body of Christ
Our Faithful Witness
By Linda Rex
April 27, 2025, 2nd Sunday in Easter—During this particular cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary, the New Testament passages are drawn from the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle John. There has been so much published about this particular book of the Bible, we may have a lot of preconceived ideas about what it is about and what is in it. One thing we can be sure of is that John tells us that in it, he is testifying to God’s word and to Jesus Christ.
John begins his book, which is filled with imagery and visions and pictures and numbers, with a focus on the One the book is written about—our Lord Jesus Christ—and his Father, and the Spirit. In our passage for this Sunday, Revelation 1:4–8, he shows the purpose of Jesus’ sacrificial self-offering: our freedom from sin and the building up of his kingdom of priests who serve his heavenly Father.
John draws upon the imagery of the Old Testament to help his readers grasp the magnitude of what Jesus Christ has done. In Exodus 19:6, God told his covenant people, the ancient nation of Israel they would be this very thing, which Jesus fulfilled and expanded to include believers of all nations: “… and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” There is great hope in realizing that what God promised his people—what he determined they were created and meant to be—he accomplished, in his own self-offering in Jesus Christ.
Throughout this book of Revelation, John helps his readers—people who were experiencing great persecution and tribulation—to see that Jesus Christ is the slain Lamb of God who has rescued all of us from sin and death, and who does and will reign triumphantly over all. John reminds those who are threatened, harassed, and battered by the evil, sin, wickedness, and death in their culture and in their lives, that Jesus is Lord of all, and in the end, our triune God wins.
The final pictures of this book show God coming to dwell with humans in the new heaven and earth—this was always God’s plan. The God who did this and is doing this and will do this is the I Am of the Old Testament, the triune God who created all things, who made ancient Israel his covenant nation, who came in the person of Jesus Christ the Son of God to fulfill all his promises, and who came in the person of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost following Jesus’ death and resurrection.
In the meantime, we find much hope and peace in knowing who this triune God is. As we open ourselves up to God and receive his grace and peace, we are able to grow in our relationship with him. We come to see who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for us. Jesus is the perfect expression of who God is, was, and will be in his love for each and every human being. Indeed, in Jesus, we see that there is no part of our human existence that Jesus was not willing to enter into and participate in. He was tempted in every way, yet he did not sin. He bore our sorrows, carried our griefs, and embraced our weakness. God, in Christ, has met us at our lowest point, even the depths of suffering and death, to bring us up in the resurrection into eternal life in face-to-face union and communion with our heavenly Father in the Spirit.
What was brought to my mind this week about this passage was that in the ancient nation of Israel, the priesthood was named to be held by those who were of the tribe of Levi. These Levites were not given an inheritance in the land or nation. Their inheritance was the Lord and the care of his tabernacle or temple. Can you see how this carries forward into this passage which the apostle John wrote?
Jesus has created a called-out people whose only inheritance is himself. We are brought together by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, the Church, to be a kingdom of priests who serve our heavenly Father. We serve a representative role on behalf of the entire world, as a united body of people who are meant to reflect and serve the triune God, and to point others to him by our love for one another, and for the world.
Jesus is the High Priest, and intercedes in the heavenlies with his Father in the Spirit. He is the Faithful Witness to our triune God. We participate in what he is doing in our intercessions for one another in the Spirit through prayer. We participate in Jesus’ own priestly mission in this world, as we share the good news of all he has done, is doing, and will do, with those around us in both our words and our actions.
Because Jesus reigns in glory and is faithfully interceding on our behalf, standing in our place, we can have great hope and look forward with much anticipation to see all God is going to do for us, no matter how difficult, painful, or dangerous our circumstances or situations may get. So, we continue to bear faithful witness as our participation in Christ, the Faithful Witness of our Father in the Spirit.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us such great hope in your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for embracing us in your self-offering as the Lamb of God. Thank you for giving us your Spirit, and being present in us and with us through every difficulty and struggle. Grant us the grace to faithfully bear witness to you in each moment by being a true reflection of your glory, through Jesus our Lord and by your Spirit. Amen.
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ‘Behold, He is coming with the clouds’, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’ ” Revelation 1:4–8 NASB
“… Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.’ Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:(19–29) 30–31 NASB
“When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:27–32
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For the Common Good
By Linda Rex
January 19, 2025, 2nd Sunday in Epiphany—In our culture today, we are told that our goal in life is to find what in life makes us happy and to go do that. We are to find the person to be with that enables us to be happy, and to leave behind that person who does not make us happy. We are encouraged to find what we enjoy doing and can do well, and to go out and do it, so that we can feel fulfilled and enjoy great success, financially, and in other ways.
In contrast, we find in God’s kingdom culture that our goals are centered in the mission and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may have been given talents and abilities by God, and spiritual gifts by his Spirit, but our purpose for using them is not solely for our own benefit or aggrandizement.
