The Church - Part Three by Ps Michael Podhaczky

It was asked in the previous blogs, “What’s your understanding of the church?” In this blog it is suggested that, the church has a number of God give purposes to fulfil. Some will be mentioned here (this is in no way meant to be an exhaustive list). 

Firstly, it could be said that, the central purpose of the church is to be holy, and this came through Christ’s holy atoning work, 1 Pet 2:9. This holiness is first, so that the church is able to stand before God. So, the believer’s standing, both individually and collectively, is in Christ holiness. Then secondly, this is so that the church can live in practical holiness, Heb 12:14. 

 

Another purpose is to be a worshipping community. That is, the church is to show the worthiness of God who is to receive all honour.  Genuine worship focuses on the God and not on the church, Jn 4:23-24. As God alone, is worshipped, believers are blessed and spiritually strengthened, through worship is a lifestyle. So, every aspect of a churches life should be characterised by a desire to worship and glorify God, 1 Cor 10:31. 

 

An additional purpose is that, the church is to be a family in unity and participation with one another. The following are some of the areas concerning this,  

·         Salvation: Phil 2:1 

·         As the Body of Christ: Eph 3:9 

·         Unity through the Spirit: Phil 2:1 

·         Generosity: 2 Cor 8:4 

·         Suffering: Acts 4:23; 5:41 

·         Sharing the gospel: Acts 4:31 

·         Prayer: Acts 2:14,42; 4:31; 12:5,12; 13:3; 16:25 

·         The Lord’s Supper: Acts 2:14 

·         Eating together: Acts 2:46 

 

A final area dealt with here is the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people around us and making disciples. Christ in His commissioning deployed the church to preach the good news. This was to be done both at home and around the world, Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8. The world needs the good news about Jesus, which we have received. So, we need to give it away to those around us so that they can become disciples. 

 

So, coming back to the opening question “What’s your understanding of the church?” 

 

The Church - Part Two by Ps Michael Podhaczky

It was asked in an earlier blog, “What’s your understanding of the church?” We briefly saw what Jesus and what Paul had to say plus some of the perspectives. One of these perspectives was a theologically one, i.e. the church is not the Kingdom of God, but is part of the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God’s rule over creation. Remarkably, the gospels never defined what the Kingdom of God is, however it would be helpful for us to try to understand the idea.  

 

The idea of the Kingdom of God has two basic features. Firstly, that it is God as King who rules, reigns, has dominion and authority over this kingdom. While secondly it includes the dominion of His rule, i.e. His territory and His people. There are actually three interchangeable phrases used in Scripture in relation to these two features; the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:15), the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 4:17), and the Kingdom of Christ (Eph 5:5), which fundamentally mean the same thing. Although, it is important to remember that, the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are used interchangeably by Matthew, (Matt 19:23-24). 

 

So, if that is the case and the church is not the Kingdom, rather within the sphere of Kingdom of God, then how can this help us understand the church? A useful example for this purpose was proposed by the theologian B.B. Warfield. He understood the church as part of the Kingdom of God and having distinct parts, which were nevertheless united to operate under God’s sovereignty. That is it is, 

·         God’s people 

·         God’s people in God’s place 

·         God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule 

·         God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule living God’s way¹ 

 

This is a valuable positional and practical way of seeing the church. The church needs to be understood from God’s positional status shown in Gal 2:20 and as His practical outworking explained in Eph 5:2-5. It is helpful to read and live moving back and forward between these two sections of Scripture. This highlights the tension that God’s people are facing in God’s place under God’s rule endeavoring to live God’s way. Thus, this is life for the Christ-follower within Kingdom life, this side of heaven. 

 

So, coming back to the opening question “What’s your understanding of the church?”