CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (7)

The Church holds up and holds out Christ to the world

Jesus gets most glory when people are rescued from serving Satan as slaves to sin and set free to live as God’s children and serve his righteousness. The Church fights for the truth that sets people free. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8.34-36. The Church can not afford to go to sleep because lost people are depending on us to fight for them. Using spiritual weapons we have to demolish the strongholds of lies that the enemy builds around people. We have to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to cut them free from their bondage.

The truth that the Church holds up is summed up by Paul in a short poem. He calls it the mystery of godliness which is that God has revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ. 1 Tim 3.16

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

The truth that the church family holds up wherever it is placed is Jesus Christ. Godliness (that is, God’s holy and good character) is a mystery to the world. It always settles for far less, based on the best (and worst) that man can do. When Jesus came, the mystery of godliness was revealed and the church family now has to reveal the character of Christ in its daily living. Jesus Christ is our focus, the centre and source of our lives. We show him off.

This mystery of godliness was manifested (which means came out into the open) when Jesus lived it out through a human life.

The Holy Spirit proved (vindicated) him to be God in flesh by the miracles and by the authority of his words and most powerfully by his resurrection.

Angels saw him raised and witnessed to it to the disciples who came to the empty tomb.

Christ was and is now proclaimed among the nations of the world; his message radiating out from Jerusalem as the disciples took the gospel out.

The world at large (people from every culture) have believed on him - put their faith in him.

Currently he is enthroned in the spiritual world in glorious triumph.

This poem, or hymn, emphasises how everything in heaven and earth is brought together under one Lord: Jesus Christ. This is the truth that the church lives out. We are the family of God broadcasting the good news about Jesus.