When we look at Jesus, the King of the kingdom of God, we see an entirely different way of applying our gifts and abilities to the circumstances in our lives. In the Gospel passage for this Sunday, John 2:1–11, we see Jesus and his disciples attending a wedding in Cana along with his mother, Mary. During this week-long celebration, Mary realizes that the wine has run out—a serious issue for the newlyweds. It would create a social catastrophe for the couple in that small community that they would never live down. Mary is concerned about this on their behalf and so she goes to Jesus, and tells them of her concern.
Here we see the wonder of Jesus’ tender loving care for us as human beings. He tells Mary that it is not his time yet. He could do the miracle she wanted, but at what price? To begin to do miracles was to begin to walk the road to the cross. Was she ready for him to do that? Was he ready to do that?
Here we also find some guidance on using our abilities or gifts as given to us by God. At times it may be inconvenient for us. Or it may exact a price that is costly. Or it may require us doing the uncomfortable thing we aren’t quite yet prepared to do. But Jesus is not dissuaded by any of these things. He simply steps up to the task and does what is needed, in abundance. He over-provides, in such a way that the wedding festivities could continue in joyful celebration, with the best wine being the last wine served.
In our New Testament passage for this Sunday, 1 Corinthians 12:1–11, we see that the apostle Paul attempts to educate the members on the proper use of spiritual gifts. We are not given the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit so that we can curse others, but so that we can be a blessing to them. Our gifts and abilities are given for the common good.
The whole Trinity is involved in our spiritual giftedness, for by the Spirit we are given a variety of gifts. The Lord gives us a variety of ministries. And God, by these gifts and ministries works a variety of effects within Christ’s Body, the Church. The point Paul makes is these gifts and abilities are not given for our personal use and pleasure and pride, but “for the common good.” The different ways in which we are gifted and able to do particular things is for the sake of the whole. Our distinctions are not meant to divide or to make us superior or less than one another, but so that we are able to help one another and lift one another up. The personhood of the Holy Spirit is pointed out by the apostle Paul as he explains that the distribution of spiritual gifts is a decision the Spirit makes. It is by the Spirit’s will that we receive what is uniquely ours in giftedness and ability.
As we follow in Christ’s footsteps, we offer our spiritual gifts and our abilities to the Lord in service to him and others. We realize that to give ourselves in service in this way exacts a price, just as it cost Jesus everything. This is why we humbly offer ourselves in service—we realize that there are going to be challenges, difficulties, and that it may be very costly for us to serve God and others in this way. But this is why God gifted us—for the benefit of others, especially the Body of Christ, not solely for the benefit of ourselves.
I am reminded at this point about what happens when we offer our tiny, insignificant gifts to Jesus. The young boy gave his child’s mite of fish and loaves into the hands of Jesus, who offered them in thanksgiving to his heavenly Father. What Jesus received back by the Spirit was enough for thousands of people, and twelve basketfuls of leftovers. When we lay it all at the feet of Jesus, miracles happen. We don’t know what God may do with our self-offering, the humble use of our spiritual gifts and abilities for the mission and ministry of the Lord, but we can trust that it will further his kingdom work and bless his people. Thank the Lord!
Dear Spirit, thank you for the gifts and abilities you have given to each of us. Father, grant us the grace to surrender all of these to you, that they may be used to further your kingdom purposes and serve Christ’s Body, the Church. All we have is yours—may we faithfully serve you with all that we are, through Jesus our Lord by your Spirit. Amen.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 NASB
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Not of This World
By Linda Rex
November 24, 2024, Christ the King | After Pentecost—On this Sunday we reach the culmination of the events of the Christian calendar. We celebrate the sovereign reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here, on this day, we recognize that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and reigns now and forever as king of kings and lord of lords. But what does that mean for those of us who live here on earth? How does the spiritual reality of the reign of Jesus Christ as Lord over all impact our everyday lives?
In the Gospel passage for this Sunday, we see Jesus being interrogated by Pilate, who is asking him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus explains that his kingdom is not of this world, because if it was, his servants would be fighting on his behalf. He is a king, he tells Pilate, born for this very reason, to testify to the truth (John 18:33–37). Even though Pilate has no interest in the truth it seems, he later attempted to free Jesus, believing he was innocent of the charges against him. But ultimately his loyalty to his own political agenda and to Rome won out, and Jesus was crucified.
What the ancient Jews at that time did not realize was that they were participating in the execution, the crucifixion, of the One who would be “the firstborn from the dead.” Jesus, as God in human flesh, would be crucified, buried, and then rise again as he predicted, to ascend into the presence of his heavenly Father, to reign forever as Lord of all.
