Members Called to Peace

Members Called To Peace

Colossians 3:12-17 (p. 1524)                                                                    September 17, 2017    

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:15

How this body matures

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16

1.  We exercise GIFTS and grow FRUIT [kindness (student planners) and hospitality (Vitality conf.)]
2. TRUTH over  METHODS à 2 Corinthians 4:2, “tamper with God’s word”
3. Our goal is  CHRIST-LIKENESS

Members of one body

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  . . . .
And over all these virtues
put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

1. Memberness is  COVENANTAL  (OWBTG, Articles 34-40, forms for Profession of Faith, Readmission)
2. Memberness is  OBEDIENT  (Belgic Confession, Articles 27,28)
3. Memberness is THE CLOTHES  BELIEVERS  “PUT ON”
4. Memberness is how we  PRACTICE HEAVEN

More resources for studying the church

John MacArthur’s sermon, “Upon This Rock” at https://bible.org
/seriespage/exploring-riches-book-romans-romans-1-16

Ligon Duncan’s message “The Confession of the Kingdom” at http://www.fpcjackson.org/resource-library/sermons

Harry R. Boer’s That My House May Be Filled (Eerdmans, 1957)

“Our World Belongs to God”, Articles 37-43

“Belgic Confession”, Articles 27, 28

 

Colossians 3:12- 17
(from William Hendricksen, Colossians in Baker’s New Testament Commentary)

Since you have in principle taken Christ into your hearts, therefore actually be in practice—yes, be fully—what you have professed to be, and what I, Paul, actually believe you have begun to be.  As those who have experienced the dynamic force in your lives of God’s work that assures of salvation, produces fruit and has as its aim God’s glory, put on (see Colossians 2:10) a heart yearning with the deeply-felt affection of Christ, filled with the goodness that is opposite of the malice of 2:8, a heart of modest self-appraisal, a heart willing to suffer injury rather than inflict injury, and a heart willing to endure long before responding.

Endure each other’s offenses, large and small, forgiving any complaint you have against another, even as you have experienced God’s forgiveness.  And above all these things, put on love which binds them in chains until these virtues are perfected.

Let the peace of Christ, for which reason you were called to be individual members called together into a single body, rule in all y’all hearts.  And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ set up household, richly bearing fruit, in your shared lives as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, in the same way that Paul exercises his office (see 1:28).

And do all this as you sing, from Scripture and from your con­fes­sions and led by the Spirit, with an attitude of thanksgiving deep in your hearts.  Whatever you are doing, whether it is how you speak to each other or how you serve each other, do every­thing out of your vital relationship with Jesus, always giving thanks.

 

Belgic Confession, Article 28: The Obligations of Church Members

We believe that  since this holy assembly and congregation
is the gathering of those who are saved
and there is no salvation apart from it,
people ought not to withdraw from it,
content to be by themselves,
regardless of their status or condition.

But all people are obliged
to join and unite with it,
keeping the unity of the church
by submitting to its instruction and discipline,
by bending their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ,
and by serving to build up one another,
according to the gifts God has given them
as members of each other
in the same body.

And to preserve this unity more effectively,
it is the duty of all believers, according to God’s Word,
to separate themselves
from those who do not belong to the church,
in order to join this assembly
wherever God has established it,
even if civil authorities and royal decrees forbid
and death and physical punishment result.

And so,
all who withdraw from the church
or do not join it
act contrary to God’s ordinance.

Our World Belongs to God
Contemporary Testimony of the Christian Reformed Church

34-40: God’s New People

34. In our world,
    where many journey alone,
    nameless in the bustling crowd,
    Satan and his evil forces
    seek whom they may scatter and isolate;
    but God, by his gracious choosing in Christ,
    gathers a new community—
    those who by God’s gift
    put their trust in Christ.
    In the new community
    all are welcome:
    the homeless come home,
    the broken find healing,
    the sinner makes a new start,
    the despised are esteemed,
    the least are honored,
    and the last are first.
    Here the Spirit guides
    and grace abounds.

For the new community, see 1 Peter 2:4-7; for the attacks of Satan, 1 Peter 5:8-11; for the gracious welcome, Matthew 11:28-30 and 1 Peter 5:5-7.

35. The church is the fellowship of those
    who confess Jesus as Lord.
    She is the bride of Christ,
    his chosen partner,
    loved by Jesus and loving him:
    delighting in his presence,
    seeking him in prayer—
    silent before the mystery of his love.

For the confession, see Matthew 10:32-33; for the church as the bride of Christ, see Ephesians 2:6; 5:21-33; 1 John 3:11-17; 4:13-21; and Revelation 21:9.

36. Our new life in Christ
    is celebrated and nourished
    in the fellowship of congregations,
    where we praise God’s name,
    hear the Word proclaimed,
    learn God’s ways,
    confess our sins,
    offer our prayers and gifts,
    and celebrate the sacraments.

For the church’s worship, see Matthew 6:5-15; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 10; and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.