Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Summary: In church discipline, we need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Promise: The most important thing we can do to advance the church's purity is to pursue holiness ourselves so that we need not come under official church discipline. 

Prayer: God, you are gracious and good. In life, you tech me that in me I struggle being good. There are times when we waiver further from you and your ways and seek after things that do not give you glory. We are called to be in a Body of believers and yet even in this community we can waiver from you. Discipline is difficult. Correction is hard, but help us Father to always lean toward grace and forgiveness while also dealing with sin. The church is meant to be a light for all to see and so if there are those in our community that are not living holy lives, show us who they are and then I pray that we would have the courage to confront them and they would have the courage and recognition to then turn from their sin. Lord, help us be always a holy people. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered.

Matthew 28:18-20 - Administering Sacraments

Matthew 28:18-20 - Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Message: Administering Sacraments

Time: Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, is credited with this book, despite the fact that he did not sign it. Dating it's writing is difficult, but most agree it to be AD 60-65 since it does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. A Jew, he includes 50 direct citations and many other indirect citations from the Old Testament. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

The text today from Matthew 28, that was looked at in the previous lesson in which I focused on the idea of teaching and observing all that Christ commands which means teaching and observing the Word of God in its entirety -- now also mentions the importance of baptism -- Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them. And then also prior to his death on the cross, Christ emphasized the Lord's Supper. In I Corinthians 11:26 Paul emphasizes that we are to do the Lord's Supper often. Thus, it is clear that in addition to the faithful preaching of the Word of God, there are also practices or acts or sacraments that the church needs to be involved in regularly observing and leading the congregation and the other church people doing. I believe it is clear that sacraments are needed and a part of church life. 

Yesterday, when I mentioned teaching the Word of God faithfully, I did not mention all of the various ways in which I think this is done in the Church. In the same way, sacraments is also varied in what different churches emphasize as the sacraments. It would seem from this lesson in Tabletalk, which is overseen and written by Ligonier, that at the minimum churches need to be practicing the Lord's Supper and baptism. 

I saw this comment from Charles Simeon (1759-1836), a theologian associated with the Church of England:

So say I of baptism and of the Lord’s Supper: “In their proper and appointed use they cannot be too highly valued: but, if abused to purposes for which they were not given, and looked to as containing in themselves, and conveying of themselves, salvation to man, they are desecrated.”

Now, in this comment, it seems he is saying that while important and highly valued, baptism and the Lord's Supper should not be seen as salvific. And yet this is where the Roman Catholic Church resides. I saw this article that states: "The Divine Salvific Offer is Based on the Interrelationship between Faith and Sacraments." And this comment from Basil the Great, a bishop born in Turkey, living in Asia Minor from 330-379 stating:

Faith and baptism are, however, two mutually inherent and inseparable modes of salvation, for faith is in fact perfected through baptism, and baptism, for its part, is founded through faith, and both attain their fullness through the same names. For as we believe in the Father, in the Son and in the Holy Spirit, so we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And certainly the confession of faith goes forward, which introduces us into salvation, but baptism follows, which seals our assent.

Thus, the differences are clear. While both emphasize the importance of baptism and the Lord's Supper, there are clear differences in how they are applied in the church and meant to be viewed toward an individual's salvation. And then Roman Catholicism has 7 sacraments and other churches and denominations also have certain beliefs about these sacraments that they are to be defined a certain way. 

So what is my conclusion? I believe they are necessary and valued, but overall in Scripture it seems incompatible to say they are necessary for salvation and yet they are necessary and important and need to be observed. I think there are scripture that can infer that they may be salvific, but again, overall the reading and observation of scripture does not speak that they are in conjunction with salvation. And then as I watch and look at Jesus and what He spoke about and said, it seems that salvation is by faith alone and even more salvation is a gift from God and man once he is called has no choice but to respond in faith. Now, it could be said that once called man has not a choice to also practice the sacraments and in the many different ways that they are instituted. That is possible. I suppose this is an area in which the focus needs to be on the heart. 

As is mentioned in Psalm 51, it is God that creates in me a clean heart and it is Him that restores to me the joy of my salvation and He delivers me and He is my salvation. To me it is all Him and yet following and practicing will happen. James speaks of works and Paul speaks of works. Yet, the works are automatic in the life of the one that is called and I don't believe the works even as they include these sacraments are salvific. 

Summary: Part of a church's mission and belonging to a church is participating in and doing sacraments and instituting the Lord's Supper and believers following through with baptism are the minimum and yet neither are salvific. 