In our New Testament passage, Revelation 1:4b–8, the apostle John offers a doxology to our triune God and our resurrected and ascended Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father is described as the great “I Am”—the One who is and who was, and the One who is coming. The “seven Spirits who are before His throne” is an expression of the fullness of the Holy Spirit; the number seven has a lot of significance to the apostle John, used often throughout the book of Revelation to express completeness, fullness, and God’s faithfulness to his covenant agreement with his people. Jesus is described as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
Notice that John not only focuses on who God is. He then moves to who we are as God’s people. In celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ as the One who reigns in glory, John says that Jesus loves us and has released us from our sins by his blood. Throughout this book, John reminds God’s people that the source of our redemption, salvation, and deliverance is in the blood of Jesus Christ, in his self-offering on our behalf. What Jesus has done has made us to be “a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.” Notice that Jesus did not make us individual priests, but rather, a kingdom of priests—those participating with him in his high priestly intercession with his Father in the Spirit through our prayers and praise. In other words, as the Body of Christ, we are “in Christ” as he intervenes and intercedes on behalf of all humanity in the presence of his Father in the Spirit.
This means that we are already participating in Jesus’ kingdom reign even now. We live in the already-not-yet of God’s kingdom. Our prayers and praise are a participation in Jesus’ own life with his Father in the Spirit. All of life then becomes a way by which we share in Jesus’ ministry and mission in this world through witness and service, prayer and praise, as we follow the lead of the Spirit. Jesus is at work in this world, bringing about the purposes and plans of our triune God, for he is both the beginning and the end, the origin and the completion of all God has in mind for his creation. And we, as we respond to his lead, are full participants in his mission and ministry in this world.
Even though we live in a broken, evil-ridden world, and at times evil seems to be in control, the truth is that our Lord reigns supreme, and is at work making all things new. He will finish what he has begun. In Jesus, we have a true participation in all the triune God is doing to bring about redemption, transformation, and wholeness to this world.
We trust in Jesus’ broken body and shed blood—the markers of our union and communion with God in Christ—and we follow the lead of his Spirit. We turn away from ourselves, our world, and our sin, and turn towards Christ, trusting in him and all he has done, is doing, and will do, to save. We anticipate with joy Jesus’ return in glory because we recognize who he is and who we are in him, and we have hope. May all the world join with us in the celebration of his soon return in glory!
Praise to you, the God who is, who was, and who is to come, and to you, divine Spirit, and to you, Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns over all. Thank you for including us in all that you are doing in this world, in your life with your Father in the Spirit. May we be true reflections of your glory and love in this world as we look forward to your coming again. Amen.
“Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ‘Behold, He is coming with the clouds’, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’ ” Revelation 1:4b–8 NASB
See alsoDaniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 93; 2 Samuel 23:1–7.
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Our Life of Fellowship
by Linda Rex
September 29, 2024, Proper 21 | After Pentecost—Back in 2013, I accomplished a huge goal in my life by completing my Master of Pastoral Studies degree at Grace Communion Seminary. As part of this project, I wrote a thesis on the New Testament passage which happens to be one of the RCL passages for this Sunday, James 5:13–20.
I had to do an extensive exegesis on the passage, and also examine it in the light of historic orthodox Christian teaching, as well as within the context of our theological journey within Grace Communion International. As I began to study this passage, I examined it in the light of Christ-centered Trinitarian theology, since Jesus needs to be the lens through which I look. Even though my thesis had to do with the importance role relationships play in experiencing health and wholeness, it brought forth some important nuances about our life of faith within the Body of Christ, and what our life of fellowship with one another should look like.
Here is a summary passage from that thesis:
God has called us all into relationship with himself in Christ by the Spirit. As believers we live in relationship with one another in Christ, as well as in union with the Father, Son and Spirit. Throughout all of life, we are to live in relationship with God, responding to him in prayer and in songs of praise in the good times and bad. As believers, we live as members of the Body of Christ in the Spirit, and as such we have a responsibility to one another. When a brother or sister is ill, they are encouraged to call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them so they may experience the care and concern of both God and their brothers and sisters. When a brother or sister is struggling with weaknesses, we minister God’s grace to them in prayer and/or in other ways. We are encouraged to confess our faults to one another and to pray for one another so we may be free. And we call erring brothers and sisters back to their center in Christ when they wander away. As we participate with Christ in his ministry of care for others, we share in the spiritual blessings that come from the harvest he seeks in the lives of his people as he conforms them to Christ.
As you can see, life in fellowship with others is vibrant, alive, and active. It is a life of sharing, caring, and serving one another. There is a responsibility to one another, and a deep sense of humility, joy, obedience, and reverence before God, as we walk in intimate relationship with him.
When we look at our Christian fellowships today, how many of them look like this? I don’t say that to be critical, but to show that the Holy Spirit does not change. When the Holy Spirit draws us together into spiritual fellowships—this is what it looks like. This is where Jesus Christ shows up—living in us, with us, and through us by his Spirit. This is where the Father’s presence rests, and we live in the joy of mutual indwelling through Jesus in the Spirit. In my mind, this looks a lot like what GCI calls healthy church.
