Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 16 January 2022
Who makes up the Church?
Scripture References: Hebrews 12:18-24, Ephesians 2:1-10, Revelation 21:1-8
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CloseIn Hebrews 12, we are given five descriptions of the members of God’s church. All turn, as we dig into God’s word, on something God has done for these people, and nothing depends on what they have contributed. It all turns on the mercy and love of God that moves him to intervene in the lives of dead people (us, because of our sins!) to make them living people (by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus alone!). Church membership is an act of God – by love and mercy, through Jesus Christ. And it is displayed, publicly, vocally, practically – it is never hidden, sporadic, private, hypothetical, or apathetic.
Scripture References: Hebrews 12:18-24, Ephesians 2:1-10, Revelation 21:1-8
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The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
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