In an increasingly anti-institutional culture, that hates commitment (unless you can opt-out at any point), and is destroying any remnant of covenant; the Church is still God’s means for Salvation and Sanctification!
This is what we see in the New Testament, and have seen over the last 2000-ish years, as Christ has remained faithful to build his church. Furthermore, we have had the unique privilege of witnessing it happening in our little pocket of the world.
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, the Apostle Peter says this of the body of Christ:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
God has chosen and redeemed a people for his glory. This is the church, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. Biblically then, the way the church lives, as holy, as set apart, is a means of representing Christ and therefore being on mission. We know this, because the goal of holiness (being a set apart people), is that we ‘may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’
We are all sinners saved by grace, and dealing with the presence of Sin in our lives. The church is not a place for the sinless, but for those who are open about their sin and are trusting in Jesus and his rescuing love to cleanse them as they stumble towards holiness together. In doing so, we all desperately need the grace of gospel centred community, where we partner together, take responsibility for one-another, pray for our brothers and sisters, and be deliberate about doing spiritual good.
We put this in writing, both to recap a little from Sunday’s message, but also to remind you of the need for each of us to act upon our commitment. If we want to be a missional church, a loving church, a truth-speaking, God-fearing, grace-proclaiming community; then all of us are required to step forward and make it happen. We can’t wait for someone else to do it.
So firstly, if you are not a gospel partner and would like to be, please let us know and please grab a gospel partnership handbook on Sunday before you leave.
Then, can we ask you to consider how you might contribute to our community, to our church? How can you actively commit to our church? To get the ball rolling, would you start by:
- Praying – Ask often “What can I be praying for at the moment?” Then actually do it.
- Be Transparent and ask for help – let openness and vulnerability grease the wheels for Christ-centred relationships to flourish.
- Give – time, money, hospitality, a listening ear, wisdom, friendship…
Grace to you, glory to God.