The question is not whether our church is or is not following some guideline to be healthy church. The question is, are we in union and communion with our Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit? Are we united with Christ? If so, then, how are we living that out in our relationships with one another? Living it out relationship with one another looks like getting into face-to-face relationships with people who may be like us or different than us. And relationships can be very messy, and difficult. In fact, some relationships may be even painful or distressing. And that may make us very uncomfortable.
But the point is—we never do any of this alone. There is one human being who has dealt with just about any kind of person that has ever existed—and he still lives as God in human flesh—the resurrected Jesus Christ. Our ability to live with others in warm fellowship is made possible by Jesus Christ living in and through us by the Holy Spirit. It is the life of Christ actively flowing in and through us which brings about this warm fellowship which characterizes the Body of Christ. Are we opening ourselves up to the Holy Spirit? Do we draw close to God through listening to his Word, praying, and practicing the many other spiritual disciplines such as silence, solitude, generosity, and service? These are things we do to open ourselves up to allow God to live his life of warm fellowship in and through us. And this is our life of fellowship as the Body of Christ.
Heavenly Father, Jesus, Spirit, thank you for including us in your life and love. Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done and are doing to make this possible. And thank you, heavenly Spirit, for always and forever working in and through us to enable us to live in fellowship with you, God, and one another, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was aa man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:13–20 NASB
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Pushing Away God’s Love
By Linda Rex
August 11, 2024, Proper 14—Last week I wrote about our role as members of the body of Christ, the Church (meaning the universal, all-encompassing, cross-denominational and cross-distinctives body of Christ). In our current culture, a group of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and ways of being who live together in unity and other-centered love is in many ways a countercultural entity. People who have lived much of their lives in a very individualistic, self-absorbed manner may find it very challenging to be warmly embraced and invited into close relationship. In fact, it may feel invasive and even frightening to some people.
Over the years, I discovered that one reason we may push away such a welcoming, inclusive experience is because we are afraid that if we let anyone get close, they may discover what we are really like and reject us. What God has called his Church to be is the place where people are fully known, yet fully loved and accepted. The body of Christ, the Church, is meant to be a safe place for all God’s children. Unfortunately, the Church too often has been the place where when someone opens up and begins to get real, they are condemned, criticized, and or rejected. We do this in our families and in our other relationships, but this is not the way God treats us—so we should not treat each other in this way either.
In the New Testament passage for this Sunday, Ephesians 4:25–5:2, the apostle Paul describes what it looks like when people live together in the union and communion of the Triune life and love. As they live in these ways, they imitate the being and inner life of our Father and his Son in the Spirit.
What does this way of living together look like? Paul says that people are honest with one another—they practice truth-telling in love. They do not allow anger or rage to rule, for they do not want the evil one to have a chance to cause harm or division. They work hard, rather than steal, so they can help others out. The words they say build each other up, and they avoid any kind of slander, malice, or bitterness. They are always forgiving and kind to one another, no matter what may be going on in their lives. Living and walking in this way does not grieve the Spirit, for it is a reflection of the very union and communion of the Father with his Son in the Spirit.
When we look at our relationships within the body of Christ, especially when we look cross-denominationally or across lines of distinctions, do they manifest this kind of unity and love? What about in our own marriages and families? And what about our relationships with people outside the Church—how do we relate to people who do not yet believe in Christ? When I am honest with myself, I have to admit that too often I have fallen far short from being a true imitation of the divine Being.
Thankfully, this is where grace through faith comes in. And this is where we are privileged through Jesus to offer grace to one another. The reality is that whatever our life is in Christ by the Spirit, it is grounded in the love of God in Christ and in the grace that is ours through what Jesus did in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We are so grateful that we are held in Christ in his own face-to-face fellowship with his Father in the Spirit, so that even when we miss the mark, our own fellowship with God is unshaken. The Lord ever draws us back into that place of union and communion, while by his Spirit, he works to form Christ in us.
Evil constantly seeks opportunities to separate, divide, disrupt, confuse, and destroy all that is good, holy, and unified. We are constantly pressed upon by people and circumstances whose sole purpose is to steal or ruin or kill anything in our lives that may reflect the divine Being of Father, Jesus, Spirit—Three Persons in One Being. Still, the Spirit ever works to bring unity and oneness, while, like a parasite on all that is good, the evil one ever works to bring division and discord. At times, we participate in either direction, and we reap the consequences of our choices in this regard. But Jesus continues to invite us to follow him wherever he leads, and by his Spirit, he always leads us down the path to unity, oneness, love, and grace. And he holds us, now and forever, in his own face-to-face union and communion with his Father in the Spirit. This is our comfort and our peace.
