How did we get here?How did we get here?

And where is HERE?And where is HERE?

Common weekCommon week

Monday through Friday – work, deal Monday through Friday – work, deal with responsibilities as they pertain with responsibilities as they pertain to obligations. (i.e. children, paying to obligations. (i.e. children, paying bills, work schedule)bills, work schedule)

Saturday – Rest and/or playSaturday – Rest and/or play

Sunday – Assuage our guilt and try to Sunday – Assuage our guilt and try to get some sense of purpose/direction get some sense of purpose/direction to get us through another weekto get us through another week

Why are we coming to church to Why are we coming to church to get direction?get direction?

We believe the pastor has done “his duty/job” We believe the pastor has done “his duty/job” preparing for the week, and are hopeful to come preparing for the week, and are hopeful to come to some conclusion within the service that will to some conclusion within the service that will shed more light on our individual circumstance.shed more light on our individual circumstance.We are eager to hear God’s correction and repent We are eager to hear God’s correction and repent for our wrongdoing in order to feel “right with for our wrongdoing in order to feel “right with him”him”We believe the pastor has a more direct, or We believe the pastor has a more direct, or perhaps clearer path to God and can impart a perhaps clearer path to God and can impart a truth to us we may or may not have access to. truth to us we may or may not have access to. (i.e. healing line or prophetic word)(i.e. healing line or prophetic word)

Where is Here?Where is Here?Let’s change some plugsLet’s change some plugs – is the church – is the church a body, working together for the greater a body, working together for the greater benefit of the whole, or is it a “greater benefit of the whole, or is it a “greater institution of learning?”institution of learning?”Is it a living body or a governing Is it a living body or a governing committee?committee?What is the purpose of the individuals and What is the purpose of the individuals and of the ministerial leadership within the of the ministerial leadership within the organizations we call “churches?”organizations we call “churches?”Are we living or simply existing?Are we living or simply existing?What has changed in our lives as a direct What has changed in our lives as a direct result of the current “status quo?” result of the current “status quo?”

Is the Church a form of Is the Church a form of government?government?

GovernmentGovernment – administration, – administration, management, rule, direction, regime, management, rule, direction, regime, control, supervision, commandcontrol, supervision, command

A group of people who have the A group of people who have the power to make and enforce laws, the power to make and enforce laws, the management or control of management or control of something, something,

Is the church a body?Is the church a body?

BodyBody is defined as an organized is defined as an organized group of people or a collection of group of people or a collection of something considered as a wholesomething considered as a whole

BeingBeing is defined as a life form or is defined as a life form or someone’s essential nature or someone’s essential nature or character, or a living thing, especially character, or a living thing, especially one conceived of as supernatural or one conceived of as supernatural or not of this worldnot of this world

Body of ChristBody of Christ

Rom 12:4-5 Rom 12:4-5 For as we have many For as we have many members in one body and all members members in one body and all members have not the same office have not the same office So we, being many are one body in Christ So we, being many are one body in Christ and everyone members, one of another.and everyone members, one of another.

1 Cor 12:12 1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one For as the body is one and hath many members and all the and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many, members of that one body being many, are one body, so also is Christare one body, so also is Christ

Is it alive?Is it alive?

Living is defined as having life, not Living is defined as having life, not dead or non existent, still used or in dead or non existent, still used or in existence, existence, interesting in a new way interesting in a new way that is relevant and usefulthat is relevant and useful

Can be used to emphasize how Can be used to emphasize how realreal, , intense or thorough something isintense or thorough something is

Living Body – A working definitionLiving Body – A working definition

An intensely interesting collection of An intensely interesting collection of supernatural beings, possessing supernatural beings, possessing divine characteristics, relevantly divine characteristics, relevantly ( pertinent, applicable, appropriate, ( pertinent, applicable, appropriate, significant, important…having some significant, important…having some bearing or importance for real-world bearing or importance for real-world issues, present day events, or the issues, present day events, or the current state of society)current state of society)

used by God to thoroughly impact used by God to thoroughly impact their world.their world.

How did Jesus view the Body?How did Jesus view the Body?

Mark 16:15-18 Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (the gospel (Good NewsGood News) to every creature.) to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ( saved ( Made wholeMade whole), but he that believeth ), but he that believeth not shall be damned.not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.sick, and they shall recover.

The CruxThe CruxAre we seeking to be governed? Are we seeking to be governed? Are we seeking liberty (free from obligation) in an endeavor Are we seeking liberty (free from obligation) in an endeavor to share to share a new way of life that is a real, and intense a new way of life that is a real, and intense experience, significantly useful to others?experience, significantly useful to others?

Do we desire to be controlled? Do we desire to be controlled? i.e. kept in check and not i.e. kept in check and not expressed fully or at all (by way of the law)expressed fully or at all (by way of the law)

Do we desire to control? Do we desire to control? i.e. Showing the skill, judgment i.e. Showing the skill, judgment and discipline needed in order to achieve a desired result, and discipline needed in order to achieve a desired result, without doing too much or too little without doing too much or too little (our lives, homes, work environment, financial condition, (our lives, homes, work environment, financial condition, health and mental well-being)health and mental well-being)

Jesus was the first born among manyJesus was the first born among many

Luke 4:18-19 Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord The Spirit of the Lord ( ( Kurios, koo-ree-os, meaning supreme Kurios, koo-ree-os, meaning supreme controllercontroller) is upon me, because he hath ) is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel (anointed me to preach the gospel (to to announce good news, to bring and/or announce good news, to bring and/or declare a good reportdeclare a good report) to the poor; he hath ) to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, sent me to heal the brokenhearted, ((completely shattered mind, will and completely shattered mind, will and emotionsemotions) to preach deliverance to the ) to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty (blind, to set at liberty (to pardon or forgiveto pardon or forgive) ) those that are bruised, (those that are bruised, (literally crushedliterally crushed). ). To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Locating QuestionsLocating Questions

If this isn’t a representative picture If this isn’t a representative picture of the Church today, what of the Church today, what perverts/distorts our understanding?perverts/distorts our understanding?