Promise: Sacraments need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your word and its teaching. Lord, it seems normal and yet I wish it wasn't so at times that there is some much variation in our lands of these ordinances and what is emphasized and what is taught as being associated with salvation. Because this variation often results in division and differences and in our land today, those feelings are already high in matters not directly associated with the church's mission. So I pray Lord that you would heal your land and you would conform people to Your Word. I pray that we would be a people of the heart and even in our differences, we would show respect and not strong emotions of dividing or even war. May you be glorified in all that we do and say and my Your name continue to be proclaimed. And as we do these works which I believe normally follow our faith filled lives, may you help me do them for your glory and remember the meaning of them as I do them. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God.

Matthew 28:18-20 - Preaching Christ and His Commandments

Matthew 28:18-20 - Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Message: Preaching Christ and His Commandments

Time: Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, is credited with this book, despite the fact that he did not sign it. Dating it's writing is difficult, but most agree it to be AD 60-65 since it does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. A Jew, he includes 50 direct citations and many other indirect citations from the Old Testament. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

In our previous lessons, we have been speaking of how the church is larger than our local body and is made up of all believers throughout history from all nations and tribes. The church continues to grow and we continue to reach the unreached. As I think about this idea that we have a core understanding of what is in scripture, it is important to now further clarify or define what that core understanding is exactly. The key is that churches are Apostolic. We have already determined this. How do we test whether a church is Apostolic? Here is a start on that subject of what churches should do and believe in order to conform to what our Lord teaches. 

It starts with the preaching of the biblical gospel and the teaching of the whole counsel of God. A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. The Word of God is our only infallible authority and makes preaching of it a priority. As the text today and the words of Jesus states, churches are teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Thus, the entire word of God needs to be preached. All the texts, not just certain texts, but all of it has riches we need to hear. 

Summary: The Church needs to be committed to preaching the Word of God, all of it. 

Promise: The primary criterion we should have if we need to find a church is faithfulness to the Word of God, otherwise a person is joining a social club. 

Prayer: Thank you God for giving me a love for your Word. I know you gave me a wonderful mother that instilled this love in me and then you brought pastors into my life like Tom Nelson who examined it thoroughly in all its facets. Thank you for giving me this thirst to understand it and hear it preached. Keep me grounded in this and keep drawing people and churches and pastors to the faithful examination of it, so that it is preached and nothing else. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:19-22 - The Apostolic Church

Ephesians 2:19-22 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Message: The Apostolic Church

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: 

The final part of the study of the Apostles Creed is in regards to ensuring that what is being taught and in practice with the church is the same as what the Apostles taught. This was the goal of the early church and remains our goal today. 

Previously, I have looked at church unity in many various lessons. The church is one by decree and not one completely. By decree, we are a visible church or the church that we can see with our eyes, and we are also invisible which we can't see, but God sees because He is omniscient. Only He knows who is really part of the church because only He sees into our hearts. We have been declared Holy by God and yet we continue to grow into Holiness. And we are a universal church. Granted, we are often identified by our differences, calling ourselves Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodists, Church of Christ, non-denominational, Bible churches, and so many others and yet within those identifications we are still one universal church throughout the world, throughout countries, nations, states, and even cities. We have common and shared beliefs resting in the biblical gospel and yet there is diversity in what we hold to and what we emphasize as we belong together. 

In being Apostolic, our hope is that we demonstrate adherence to what the Apostles first wrote and taught. 

Jude 3 - Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. This faith delivered is God's word. In Charles John Ellicott's (1819-1905) commentary he writes the faith - "that which is believed by Christians: not the expression of the doctrine, nor the holding of it, but the substance of it." I love this. It is not the way it is expressed which matters and the way we are expressing it in all of the different forms of identification I mentioned above, but rather what is key is the substance of it and making sure we hold to this. 

Jude is writing with a sense of urgency. He is appealing that the apostles writings is what we focus on and not those of false teachers which have crept into the churches. The Apostles is who the Lord Jesus delivered His Gospel to and those are the ones who wrote it down for ages to come. Thus, what we are to hold to and contend for strenuously is these words. We are to preserve people from error. 

Today's passage from Ephesians cements this idea to us in that we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. As believers now and then we are (1) fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, (2) united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, (3) with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone. Our allegiance is not simply to people, but it is to Christ. It is to God. We are united in Christ, in Him. 

We must continue through the ages to stand even closer to God's word and continue every day to be even more committed to it. I think there is a danger to align ourselves more with the world in our churches, thinking that we must in order for the gospel to be heard. And yet, in that process, people are being led astray and our separate-ness and distinctive-ness is giving way. Instead, we must continue to stay close to the Word and error on that side of things, not conformity. There must me no doubt what we are about. 

Summary: Fellow citizens built on the foundation of the apostle and prophets, teaching the biblical gospel of Jesus our cornerstone. 

Promise: To stand with Apostolic teaching, we must know it. That can be accomplished only through the regular study of Scriptures. 

