A key to understanding and practicing the reality of Christian community is to understand how this community comes about. How did we become a part of the body of Christ?

The answer to that question is the same as the answer to how we became Christians. In fact, the two questions are basically one, since to be a Christian is to be a part of Christ’s body. So remember how we were saved: “For by grace have you been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Just as we were saved by grace, through faith, so we are part of Christ’s body by grace, through faith.

Don’t believe me? Read the rest of Ephesians 2; Paul moves directly from his great declaration of sola fide, sola gratia to a discussion of—wait for it—Christian community! Paul directly connects the work of Christ in reconciling men to God with the work of Christ in reconciling men to each other. Christ makes “one new man” at the cross, reconciling us “to God in one body through the cross.” (verses 15 & 16) The glorious work of reconciliation happens both upward—between God and man—and outward—between man and man. And thus we are made one.

Paul makes the point here to demonstrate the new unity between Jews and Gentiles; Christ has become the way of salvation for both groups, making both groups into one group. So there is a definite point of theology to grasp with regard to Israel and the universal church. But there is also a much, much larger point to grasp with regard to what it means to be in Christ, for as Gentiles become one with Jews in Christ, so every Christian becomes one with all other Christians in Christ, and “the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (verse 21)

And here comes the kicker: not a bit of this work is ours. Just as not a bit of the work of salvation is ours, so not a bit of the work of becoming part of the body of Christ is ours. Look back over 2:11-22; do you see one single thing done by us? Do you not rather see that everything stated here is done by God in Christ?

So why am I making such a point of this?

Well, for starters, it emphasizes and strengthens the point I made last week, which was that being a Christian automatically means being part of Christ’s body; the work of Christ accomplished both things.

But more than this, it means that we relate to one another on the same basis on which we relate to God, namely, the finished work of Christ on our behalf.

In other words, just as we approach God by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, so we approach each other by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. Just as we can experience grace and love and full acceptance from God to us because of Jesus, so we can experience grace and love and full acceptance from one to the other of those who are in Jesus.

Do we approach God by works? Well, then we don’t approach each other by works either. Do we need to earn God’s favor?  Well, then we don’t need to earn each other’s favor.  Does God accept us fully, seeing us through the perfect blood and righteousness of Christ?  Well, we should accept each other fully, seeing others through the perfect blood and righteousness of Christ. Does our standing with God change based on our performance? Well, then our standing with each other should not change based on anyone’s performance.

Here is how Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it in Life Together:  “What persons are in themselves as Christians, in their inwardness and piety [read: their performance as a Christian], cannot constitute the basis of our community, which is determined by what those persons are in terms of Christ. Our community consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us.” (emphasis mine)

So, just as being a part of Christian community is not an option, since being a Christian is the same thing as being a member of Christ’s body, so also extending the hand of fellowship to other Christians is not an option, any more than God can refuse the presence of the Holy Spirit to anyone who is in Christ.

Next week I hope to flesh this out more.  In addition, stay tuned to the Sunday School series that started this past Sunday, which will go a long way toward helping us to live out the Gospel in the specific relational context of conflict.  (You can listen to the first session here.)

This video is a very helpful conversation between two very godly men discussing what it means to be a man of God.  They cover training up young men into godliness, growing in leadership and service in the home, and developing deeper fellowship with other men, including how to invite and receive criticism.

Watch with a view to how you can change and grow in your role as a man, no matter what that role may be.

Q&A on Biblical Masculinity from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

HT: Justin Taylor

“I fear there are some Christians among you to whom Christ cannot say ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.’  Your haughty dwelling arises in the midst of thousands who have scarce a fire to warm themselves at and have but little clothing to keep out the biting frost, and yet you never darkened their door.  You heave a sigh perhaps at a distance, but you do not visit them.  Ah my dear friends, I am concerned for the poor, but more for you.  I know not what Christ will say to you on the great day.  You seem to be Christians, and yet you care not for his poor.  Oh, what a change will pass upon you as you enter the gates of heaven!  You will be saved, but that will be all.  There will be no abundant entrance for you.  ‘He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly.’

And I fear that there may be many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians, because they do not love to give.  To give largely and liberally, not grudging at all, requires a new heart.  An old heart would rather part with its life-blood than its money.  Oh my friends, enjoy your money.  Make the most of it.  Give none of it away.  Enjoy it quickly, for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity.”

Robert Murray McCheyne, Works (New York, 1847), II:482.

HT:  David McLemore via Ray Ortlund

This interview covers such wide-ranging topics as movies, hymnals versus projection screens, and the meaning of technology, and I hope it will give you a taste of the kind of thinking that behooves us as followers of Christ.  The central point of the interview, and I think the central point of all of Myers’ thinking, is that there is meaning in all cultural products.  In other words, everything means something.  This is a very counter-cultural idea, and I hope you can begin to see how Myers fleshes it out.  (You might want to watch it in small portions, or else carve out an hour to see the whole thing, because it deserves your full attention.  I’m about to watch it again.)

Interview with Ken Myers from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

(via Justin Taylor)

I think we would all readily answer that God owns us (1 Corinthians 6:20), and our lives should be submitted in loving obedience to Him (James 4:7). But is there more to it than this?

What do you make of the passages that say we are members of one another? There are a few:

Romans 12:4-5
1 Corinthians 12:12, 27 (read in between too)
Ephesians 4:25 (but really, read the whole chapter)

Do you catch my drift? The Christian life is not just about me and Jesus doin’ our thing. I not only belong to Him; I belong to His body.

Note that none of these passages say we should be members of the body; they say we are members of the body. Being members of one another in Christ is not something to strive toward; it is something that is. Belonging to the Christian community is not an option, because it is the reality for all who are in Christ.

Let me say that again.

Belonging to the Christian community is not an option, because it is the reality for all who are in Christ.

If we are in Christ, we are in His body, which means we are members of one another. Period. This is the reality of Christian community: no one is exempt from the community except those who are outside Christ altogether.

This flips upside down our American sense of independence and individualism. Upside down, inside out, blown to bits—the reality of the body of Christ, the Christian community, totally subverts the American idol of personal space and time.

My space is not my own, my time is not my own, my life is not my own; it belongs not only to Christ but to His body, my fellow believers.

I hope this rocks your world today. And tomorrow. And next week. And next year.

I will continue writing about this idea, and how it is fleshed out, over the next several weeks.

Please let me know if you have any issues accessing these!

Orders of Worship

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The reason for putting the order of worship up for access is for your benefit in preparing for the service each week.  Use the selected Scriptures and songs for family worship on Saturday, or for personal devotions, or to help you as you pray for the service each week.  This way, we can come to corporate worship already ruminating on the themes and truths of each week’s service, which will help us to engage with God more spiritually and truly.

Click here to go to the Orders of Worship page.  May God bless our weekly gatherings more and more!

This video is a live version of that song, put together by Sovereign Grace Ministries, whose music publishing arm published and recorded the song.

You can download the song or the entire album here.