We are a forgetful people in a land of distractions. Our minds are easily captivated by trivial and temporary inducements. New things quickly become old. In our mind’s eye even glory tends to fade and warnings tend to wane. It is no wonder that we who are invisibly united to Christ and visibly in and not of this world live in constant need of renewal. And what is true for the Christian is true for the church. This is a series that seeks to renew the mind of the church. Not so much by reviewing what she is called to do as much as what she is called. As with the Christian so with church, her God-given identity defines her. We who are the church are a people for God and none other.
Before we return to the book of Romans, we will be looking at the what scripture says about the Church, in its nature, how she expresses herself in song, and how the church cares and equips for its members.
The messages from this series can be found here:
Manny Pereira - October 25, 2020
Like the Son in Peacemaking
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). What depths of meaning inhabit these simple words. Peacemaking bears the likeness of God Himself. And this is manifested supremely in the mystery of Christ. The one-of-a-kind Son of God embodied the one-of-a-kind Peacemaker. As His peacemaking-death draws near, He prepares His disciples to live and lead in a manner that best reflects Him and His mission. This archetypal passage on church discipline should not be reduced to mere procedural instructions. On the immediate heels of the call to be Christlike shepherds, a depth of meaning emerges. Only in the shadow of redefining radical humility (18:1-5), holy sensitivity to the seriousness of sin (18:6-9), and tenderhearted shepherding care for everyone in the church (18:10-14) can the disciple enter into these verses. Christ’s ambassadors must not tolerate unrepented sin within the embassy. The consequences of such evil are deeply ominous. Representation of the King is the concern on both ends. While not underplaying the sacred seriousness of sin, the purpose of this passage plainly emphasizes the importance of brotherly reconciliation and restoration to the glory and praise of Christ. Here we have the call to be like the Son in peacemaking.
Scripture References: Matthew 18:15-20