Prayer: O God, I continue to love the reading and study of Your Words. And I want our world of believers in you to be United in Faith and I pray that we continue to be about this and work toward this. We get deceived rather to focus on our differences, but let us focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ and it alone. Thank you for the apostles which you called and spoke to and equipped to write these words that I study and learn from and abide by. Thank you for the message that continues to penetrate me. Let there be no doubt to anyone about what I am holding onto. Be glorified in Me and through us as members of your visible church that is hopefully also invisible or your true called out ones. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel.

Revelation 7 - True Catholicity

Revelation 7 - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' (v. 9-10)

Message: True Catholicity 

Time: John mentions himself 4 times as author. It was written around the year 95 on John's exile to the island of Patmos after preaching the gospel to Asia. Revelation comes from the Greek word for apocalypse and refers to an unveiling. The book is about the tribulation period with symbolic language, giving us the end of the story -- Jesus will once and for all heal the wounds of sin, reign for a thousand years on earth, then re-create the world into a place that represents God's original design.

What the Lord is Saying:

Catholicity means universal. In referring to the catholic church, it means the universal church. As we continue to study 4 truths about the church of Christ from the Apostle's creed, we are looking at its unity, its holiness, its catholicity, and its Apostolicity. We have a unity or core beliefs that encompasses all believes throughout the world, those seen visible, but even more so those that belong via the invisible church, the believers that are only seen currently by our omniscient God. This church is holy or set apart for God's purpose in that the members are holy and continue to manifest holiness through there deeds and choices which are to glorify God. His church is universal. There is one church to redeem the world. That church is made up of "whoever believes in Him (John 3:16)." It is "one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6)."  

The Romans Catholic church has asserted or claimed that the universal church consists only of those churches united to the bishop of Rome, the pope. I see other churches that often will do this as well. In conversations with very conservative members of the church of Christ there is the feeling that they are the only true church. The LDS church also makes this claim. But it seems that in this way these churches limit the work of God in our world, decreeing that certain tenets must be a part of church doctrine. Again, often we speak of common truths that we can agree upon and yet many churches hold to truths that many would view negotiable and yet they view as non-negotiable. 

The challenge I believe is to focus on the biblical gospel. I've looked at this before, but I believe the shift from man's condition to seated in the heavenly places is entirely God. Thus, holding to the gospel is holding to the power of God and what He has done in rescuing or redeeming his people. And this comes about by "whoever believes in Him (John 3:16" and "received Him (John 1:12)." 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' (Revelation 7:9-10)

Summary: God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. 

Promise: Our differences speak to all of our expressions of biblical church. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the church and its variation and its many different expressions. We too often focus on our differences with the expectation that we must all be the same. Lord, help us as a people to center ourselves on the gospel and what you have done God in saving us. I pray Lord that the church would be about this mission and we would see that we can still come alongside one another even when we have differences or different ways of expressing our faith in You. Bring us together God. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints.

Ephesians 1:1 - God's Holy People

Ephesians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 

Message: God's Holy People

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Based upon the Apostle's creed, we are looking at 4 truths about the church of Christ: its unity, its holiness, its catholicity, and its Apostolicity. The last 2 lessons looked at our unity which transcends the local body each of us may be involved in and connects us with people throughout history and in other lands. 

In our time on earth, the Christian is both holy and still a sinner. We are set apart to be holy in virtue, being in Christ by faith. Being justified by faith in Christ we possess the righteousness of Christ and yet at the same time we still have a fallen nature, still sin, still walk in His grace, daily toil, daily need to be reminded of His forgiveness and strive to live in a way to glorify Him in all we do. 

When God describes something as holy, it is set apart first and foremost for God's special use. 

Incense - "And the incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves, it shall be holy to you for the Lord." (Exodus 30:37). 

Sabbath - "For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord" (Exodus 31:15).

Tithe - "Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord" (Leviticus 27:30). 

To be holy is to be separated by God for a special use. God sets us part. By the Spirit we become purer and purer in action but in Christ, each of us begins by being Holy, set apart unto God. Thus, as is recorded today by call, each of us are "saints" or called-out one's. 

Summary: By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature and sin daily, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints or called-out one's. 

Promise: The church is already holy in position, yet becomes purer in practice. Thus, we pursue personal and corporate holiness. Let us encourage one another to live Holy lives. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for crowning me as Holy and showing me the truth of Your Word and how you have decreed other things as holy: incense, Sabbath and Tithes. Thank you for the clarity of this truth. You have set me apart as holy, as a saint already. Now help me to keep focused on being holy in my life, making me purer and purer each day. And may we exhibit this in our churches, in my church. May we work together to show ourselves distinct and different from the world, so the world will want to come in our doors, to be among us and hear the Gospel preached. Take us there. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong.