You can't help but notice...
Illustration
Object:
You can't help but notice that there is a purpose in each of Paul's letters. He may start each one with a compliment for what they are doing right, but then he lays into them for where they have goofed up. That is good advice for pastors -- to start out with a few good words before laying down the law.
Paul certainly emphasized the supremacy of Christ. Over and over he lifts up Christ as the most important "person" that ever came to earth and also the supreme head of earth and heaven! In the history of the church, there have always been groups of "Christians" who tried to alter Christ's position and make schisms and divisions. The list fills the books we had to read in seminary. Some were just trying to make Christ's coming more logical to our minds, but this most often brought him down a peg.
Today there are agnostics who might accept some of what we say about Christ, but may think we go too far for a logical human being. The Muslims accept Christ as a great prophet, but make him lower than Muhammed and can't accept his resurrection. They should read this letter of Paul. He leaves no question about Christ's position on earth or in heaven. Nothing else is acceptable to him -- nor should it be to us! That doesn't mean we should kill those who disagree with us. "Vengeance is mine. I will repay" says the Lord.
All we have is God's message for us, from which we cannot deviate, but our command is not to kill but to convert others with our love and example. We are servants, though maybe not as important as Paul, but still he has given us the last word to proclaim.
Jesus suffered for his body, the church. He does not say "churches." As I often say, Jesus does not have a Lutheran body, a Baptist body, a Pentecostal body, a Roman Catholic body, and on and on! Jesus only has one body, and we are all part of it if we believe in this message of Paul.
Notice that is not Paul's energy, the energy in him, it is Christ's Spirit. That can and should drive us also!
Paul certainly emphasized the supremacy of Christ. Over and over he lifts up Christ as the most important "person" that ever came to earth and also the supreme head of earth and heaven! In the history of the church, there have always been groups of "Christians" who tried to alter Christ's position and make schisms and divisions. The list fills the books we had to read in seminary. Some were just trying to make Christ's coming more logical to our minds, but this most often brought him down a peg.
Today there are agnostics who might accept some of what we say about Christ, but may think we go too far for a logical human being. The Muslims accept Christ as a great prophet, but make him lower than Muhammed and can't accept his resurrection. They should read this letter of Paul. He leaves no question about Christ's position on earth or in heaven. Nothing else is acceptable to him -- nor should it be to us! That doesn't mean we should kill those who disagree with us. "Vengeance is mine. I will repay" says the Lord.
All we have is God's message for us, from which we cannot deviate, but our command is not to kill but to convert others with our love and example. We are servants, though maybe not as important as Paul, but still he has given us the last word to proclaim.
Jesus suffered for his body, the church. He does not say "churches." As I often say, Jesus does not have a Lutheran body, a Baptist body, a Pentecostal body, a Roman Catholic body, and on and on! Jesus only has one body, and we are all part of it if we believe in this message of Paul.
Notice that is not Paul's energy, the energy in him, it is Christ's Spirit. That can and should drive us also!