Like Jesus, our fellowships of faith are called by God to be places where the Spirit is not grieved, but joyfully shares with us the divine fellowship of union and communion which is ours in Christ. As we gather together to worship God in Spirit and in truth, may we mirror more and more accurately the life and love of our Father, Jesus, and Spirit, and may we welcome warmly, gently, and wisely those who enter in, seeking a safe place to participate in God’s life and love.
Heavenly Father, Jesus, Spirit, thank you for including us in your life and love. We are ever in need of your forgiveness, for we are so often poor reflections of you. But by your Spirit, you are ever working. We trust you to finish what you have begun, through Jesus in the Spirit. Amen.
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, ‘speak truth each one’ of you ‘with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and’ yet ‘do not sin’; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 4:25–5:2 NASB
“Faking it and lying to one another was part of the old life; now truth remains the constant inspiration in your every conversation. We are related to one another like different parts in the same body. (Which means that cheating one another would be cheating yourself! …) Even if you think you have a valid excuse, do not let anger dominate your day! If you don’t deal with it immediately (in the light of the likeness of Christ in you) the sun sets for you and your day becomes one of lost opportunity where darkness employs anger to snare you into sin. Any sin that you tolerate is an open invitation to the devil. Do not give him a platform to operate from. If you were a thief before, you are one no more. Find an honest joy where the fruit of your labor can be a blessing to others! Instead of cheap talk, your mouth is now a fountain of grace, giving encouragement and inspiration to everyone within earshot. The Holy Spirit is your signet ring from God to confirm that you are redeemed to live your life in the light of day; any conduct that belongs to the night grieves him. Take up the strongest possible position against every form of distorted behavior in your own life. Do not allow yourself to be spiteful; outbursts of violent emotion and rage do not become you. You don’t have to shout in order to make your point. People must feel safe in your conversation; therefore, slander and hurtful words (blasphemy) are out! Be inspired by kindness and compassion; your forgiving one another when you might feel irritated and frustrated demonstrates the way God graciously treated us in Christ. Mirror God; you are his offspring. (2 Cor. 3:18.) This is how; let the love of Christ be your life; remember how he abandoned himself to us. His love is contagious, not reluctant but extravagant. Sacrificial love pleases God like the sweet aroma of worship.” Ephesians 4:25–5:2 Mirror Bible
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Because of Christ
By Linda Rex
August 4, 2024, Proper 13 | After Pentecost—As I was reflecting upon the New Testament passage for this Sunday, Ephesians 4:1–16, it occurred to me that many people today do not see or understand the value and significance of participating in a spiritual fellowship such as a church. Churches, and their accompanying denominations, have received a lot of criticism and ridicule in recent years. And many of us are too busy with life elsewhere to be actively involved in a church, or we have no interest in anything having to do with matters of faith.
This is understandable, considering our human history and how often we as human beings within the body of Christ have fallen so short of what Christ called us to be. The reality is that when the Spirit brings people together and unites them in Christ, these people are still learning and growing, and are in the process of maturing into Christ. Our purpose in joining in fellowship with others of like mind and heart is not to be or become perfect people, but to grow up in Christ and to serve God and others, in love and unity.
The apostle Paul stressed the importance of unity within the body of Christ, a unity which is only possible in and through the work of Jesus by his Spirit. Jesus led the way and brought us up into his own union and communion with his Father in the Spirit, and he is the head of his body, the Church (speaking of the universal, all-encompassing, cross-denominational and cross-distinctives body of Christ). God brings together in Christ by his Spirit people from all walks of life, all different sorts of people who may or may not like one another or understand one another.
I thought I would share some bullet points on this passage. I think they say well what we need to learn from Paul about being the body of Christ, the Church:
- Because Christ has given us his fullness in the Spirit and made us one with God—we are to maintain our unity in Christ. We are to beware of any attempt to cause division within the body of Christ. We are all one in Christ Jesus. We may worship differently, we may have a relationship with God that is different than someone else, but we are all one in Christ Jesus. We are to keep Christ at the center and we will have room for one another.1
- Because Christ has given us his fullness in the Spirit and made us one with God—we offer ourselves in works of service. How has he uniquely gifted each of us? In what way can we serve others the way Christ serves us? No one is left out of Jesus’ generous gift of grace or of his calling to serve others. What would Christ have us do to participate with him in building up his body?
- Because Christ has given us his fullness in the Spirit and made us one with God—we participate in equipping or being equipped. Has God called us and gifted us uniquely to act as a ligament or joint in his body, to hold it together by serving as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher? Then we are to do the work of service Christ has given us and diligently equip others for service. If we were not called to be a joint or ligament, then God called us and gifted us to do works of service in some other part of the body.2 We are to allow the Spirit to empower us to serve with Christ’s heart of service. We are to allow ourselves to be equipped by those God has gifted to equip us. We are to stay grounded in Christ and grow in our knowledge of the Son of God.
