The church today has been given her marching orders for organization and character. She must the Lord’s design, which, unfortunately, is often easier to say than to do.
Observations:
- The kingdom of man’s priority isn’t belief in God
- The kingdom of man’s priority isn’t knowing God
- The kingdom of man’s priority isn’t knowing the love of God
- The kingdom of man’s priority isn’t the community of God
Grace Sagola is your practice field for the worship and priority of God’s Kingdom
Conclusions: What does a citizen of heaven look like in Sagola?
- Being like Jesus is dependent on unity in the church
- Being in Jesus is dependent on submission to the gospel
- Being with Jesus is dependent on love
- Being a witness for Jesus is dependent on oneness
Application:
- Jesus only, Jesus first – expressed in Christian community
Ephesians 2:14-15
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.”
Ephesians 4:3-6
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
1 John 5:1-5
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Titus 3:5-7
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Philippians 3:7-11
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
1 John 4:12
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 5:21
“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”