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What should Christians look like?

What should ‘Church’ look like?  According to the Bible’s understanding of ‘Church’, it is not a denominational or organisational structure, a hierarchy of power, or even a building.  It is people.  If we want to see what ‘Church’ ought to look like, we should look to see what ‘Christians’ should look like.

In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul shows us what Christians ought to look like on the outside, how they should be on the inside, and how they should do everything.

Outside

Christians should put on, like clothing, the qualities of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).  Also, forgiveness (Colossians 3:13).  And above all, love (Colossians 3:14).

Inside

In our hearts, Christians ought to be filled with peace, and thankfulness to God (Colossians 3:15).  Also, the Word of God (the Bible) should fill our hearts, as should praise through singing spiritual songs and hymns (Colossians 3:16).

All around

And in all situations, Christians should do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  That means not just tagging on the phrase “in Jesus’ name” to the end of prayers, but depending on Jesus for strength to cope and do everything that he calls us to do, giving him the glory for whatever good we do, and asking forgiveness for our sins because of his atonement for our sins on the cross.

These are challenging standards, but ones that are possible, when relying on the strength of the Holy Spirit instead of ourselves, and trusting in the atonement of Jesus for our sins when we fail to do what we ought to (1 John 1:7-9).

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The Apostle Paul

In the Bible, Paul speaks of enduring as a Christian, and compares it to finishing the race, referring to the marathon race, but meaning that we persevere to the end of this life, as God wants us to do.

‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8, NLT)

William Carey

William Carey went to India as one of the first missionaries in recent centuries – he is the father of the modern missionary movement which started in the late 18^th century, that spread across the world.

He was not a dynamic person by any means.  But he could persevere for the long haul.

“I can plod.  That is my only genius. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”

He translated the Bible into Sanskrit, Bengali, and other languages in India.  But one day all his work went up in smoke in a house fire.  Years of hard laborious work was lost.  What did he do?  He started again – he persevered despite such a serious setback.

Just like a marathon runner perseveres to the end of the race, just like the apostle Paul encourages us to persevere in the Christian life, just like persevering examples such as William Carey, we ought to persevere in our daily walk with the Lord, no matter what setbacks we might face.

No matter what happens, we ought to carry on carrying on.

Believers in Christ

But we cannot run this race on our own.  In fact, we cannot officially enter into this race without first having trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  While there are many people trying to deserve a reward from God after their life is over, the heavenly prize that is on offer from God is only available to those who have trusted in Jesus.

Believers must carry on, not looking back, not being burdened by sins that have already been forgiven, nor resting on their laurels or past glory, but looking forward to the finishing line.

When the going gets tough, too, those trusting in Christ have the unlimited power of God to strengthen them:

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.’ (Ephesians 3:20–21, NLT)

Carry on carrying on!

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In the same way that a new management structure can transform an unethical company from being selfishly profit-based, without much of a care towards workers and customers, etc., into an ethical company, so too the Lord turns around the hearts of his followers from being selfish towards being his servants and living by higher standards.

Where does your heart lie?  Is it in unethical, selfish gain?  Or is it towards the values and benefit of God’s kingdom?

Jesus doesn’t ask us to answer that question by replying with a nicely phrased set of words.  Instead, he asks us to answer that question by looking at our actions – what do we treasure?

What do our actions say about us?  Do we treasure the things of this world, or the things of the kingdom of God?

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Have you seen the TV series, The Fixer?  It features businesswoman Alex Politzi who goes to failing businesses, and she analyses the problems, and puts solutions in place, and turns around businesses that seemed destined to fail.  She seems to do the impossible.

What we need is someone to sort us out, we need new management, we need someone to sort out our old problems of sin and resolve its consequences, and to set us on a new path.

God is the fixer of our souls.  The Father loves us with an everlasting love.  The Son died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  The Holy Spirit changes us on the inside, makes us holy.

‘So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 6:11, NLT)

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What does Easter Sunday mean to you?

For many people it means something to do with Easter Bunnys, Eggs, daffodils, and so on.  For others, it is about going to Church to remember Jesus being raised from the dead.

Yet, for many Christians, Easter is like a ‘remembrance service’, where they remember someone who died a long time ago.  Is that what we’re doing?  Simply commemorating an event that occurred many years ago?

There are several centenary commemorations coming up in the next few years, such as the Easter rising, the other one, in Dublin in 1916?  For many people, they are a walk back into history – like the recent centenary of the Titanic in 2012.  It’s fascinating to go to the Titanic exhibition, and see how they built the ships back then, and how they decorated the Titanic, and so on.

A trip down memory lane is interesting, but irrelevant to many people.

If we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, are we just going on a trip down memory lane?  Or does it have far more importance and relevance to our lives here and now?

What does John want us to know?

In John’s gospel (John 20:1-31), we read about the first people who encountered Jesus alive, after his resurrection.  While Paul later comments that there were hundreds who saw Jesus alive (1 Corinthians 15:3–8), John focuses on those who initially discover the empty tomb, as well as some select aspects of his post-resurrection days:

Firstly, the tomb is empty – Jesus is risen (John 20:1-18).  Jesus broke the spell or curse on humanity, death, so that those who trust in him would be raised again to eternal life.

Secondly, the disciples are commissioned to offer the message of forgiveness to the world (John 20:19-23).  Jesus’ followers as a whole have a duty to take the gospel to those who have not heard it, so that they can receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus.

Thirdly, those who believe in Jesus, without seeing his body, are blessed (John 20:24-29).  We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Fourthly, John summaries the purpose of his gospel, that by believe in Jesus people may have eternal life (John 20:30-31, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:10–11).

The good news about Jesus resurrection isn’t simply a nostalgic trip down memory lane, commemorating the death and resurrection of a cherished religious leader.  It is arguably the most significant event in human history, since because of Jesus’ atonement for sin and resurrection from the dead, people today can know forgiveness from their sins, no matter how serious they have been, as well as know that they have eternal life with God forever.

Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus isn’t simply commemorating a historic event that has little contemporary significance.  It has enormous significance for everyone, because acceptance of the gracious and merciful offer of forgiveness is the only way to avoid a future encounter with God in judgment, as well as experiencing the firstfruits of eternal life by walking in the Spirit here and now (Matthew 16:27, Luke 24:44–48, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 6:10-11).

Praise God for such great salvation, offered freely to everyone…