Returning for the sake of restoring The first congregation of Jewish believers, men and women who had given their lives to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was indeed apostolic in its outlook and aspirations. The Apostle Paul defined his approach to spiritual realities by the following statement: “I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”. This was for the apostolic band as well as for the rapidly growing number of congregations the very point of beginning, the focus as to spiritual growth and the matter of provocation to the gentile surroundings. These fellowships of believers gathered unto the Lord on this foundational issue alone – expressed in the teaching and preaching of the apostolic band, drastically expressed in the fellowship of the cross, in gathering for the meal of the Covenant in solemn assemblies and for corporate prayer and intercession. The cross of Christ was indeed a point of beginning, the very foundation of a fellowship by which the fact of a coming kingdom was to be determined and demonstrated. The meal of the covenant – bread and some wine – rehearsed two things. It was a statement regarding the new covenant which prophets, like Jeremiah and Esekiel, had been directed to speak about. It was meant to be a solid statement regarding the fact or the returning of the King to Zion and Israel – “ye do show the Lord’s death till he shall come”. The returning as the Redeemer to Zion and the extraordinary change of heart among the Jewish population is the greater issue to which the cross of Christ is but the introduction. The reality of a new and better covenant is verified in the meal of the covenant. The new and better covenant is indeed verified by the congregation of Gentiles, made vessels for the functional aspects of a new heart. Their public display is to be one of “The wall of partition already broken down in that Jesus, the Messiah, “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances: to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace”. The matter at hand is indeed a proclaiming of the Lord’s death till he comes. The matter at hand is indeed an apocalyptic approach to be displayed in the fellowship of believers. The King returning to Zion is the very fulfillment of the eternal covenant made with David, the king and the sweet singer in Israel. It is the restoring of this kingdom which the saints are waiting for. The apostolic approach of the saints today may be in alignment with the apocalyptic approach of Jewish followers of the cross in the first congregations defined and expressed in this statement: “I will return, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen. And I will build again the ruins thereof. I will set it up, that the residue of men may seek after the Lord. And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old”. The Alpha congregation was solidly based on the apostolic preaching of the cross of Christ – and their expectations were as solidly focused on the covenant which announced radical change at the time of the return of the Lord, at the coming of the Redeemer to Zion. The fellowship of the redeemed, the Omega congregation, who lives together before the Lord in these days of trouble and turmoil, turns and returns to the very issue of His coming and the restoring of a Davidic setting in Zion – proclaiming a solemn “till he shall come”. Our expectation in solemnity – this eating in solemnity – of this extraordinary event will prepare us all according to the very covenant which lies at the heart of all things spiritual. Our expectation in solemnity will be like the preparing of a highway, a “Highway of Holiness”, the very way unto holiness before God – he who has chosen Israel, as well as Gentiles to come to worship… Lars Widerberg Reading: 1 Cor 2:2, Acts 2:42, Jer 31:31-34, Ez 36;24-28, 1 Cor 11:26, Eph 2:14-15, Act 15:16-18, Isa 35:8 Apostolicity@Gmail -- -- --
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 06:35:57 +0000
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