Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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The One True Church
Chapter 22 – The Progression of the One True Church
The progression of a human embryo is from seed to seedling – that is, from a single cell to an infant with “fingers and toes, eyes and nose.” That is a staggering range of development in a relatively short period of time – less than a year in the womb compared to a lifetime outside it of 70-80 years.
The progression of the one true church had its own staggering range of development.
- It began as purely Jewish group.
- Almost a decade later, Gentiles were welcomed.
- Almost a decade after that, there was a strain between Jewish believers and Gentile believers.
The strain was caused by Jewish believers expecting Gentile believers to adopt Jewish practices – like circumcision.
The apostles made it clear to the believing Gentiles that they did not have to become Jews in order to fully participate in the church Jesus was building.
Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
Romans 10:13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
(“Greek” in this context is just another way of saying “Gentile” – that is, not a Jew.)
But there was a dimension to the one true church’s progression that was even more profound than this. It was a trajectory from sin to righteousness. It was a process that was not fully achieved at conversion, but rather a process that began with conversion and ended with a maturity in righteous thought and behavior.
Consider these exhortations from the apostles to the people who had believed their preaching.
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:25 …Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Ephesians 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
The apostles were intent on building a church they could feel good about presenting to Jesus. They were after moral growth – the kind of improvement in virtuous living that would be worthy of the name of Jesus.
A clear sign that the New Testament church was reaching the maturity the apostles sought for it is the book of Revelation. For if they didn’t understand it any better than we do, it would have been practically useless to them. The apostle John was writing to them in a way that only a people who were truly like Jesus could comprehend.
What modern church follows this trajectory from sin to righteousness? Are they not all like Israel wandering around in the desert, stuck between the world and the promised land?
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