- Because Christ has given us his fullness in the Spirit and made us one with God—we are to speak the truth in love. Christ is the fullest expression of love and is the truth of our human existence, having lived our life, died our death, and risen for our salvation. He himself is the fullness we all are to grow up in until we reach maturity. He is the truth we speak in love.3 4
- Because Christ has given us his fullness in the Spirit and made us one with God—we are to grow up in Christ. We are to stop being childish, easily swayed and distracted by every new spiritual fad that comes our way. We are to turn from anything that distracts us from Christ or from being busy doing the works of service he has called us to do. We are to participate with him in building up his church and maintaining its unity as members of his body.
As you read these bullet points, what stood out to you? Is there some way in which the Lord is wanting you to reframe your view of the body of Christ, the Church? How is the Lord is calling you to join with others in service to him and his people? Take the time to be still before God and to invite Jesus to speak to you about this. What does he have to say to you? Are you listening?
[1] Sproul, RC, The Purpose of God, An exposition of Ephesians. Scotland (Christian Focus Publications via Logos Software, 1994), Eph 4:7-16.
[2] Wiersbe, Warren W., Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. USA (SP Publications, Inc. via Logos Software), Eph. 4, section I.
[3] John 14:6.
[4] Stone, Sam E., ed., Sermon Outlines on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Cincinnati, Ohio (The Standard Publishing Company, 1995), The Unity of the Spirit—Ephesians 4:1–16.
Dear Father, Jesus, Spirit, you draw us together into union and communion with you and others, growing us up into the full maturity of Christ. Grant us the grace to hear your call and to respond obediently, by participating fully within your body of believers, the Church, through Jesus and by your Spirit. Amen.
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:1–16 NASB
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Manifest in Us
By Linda Rex
April 28, 2024, 5th Sunday | Easter—Do you know what love looks like? Do you know what it feels like to be loved with self-giving, sacrificial, other-centered love?
According to the apostle John, we should be experiencing this kind of love when we encounter those who profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is especially true in our covenant relationships, small group gatherings, and spiritual communities. In our New Testament passage for this Sunday, 1 John 4:7–21, the apostle explains how he and those who shared in his apostolic ministry had personally seen and experienced this kind of love in the person of Jesus Christ. As God in human flesh, Jesus personified this love which is particularly found within the Father, Son, Spirit Triune fellowship.
Apart from our participation in Christ, we are unable to love one another in this way. No, it is not until we receive God’s love as a gift, that we are able to offer other-centered, sacrificial, self-giving love to others. John stresses the importance of loving one another, that in doing so, we will show those around us who God is as love. We become living testimonies of the love of God poured out in us and for us in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The abiding of God in us, and therefore, us abiding in God, is an essential part of our being able to love others in a way that is a true reflection of the divine love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The gospel reading for this Sunday, John 15:1–8, is where Jesus uses the image of a vine, its branches, and a vinedresser, to talk about our direct connection with himself in the Spirit. Abiding, then, becomes more than just staying in one place. Rather, we find it is a dynamic state of rest (if that possible) in which we as believers are always drawing upon the source of our being, in Christ, and are always growing into the fullness of what we were meant to be, in Christ, coming to the place where we blossom and produce fruit which will last. This drawing from and pouring out is a way of being which reflects the inner relations of the Father, Son, Spirit fellowship, where each pours into and receives from the other, overflowing love.
When we look at our fellowship with one another, especially within the body of Christ, the Church as a whole, we don’t often see or experience this type of pouring into and receiving from that reflects the divine love and life. In the Triune life and love, there is authenticity, transparency, truth, purity, affection, kindness, giving—all things which too often, we are missing in our interactions with one another. The result of not living true to our design to be image-bearers of God in Christ is fear, the dread of punishment. This fear, which isolates us and damages our relationships, is a kind of punishment in itself, for it blinds us to the reality of the love poured out for us in Christ, which frees us from such fear.
As the body of Christ, we want to be living out the truth of who we are as those made in the image of God to reflect his likeness. In order for us to love God and love others, which we cannot do on our own, we need to receive first the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the heavenly Spirit. We need to attend to Jesus Christ, all he has done for us in his incarnation, his life, his death, resurrection, and ascension. In Christ, we see our heavenly Father and his great love. As the apostle John shows us, the whole Trinity is involved in our salvation—God is love and loves each and every one of us profoundly. Making the effort to focus on this love, to sit at Jesus’ feet as Mary did and learn of him, is one way in which we open ourselves up to God’s love.
Gathering with others who are believers to worship, pray, serve, give, help, study the Word of God, hear and share the gospel, opens us up so the Holy Spirit can begin to pour God’s love into us. We understand that humans are broken and not every fellowship recognizes what it means to participate in Christ’s life and love in this way. But as we allow the Spirit to lead us, we will find others who are abiding in Christ, and together we can grow into a fellowship where God’s love finds full expression.
