The Five-fold Essence of the Church

Transcription

1 The Five-fold Essence of the Church (2) The Church as the Family of God Definition of Family A Family Is a Structured Community of Related Persons Bonded by Love A Person Is a Living Being with the Faculties of Mind (Capacity of Rational Thinking) Heart (Capacity of Emotions) (Capacity of Decision Making) Conscience (Capacity of Knowing Good and Evil), and Strength (Capacity of Actions) (Luke 10:27) And he (Jesus) answered and said, You shall (exercising will) love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (=conscience?), and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Dichotomy of Man (Gen 2:7) Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Trichotomy of Man (1 Thess 5:23) may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1

2 The Origin of Family Yahweh, the Eternal Triune God, Is a Family of Three Persons The Origin of Family Trinitarian Models The Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory Naziazus, in the 4th century) Envisioned the Community Model The Eastern Church inherited the Cappadocian Tradition Emphasizing More on the Threeness of God, Salvation Is Joining the Fellowship of the Godhead The Origin of Family Trinitarian Models Augustine (4th-5th Century) Envisioned the Personal Model: God Is Like a Person, with The Father as the The Son as the Mind (Logos) The Holy Spirit as the Heart The Western Church Inherited the Augustinian Tradition Emphasizing More on the Oneness of God Salvation Is Being Declared Righteous by God the Supreme Judge Theology of Family in God God is Unity in Essence, Having the Same Nature: God Is Self-existent, Self-sufficient, & Self-determinant (Existential Attributes); =Yahweh=Eternal One Conscience: God Is Holy, Just and Loving (Moral Attributes) Strength: God Is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent (Power Attributes) Inseparability in Relationship (Fellowship between the Father and the Son Broken during the 3 Days when Jesus Was in the Tomb) Equality in Position Theology of Family in God God Is Diversity in Three Persons, Having Different Personalities The Father Shows the of God The Son Show the Mind of God The Holy Spirit Shows the Heart of God Each Having Full Personhood (Mind, Heart, and ) Inconfuseable in Persons : in Salvation, the Father Elects, the Son Redeems, The Holy Spirit Preserves Theology of Family in God The Three Persons of God Are Equal in Position All 3 Persons Are Divine, Infinite and Holy No One Is Higher than Others in Position All Are Worth the Worship by the Creation F, S & HS Chose in Eternity the Sequence of Procession Bonded by Love 2

3 Theology of Family in God Original Love Is Ontological Relationship between the 3 Persons of God, Expressed in These Actions in Time The Father Loves the Son: He Created All for the Son, and Give All to the Son The Son Loves the Father: He Obeys and Honors the Father in All Things The Holy Spirit Loves the Father and the Son: He Glorify Both, but Not Himself The Father and the Son Loves the Holy Spirit: They Defend Absolutely the Honor of the HS God Created Man in His Image (Gen 1:26) Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Gen 1:27ab) And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; (Gen 1:27c) male and female He created them. (Gen 1:28) God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply Image of God = Life Personhood (M, H, W, C, S) Animals Angels Man Equal in Position (1 Pet 3:7) You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. Position (Potential Sonship) The Husband Is The Head of the Family The Major Provider of Life s Provisions He Should Love His Wife with the ingness of Giving up His Life for Her He Deserves Respect and Love (Eph 5:23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church. (Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Eph 5:28) So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself 3

4 The Wife Is The Most Beautiful Creation The Weaker Vessel She Should Submit to Her Husband: Respect and Honor Him She Deserved Love and Respect (Gen 2:23) The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." (Eph 5:22) Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (1Cor 11:3) But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. The Fruit of Love Is Multiplication The Parents and Children Are Equal in Position (in a lesser sense) Treat as Fellow Human Beings (Col 3:21) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. (more so, till adulthood) (Eph 6:1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Family Is a Structured: Father, Mother, Children Community: Fellow Heir of Grace Of Related: by Blood a/o Legal a/o Spiritual Persons: in the Image of God Bonded by Love: Love God Together Love Each Other according to Their Need Theology of Church Family The Church Is an Extended Family of God Christ Is the Eternal Firstborn of God (Heb 1:6); The Church Is the Body of Christ (Eph 4:12): Obedience The Church Is the Bride of Christ (Rev 19:7): Purity Israel Was the National Firstborn of God (Exod 4:22); The Church is the Extended Spiritual Israel 4

5 Theology of Church Family The Church Is a Structured: Elders, Pastors, Deacons, Teachers, Group Leaders, Congregation Community of: Fellow Heir of Salvation Related: Spiritual Bro./Sis. Of Christ Future Bride of Christ One Body of Christ Persons: with Different Personalities Spiritual Gifts Bonded by Love: 1 Body, 1 Spirit, 1 Hope, 1 Lord, 1 Faith, 1 Baptism (Eph 4:4-5) Each Is Special to the Others as a Member of Extended Family Different Personalities and Spiritual Gifts Are to Be Used to Complement Each Other, Not Reign Over Others. Proper Structures Exist to Provide Order and Training of Obedience The Primary Characteristics of a Christian Church Should Be the Love for Each Other (John 14:15) If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 15:17) This I command you, that you love one another. (John 13:34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:35) By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Love Means: Accept as They Are (Loveliness & Imperfections) Forgive the Offences to Each Other Care for the Welfare of Each Other Give Practical Help when in Need Have Regular, Properly Frequent Gatherings To Get to Know each Other To Learn Together and Wisdom To Enjoy Life Together To Develop Each Other To Comfort and Encourage Each Other To Do Good to Others Priorities and Levels of Love God Family Nuclear Family Extended Family Church Local Church Universal Church The World: Nonbelievers The Enemies The Two Pillars of the Church Are Love A Proper Motto for Our Church Is Teach His Word! Love Our Neighbor! Are We Ready? 5

6 The Relationship between God and Family Son Man Boys Father God God Family Parents Household Spirit Woman Girls God-noumena God-phenomena God s image Honor Honor 1 st Person Family Love of Love 2 nd Person God 3 rd Person Love Honor Other Examples: Family: Father, Seed (Mature Descendant), Mother (Prov 3:13; 31:10ff.); School: Parents, Teachers, Students; Israel: King-Judges, Priests-Levites, Congregation; Church: Elders, Pastor(s), Congregation

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