Fullness of Christ (Eph 1:22-23)
He began the message saying "Let us Go back to the Bible."
Church doctrine ought to be based on the Bible.
Ephesus was a city of worldly wealths and idol worship (goddess of Artemis).
Church is not building or organization but people who profess faith in The Lord Jesus, the Savior. It is called the body of Christ, a temple filled with the fullness of Christ.
First, it is the body of Christ
Christ is the head. The owner of the church is Christ. All churches receive life from Christ. There is only one universal church, with branches, so it comes with diversity and universality.
Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of lords, so members of his church are endowed with a royal standing.
Body operates as "one".
The Holy Spirit keeps it to be one.
Second, it is nurtured with the fullness of Christ.
He fills everything in every way. Acts 2:43-47.
In Zimbabwe, two missionary families were robbed last year. In the area where Missionary Caleb Shin lives, often times, the water supply is cut off for one whole week. Missionary Jacob Yoon runs a chicken store. There he raised one local person as a successor, but the local person who had been given trust betrayed, and ran away with a safe with money. Samuel Lee came to stay in Zimbabwe for last one and half years. Life in Zimbabwe was difficult so he felt like going back home. But he realized that what a missionary needs the most is, "the fullness of Christ" who fills him with everything he needs. He also said, "You should not lose balance on isms such as Calvinism or Armenianism." We should not be performance-oriented either. Rather we must strive for the fullness of Christ. Production stems from the fullness of Christ.
Third, it is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit establishes the church. He also provides the members of the church with a variety of gifts.
We have 42 chapters in 16 African nations. Of the 16 nations, 13 nations are being pioneered by one 'house church'.
It is awesome that Jesus works in the church as the head. We need to have reverent fear of God's glory residing in us.
Fourth, it consists of the citizens of God's kingdom (Eph 2:19)
We are the bride of Christ.
Worship is a festival. Through worship we offer ourselves, and celebrate the oneness with the Triune God. Signs of God's kingdom include - worship, proclamation of Word, communion service, mutual love of God, demolition of discrimination, unity via mutual service, relief for the estranged, devotion to Christ, ecological concern and efforts, etc.
Fifth, it represents God's households (Eph 2:19).
We need to remember that they are members of the family of God bonded together in the blood of Christ's love. Missionary Samuel says "I am still a young missionary." So he questioned whether he would truly regard African sheep as his own household. At the age of 68 as he was being sent out from Korea to Africa (Zimbabwe) as a missionary, his grandson Daniel (4) kept asking "Grandpa, you do not go to Africa, do you?" Last year he went back to Korea. As he was coming back to Africa, his grand-son said to him at the airport "Grandpa, please do not go back to Africa." His heart was broken. Yet he denied himself. He came back to Zimbabwe. He now feeds 23 sheep. He could identify himself with African students as his own households.
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Location:Tanzania
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