Dear Father, Jesus, Spirit, thank you for loving us so profoundly and unselfishly. Thank you for living in us and with us. Grant us the grace to see, recognize, and receive your love. And in receiving your great love, grant us the grace to love others in the same way as you have loved us, through Jesus and by your Spirit, for your glory, Father. Amen.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:7–21 NASB
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:1–8 NASB
Recommended reading: What if Jesus Meets Us in the Good, Bad, and Messy? by Greg Williams and Mark Mounts [Grace Communion International publication].
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We Know Love by This
By Linda Rex
April 21, 2024, 4th Sunday | Easter—The other day I was in a supermarket looking for a few items which we had run out of and which I needed for a special family gathering. While I was standing in the dairy section, looking at the items in the refrigerator box, I noticed someone I had seen earlier elsewhere in the store. In fact, I had seen this person four or five times, gathering items and putting them into a grocery sack.
In my mind, I questioned whether or not they intended to pay for the items. Then I realized that this person looked very familiar, a lot like someone I had seen in another locality entirely—on the streetcorner, holding a sign. Was this someone who was homeless who happened to have been given some funds with which to buy some food?
At this moment, I was called away by my shopping companion, and had to leave. But this story came to my mind as I was reading the New Testament passage for today, 1 John 3:16–24. The apostle John was speaking regarding our care for brothers and sisters within the body of Christ, but our expression of the love of God in Christ is meant to cross all barriers, and not be restricted only to those who are believers in Christ.
I find one of the greatest challenges as I write this blog is to live out what I believe to be true. However difficult it may be to write honestly and openly about what I believe to be true (and it can be very difficult at times), it is even more so to live out the ideals I write about. The truth which I have in Jesus Christ and have been given by the Spirit is profoundly wonderful. But as one who is fully redeemed, restored, and accepted by God, and at the same time, broken, wretched, and so far from being what I ought to be, I realize that too often, what I say isn’t always backed up by my actions.
The body of Christ, the Church, has a lot to answer for because too often what we have preached about the love of God in Christ has not been backed up by our actions. True, at times people expect unreasonable things of believers—as human beings, we do have limits to what we can do. But at the same time, Jesus said we would be known as his followers, by our love for one another. And the love Jesus was talking about was the same love he showed for every human being when he laid down his life, took up his cross, and died for each of us.
If, as John says in our passage for today, that we know love by the way in which Jesus laid down his life for us, then the truest expression we can give of God’s love is to lay down our own life for someone else, especially when they are a fellow follower of Christ. What are some ways in which we can lay down our lives for one another?
Our minds often go to the ultimate sacrifice, which our brothers and sisters in the military or police force do on a regular basis (for which we are so grateful). But there are many other ways in which our everyday lives are full of opportunities to lay down our lives in tangible ways. In our job, we may risk our life daily by caring for sick people or by having to work in a job situation which isn’t safe. If we are next in the grocery line, there may be a person behind us who only has one item and looks to be in a hurry. How difficult would it be to lay down our need to be first and allow them to go ahead of us? Or, as we are getting on the interstate, to allow others to merge onto the interstate by slowing down for a moment, rather than competing with them for a position? Attending one more mid-week event or meeting, or inviting a small group over, may absolutely ruin our schedule and disrupt our household—but what if doing this would make a difference in the life of someone who is lonely or struggling?
As you can see, our everyday lives are full of opportunities to express self-giving, sacrificial love. This is especially true within our own households as we interact with our family or within the household of God, with our spiritual family. It is God’s Spirit who pours the love of God into our hearts and enables us to love as Jesus loved us. We trust in Jesus and in his love, and by his Spirit love one another, and do so in tangible ways by living sacrificially in a spirit of service and giving. As we live in this way, God’s love spreads out from us into the world, enabling others to see and experience God’s love in ways that are lifechanging, healing, and restorative.
Dearest Father, thank you for pouring out your love through your Son Jesus and by your Spirit. Enable us to receive the love that you give, and in receiving your love, offer it to others as freely has you have offered it to us. Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to live in other-centered, self-sacrificing ways as you did and do. Pour your love by your Spirit in and through us to all those around us, in your name, Jesus. Amen.
