The Church - what are we called to?

[enoob57]

1 hour ago, Marathoner said:

This suits the will and purpose of God

I do not believe in determinism and I do not believe God ever had purpose for lie... it was satan's only recourse in rebellion was to pronounce something that could never be...

[Marilyn C]

9 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I'm musing about the ekklesia of Christ this morning and what His purpose is through us.

My contemplation starts with this verse, after Peter received divine revelation he answer that Jesus was indeed The Christ - and the Lord responded: 

"I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."  Matt 16:18

Right here, the Lord reveals His grand purpose for the church is to have dominion over His enemy!  He will build this gathering of believers into a force that the gates of Hades will not be able to withstand! 

This thought is clearly also conveyed in Ephesians:

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."  Eph 3:10

And then this verse in Romans:

"The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." Rom 16:20

In Luke 10, after Jesus has given His disciples authority to go out and preach the kingdom, they come back and are marveling that they even have dominion over the demons.  At hearing this Jesus says:

"I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening!"  Luke 10:18

Revelation 12 tells us how this takes place:

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-lives unto death!" Rev 12:11

Brothers & sisters, we need to be clear that dominion over serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19 - the devil & demons) is a key role the church is called to - we, the body of Christ, are the instrument He uses to carry this dominion out! 

 

Hi VA,

I believe God`s purpose through the Body of Christ is to be overcomers that will rule with Christ on His throne.

1. Overcomers. The life of Christ within a believer overcomes the enemy trying to control us.

`For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strong holds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,...` (2 Cor. 10: 3 - 5)

 

2. Rulership with Christ in heavenly Zion.

`I (Father) have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.` (Ps. 2: 6)

`you have come to Mount Zion...` (Heb. 12: 22)

`to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne...` (Rev. 3: 21)

[Neighbor]

8 hours ago, Alive said:

I would just add a thought for consideration.

Adam had a will free and unencumbered by sin until the fall. Then his will became bound and chained by sin and its nature. His will was no longer entirely free as it was limited by the horrendous result of death.

Hi, I suggest  Adam did not have freewill, instead he had innocence. He was totally unaware of choices until consuming of the tree of knowledge of good and evil . Before that moment he had no awareness and therefore no way to make  choices between good and evil or about life as there was no death on earth. He did have at least one limiting instruction,  one evidently designed to protect him in his innocence; do not eat of....

 

[farouk]

10 hours ago, NConly said:

James 4:7-8

 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Gal 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 

@NConly We were going through James not long ago in our Bible study. It was a profitable time.

[NConly]

11 minutes ago, farouk said:

@NConly We were going through James not long ago in our Bible study. It was a profitable time.

one of the hardest things to do is pick a page in the Bible you won't learn from

[farouk]

2 minutes ago, NConly said:

one of the hardest things to do is pick a page in the Bible you won't learn from

Well, exactly, @NConly 2 Peter 3.18 shows we all can keep on learning and growing in Christ................

[com7fy8]

10 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

what their real purpose was (dominion).

There is dominion that is included. 

"'Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.'" (Luke 10:20)

So, dominion over Satan is not the main thing. Plus, we have God's purpose >

"to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren," in Romans 8:29.

And we have various scriptures which help to minister this > for example, Colossians 1:28-29.

Being conformed to the image of Jesus is our first Biblical priority and purpose, I would say, while dominion is a byproduct of maturing in how Jesus is and loves.

[AdHoc]

9 hours ago, com7fy8 said:

There is dominion that is included. 

"'Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.'" (Luke 10:20)

So, dominion over Satan is not the main thing. Plus, we have God's purpose >

"to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren," in Romans 8:29.

And we have various scriptures which help to minister this > for example, Colossians 1:28-29.

Being conformed to the image of Jesus is our first Biblical priority and purpose, I would say, while dominion is a byproduct of maturing in how Jesus is and loves.

Could it be that one is for the other? Genesis 1:26-28  states in what way man is Made (image and dominion)  FOR the reason of bringing divine and heavenly rule to earth. This, after all, is the earth's problem. Satan's soldiers bring his unrighteous type of rule. Jesus brought justice and equity. When Jesus came His main theme was the Kingdom of Heaven (not the Kingdom IN Heaven). John's gospel seems to favor man having the LIFE of God, but in the end the rebirth is FOR the kingdom (Jn.3:3-5). Ditto in Romans 8. The rest of the creature eagerly awaits the son's of God who have resurrection LIFE.

One goes with the other and one cannot leave out one.

[Vine Abider]

10 hours ago, com7fy8 said:

There is dominion that is included. 

"'Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.'" (Luke 10:20)

So, dominion over Satan is not the main thing. Plus, we have God's purpose >

"to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren," in Romans 8:29.

And we have various scriptures which help to minister this > for example, Colossians 1:28-29.

Being conformed to the image of Jesus is our first Biblical priority and purpose, I would say, while dominion is a byproduct of maturing in how Jesus is and loves.

 

27 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Could it be that one is for the other? Genesis 1:26-28  states in what way man is Made (image and dominion)  FOR the reason of bringing divine and heavenly rule to earth. This, after all, is the earth's problem. Satan's soldiers bring his unrighteous type of rule. Jesus brought justice and equity. When Jesus came His main theme was the Kingdom of Heaven (not the Kingdom IN Heaven). John's gospel seems to favor man having the LIFE of God, but in the end the rebirth is FOR the kingdom (Jn.3:3-5). Ditto in Romans 8. The rest of the creature eagerly awaits the son's of God who have resurrection LIFE.

One goes with the other and one cannot leave out one.

And this is what I'm seeing too - that is, the original declaration of God regarding us and our purpose is in Genesis 1:26, so I think that carries real weight.  The image and likeness is important, but looking at that verse it is for a purpose - having rule over the earth and all on it.  God delegated this authority to us - we lost it - Christ got it back.

And keep in mind that this is a call to a special kind of kingdom.  That is, we have been transferred into the "kingdom of the Son of His love."  So all that is in that kingdom is also our portion:  love, mercy, grace, power, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, healing, wisdom, fellowship, etc. & etc. (all that is in Christ as our renewed portion)!

[Mr. M]

23 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I'm musing about the ekklesia of Christ this morning and what His purpose is through us.

My contemplation starts with this verse, after Peter received divine revelation he answer that Jesus was indeed The Christ - and the Lord responded: 

"I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."  Matt 16:18

Right here, the Lord reveals His grand purpose for the church is to have dominion over His enemy!  He will build this gathering of believers into a force that the gates of Hades will not be able to withstand! 

This thought is clearly also conveyed in Ephesians:

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."  Eph 3:10

And then this verse in Romans:

"The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." Rom 16:20

In Luke 10, after Jesus has given His disciples authority to go out and preach the kingdom, they come back and are marveling that they even have dominion over the demons.  At hearing this Jesus says:

"I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening!"  Luke 10:18

Revelation 12 tells us how this takes place:

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-lives unto death!" Rev 12:11

Brothers & sisters, we need to be clear that dominion over serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19 - the devil & demons) is a key role the church is called to - we, the body of Christ, are the instrument He uses to carry this dominion out! 

 

We are witnesses, by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:29-32 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

And great grace was upon them all.

1 John 5:9-12 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

2 Peter 1:16-18 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

If the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, then a Church alive in the Holy Spirit should bear witness to that power and presence of the Son of God.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Acts 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.