Our bodies have very many different kinds of members which perform different kinds of works. Yet all these members are one body and they work together for its good.
Scripture calls the believers the body of Christ. And the church, as that body, does have different kinds of members, from different nations, tongues, and tribes. Paul writes in Philippians 1:27 , "Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ ... with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."
The word translated here as "conversation" means "activity of a citizen." So often in Scripture the church is called the Kingdom of Heaven in which Christ is King. We are the body of Christ; but we are also the kingdom of Christ. Our calling is to strive together as such citizens for the good of the faith of the gospel.
Now the word "gospel" means "good news." Here it means the good news of salvation through Christ and His cross. The gospel is the good news that the triumphant Christ is coming back to realize a kingdom here on this earth and to bring us into it with its heavenly glory.
Meanwhile we must together fight against all the false doctrines which Satan uses to try to destroy faith in Christ as our Savior and King. All that is taught in the churches today, even though men may speak of Christ and of salvation, is not the gospel, and does not realize and serve faith in Christ.
It is not good news to teach that Christ tries to save by inviting men to become citizens and members of His body by coming to Him in faith by their works. The good news is that He succeeds in saving every one for whom He died; and that He does not plead with them to believe in Him but gives them faith. Did Paul not write in Ephesians 2:8-10 that faith is God's gift to us, not our gift to Him? And that we are saved by grace and not by works? Not then by believing are we saved, but through faith which He gives us. With one mind strive to hold on to that comforting truth. Faith is God's gift to us.
Read: John 6:43-65
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Jeremiah 8:8-22 ; Jeremiah 9:1-26
Colossians 3:1-17
Psalm 78:32-55
Proverbs 24:27
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Quote for Reflection:
… O how many children of God today are compromising, dwelling at Half-way House, and in consequence they are not worshippers. O that the Spirit of God may so work upon and within all of us that the language of our lives, as well as that of our hearts and lips, may be “Worthy is the Lamb”—worthy of whole-hearted consecration, worthy of unstinted devotion, worthy of that love which is manifested by keeping His commandments, worthy of real worship. May it be so for His name’s sake. – Arthur W. Pink (Worship)
Additional Info
- Date: 7-October
