“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
God cannot dwell in us as a church body if we cannot share in each other. We have to embrace all that has gone before, every culture, nation the whole breadth of who Jesus is has to come together has to be welcomed through the door.
Oneness has to be our starting point.
Jesus has to be inside the church not standing on the outside knocking.
A Christ centred church has to be the shape of the dwelling that can hold God’s glory.
Jesus is the one who builds our church.
If we forget Him it is counterfeit. He alone gives it authenticity.
We have to be Jesus obsessed not like the Pharisees who reject Him because He doesn’t fit into their legalism.
Clearly Paul exposes that all , Jew and Gentile are the new breed of humanity coming together acceptably.
Diversity is essential the only requisite is Jesus centred.
None to dominate, none to oppress, all welcomed and celebrated equally.
We are all to be bearers of Jesus’ image.
To look like Him.
Imitate Him Choose to be accountable to this above all else.
Anything less than this ‘off centres’ us slightly, we start to :
Hang increasingly crookedly.
Look misaligned.
Go off in the wrong direction We are no longer true.
We want to gather around Jesus in all His fullness.“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Eyes on Jesus.
Jesus focused.
Face to face .
Jesus has never moved so it must be our glancing to and then away that has miss guided us.
If we’ve wandered away from the source of our light and direction we need correction to navigate back to a true course and reflection of the bride.
The illustration shows us asking the question is Jesus the centre inside our church or is He knocking at the door to come in? His light only presses back the darkness.
Five Scriptures that come to mind:
“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”Ephesians 2:20-22 ESV
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”Revelation 3:20 ESV
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”Ephesians 2:11-19 ESV
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”Matthew 5:8 ESV
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
The song Show me Your Glory. Brendon, Lake and Leeland
https://youtu.be/w2VBLPN9Ok4
Lessisgreater 