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1 John 3:16–24 NASB
“Love is known in its othercenteredness; just as Jesus laid down his life for us to free his love within us for others. The indwelling love of God compels one to live sensitively aware of people around us, and not to exclude those in need. My darling children, let’s not deceive ourselves by paying lip service to love while we can truly live the dynamic of love in our practical daily doing! In this we know that our beingness is sourced in that which is really true about us; our doing good is not phoney or make-belief; this is who we are in God’s sight! So, even if our own hearts would accuse us of not really being true to ourselves, God is greater than our hearts and he has the full picture! His knowledge of us is not compromised. Beloved when we know what God knows to be true about us, then instead of condemning us, our hearts will endorse our innocence and free our conversation before God. Now, instead of begging God, we speak with confident liberty as sons. We also treasure the conclusion of his prophetic purpose [in redeeming our sonship] and fully accommodate ourselves to his desires and pleasure! Knowing the warmth in his eyes inspires poetic freedom in our every expression. And this is the ultimate conclusion of his intention and desire that we would be fully persuaded concerning the name of Jesus Christ who has successfully accomplished his mission as the son of God to rescue mankind’s authentic sonship! Our love for one another completes his joy! Everyone who treasures this final conclusion of God’s dream, abides unhindered in seamless oneness in him and he in them. His gift of the Spirit is to endorse our awareness of his abiding within us!” 1 John 3:16–24 Mirror Bible
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Beyond Knowledge
By Linda Rex
January 28, 2024, 4th Sunday | Epiphany—One of the things I had to learn early on as a fledgling pastor was the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. What I mean is, when speaking to the congregation, my purpose was not to inform them about a topic so much as it was to inspire them to follow Christ with greater depth and faithfulness. Fresh from my seminary classes, I was bubbling over with a lot of great information, but what was needed was not simply more theological information, but the living Word of God speaking a word through me that would touch the heart, that the Spirit could use to convict and transform the inner being of those who were listening.
In my family, as we grew up, one of the values that was important was knowing things or being well-informed on about every subject. This may be why I’ve always been fascinated by the newest discoveries in science, especially since reading Thomas F. Torrance’s books on the interrelation between science and theology. Science and theology, I once heard Dr. McKenna say, are intended to inform one another, to work together in unity for the betterment of humankind. Often, sad to say, this is not what happens.
Today, our scientific knowledge is constantly reaching new heights. I’m inevitably amazed by the new things we are finding out about our cosmos. Lately my interest has been in quantum theory—of which I know very little, but from what I can see, seems to echo the divine three-in-oneness of the Trinity. All this new science is fascinating and challenging, but from what I have seen historically, every advancement in science needs to be tempered by other-centered, self-giving love, or it presents the possibility for destruction and catastrophe.
This brings me to the passage for this Sunday, 1 Corinthians 8:1–13, in which the apostle Paul addresses some questions regarding whether believers should eat food offered to idols. Even though some believers knew and understood that idols had no real life in themselves, and meat offered to idols really was just, in the end, meat that could be eaten, there were believers who had, for many years, sacrificed meat to idols. Even though they had abandoned paganism and its practices when they came to faith in Christ, their conscience and understanding were not yet at the place where eating meat offered to idols was clearly okay. They still had questions and concerns, and were vulnerable to falling back into their old belief systems and practices.
So, the apostle Paul reminded believers that more important than the believers’ knowledge about meat offered to idols was their love and concern for their brothers and sisters. In other words, love trumps knowledge. Being knowledgeable can become a source of pride to us, and when we are not careful with it and insist on being able to do what we have a right to do or the freedom to do, we can severely injure others. Instead of trying to prove how knowledgeable we are or how free we are, Paul writes, we need to being concerned for the welfare of others, and do our best not to cause unnecessary harm.
Looking back over my brief years as a pastor, I see times when I was more interested in proving how much I knew and how right I was than I was concerned for the wellbeing of those I was ministering to. I was caught up in expressing my freedom in Christ—which is a good thing—but it was not always beneficial to those around me. If there are any who were wounded by this, I sincerely ask forgiveness, for I realize now that what I was doing was not always for the wellbeing of others.
Recently on Our Life in the Trinity, I talked about our sacred oneness, and my focus was on our human body, and the covenant relationship we have with God, and with our spouse. Our sacred oneness also involves our participation in the Body of Christ, the Church, for we are bound together by the Spirit to be of one mind and heart, for the sake of others. As brothers and sisters in Christ, united to God and one another by the Spirit, we are meant to live together, serve others, and testify to the love and grace of God in Christ, in sacred oneness.
Whatever the cost to ourselves today in caring for one another within and without the Body of Christ, it is nothing compared with the self-offering of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that we may live. When any one of us insists upon our rights at the expense of others, or expressing our freedom in Christ in spite of its affect on others, we violate the sacred oneness of the Body of Christ. In fact, we violate Christ himself. We’re all on this journey together, growing up in Christ, but some of us are at different places along the journey. Rather than hindering one another’s progress, we want to be careful to edify or build up one another instead. Because, when all is said and done, what will last on into eternity won’t be “knowledge”, but other-centered, self-giving, serving love (1 Cor. 13).
Heavenly Father, you are the one from whom are all things and for whom we exist. Lord Jesus, you are the one by whom are all things and through whom we exist. Grant us the grace to always be careful not to injure or wound the conscience of others by our freedom in Christ. Fill us, by your Spirit, with other-centered self-giving love, and let it ever flow through us to others for their well-being, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
“Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 NASB
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Our Life in the Trinity 