THE CALLED-OUT ONES
It is easy for us to think that because we go to church and avoid certain sins, we have obeyed Jesus’ call to come OUT OF the world.
Further, we’ve been led to believe that we can retain our love for the world and the things of the world if we simply “accept Christ” and embrace certain religious beliefs and practices.
Therein lies the great deception of the institutional church. We must instead, accept Jesus’ call INTO the holiness and mission of His Church in a way that causes us to renounce loving the world and the things of the world.
THE CHURCH
In Mt. 16:18 Jesus said that He would build a Church that the gates of Hell could not prevail against. He used the Greek word ekklēsía, for “Church.” Ekklēsía combines two words and means to call out from, and in to. See https://biblehub.com/greek/1577.htm
ONLY THOSE. . .
Only those whose life demonstrates being called out from the world AND into the holiness, mission and personal identity of the Kingdom of God, are truly that Church.
Every aspect of their life will be radically transformed. They will radiate the fragrance of Christ; will serve with Acts 1:8 power; and will be offensive to the world including many of its religious institutions and their leaders.
Where is that Church? I know it is in places where Christians suffer, but where is the II Cor. 2:15-17 Church in America, and other places where it is easy to call oneself a Christian? https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2-corinthians/2/15-17
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
Oct. 21, 2021
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