What is the corrective measure that What is the corrective measure that will free the hearts/ minds of will free the hearts/ minds of believers and empower us to control believers and empower us to control our environments?our environments?

I’ve got the PowerI’ve got the PowerFor I am not ashamed of the Gospel (For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good good messagemessage) of Christ, for it is the power ) of Christ, for it is the power ((literally a force, specifically miraculous literally a force, specifically miraculous power, ability, abundance, mighty miracle power, ability, abundance, mighty miracle worker, violentworker, violent) of God () of God (theh-os meaning theh-os meaning supreme magistratesupreme magistrate) unto salvation () unto salvation (so-so-tay-ree-ah meaning rescue physically or tay-ree-ah meaning rescue physically or morallymorally) to everyone that believeth () to everyone that believeth (pist-pist-yoo-o meaning to commit your trust toyoo-o meaning to commit your trust to) to ) to the Jew first and also to the Greek.the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Simplistically SpeakingSimplistically Speaking

I am not ashamed of the Good I am not ashamed of the Good Message of Jesus because it is the Message of Jesus because it is the abundance of the divine Judge sent abundance of the divine Judge sent to physically rescue me with violent to physically rescue me with violent force as I commit to trust to him.force as I commit to trust to him.

By contrast let’s compare Paul’s By contrast let’s compare Paul’s confidence with that of the Israelites confidence with that of the Israelites as Moses leads them out of Egyptas Moses leads them out of Egypt

Exodus 19: 1-6 In verse 6 God calls the Exodus 19: 1-6 In verse 6 God calls the Children of Israel a nation of Priests. Children of Israel a nation of Priests. No mention yet of a King to govern.No mention yet of a King to govern.

Exodus 20: Pay special attention to Exodus 20: Pay special attention to verses 19-21verses 19-21

Exodus 20:19 -21Exodus 20:19 -21 And they said unto And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us and we will hear; Moses, Speak thou with us and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we diebut let not God speak with us, lest we dieAnd Moses said unto the people, And Moses said unto the people, Fear Fear (Hebrew yaw-ray meaning to cause to (Hebrew yaw-ray meaning to cause to affright, to be made afraid, to dread)affright, to be made afraid, to dread) not: for not: for God is come to prove you, and that his God is come to prove you, and that his Fear Fear (Hebrew yir-aw.. Feminine gender meaning (Hebrew yir-aw.. Feminine gender meaning to morally revere (admire, respect, look up to morally revere (admire, respect, look up to, hold in the highest regard, be in awe of, to, hold in the highest regard, be in awe of, worship)worship) may be before your faces that ye may be before your faces that ye SIN SIN (Hebrew khaw-taw meaning to miss or (Hebrew khaw-taw meaning to miss or forfeit, lack, bear the blame) forfeit, lack, bear the blame) notnot

Verse 21 – Verse 21 – And the people stood And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God wasthick darkness where God was

Moses enters a personal relationship Moses enters a personal relationship with God and the rest of the nation with God and the rest of the nation settles for a Mediator and the lawsettles for a Mediator and the law

Fear results in Fear results in Separation/Alienation and Separation/Alienation and

Anxiety/Uncertainty and Anxiety/Uncertainty and WORKWORKGen 3:8 -11- Gen 3:8 -11- We see evidence that We see evidence that

transgression came long before the law of Moses transgression came long before the law of Moses (1(1stst Testament/Old Covenant) and resulted in fear Testament/Old Covenant) and resulted in fear and withdrawal.and withdrawal.

Col 1:21-22- Col 1:21-22- And you that were sometime And you that were sometime alienated alienated (Greek ap-al-lot-ree-o-o meaning to (Greek ap-al-lot-ree-o-o meaning to estrange away or to be non-participant)estrange away or to be non-participant) and and enemies enemies (adversary)(adversary) in your mind in your mind (Greek dee-an-(Greek dee-an-oy-ah meaning imagination)oy-ah meaning imagination) by wicked by wicked (Greek (Greek pon-ay-ros meaning mischief, malice, or guilt)pon-ay-ros meaning mischief, malice, or guilt) works works (Greek er-gon implying (Greek er-gon implying the act of doingthe act of doing, , labor, or work)labor, or work) yet now hath he reconciled yet now hath he reconciled

In the body of his flesh through In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his unblamable and unreprovable in his sightsight

UnderstandingUnderstanding

And you that were for And you that were for sometime estranged non-sometime estranged non-participants and adversaries participants and adversaries in your imaginations by in your imaginations by guiltyguilty acts of labor are now acts of labor are now blamelessblameless

Guilt Guilt requires a requires a mediator and mediator and WORKWORK!!

So the people requested a So the people requested a MediatorMediator

Because they were afraid of GodBecause they were afraid of God

To talk to God and convey God’s To talk to God and convey God’s commandments through the commandments through the Mediator to them.Mediator to them.

SynonymsSynonyms – go between, intermediary, third – go between, intermediary, third party, arbitrator, negotiator, moderator, referee, party, arbitrator, negotiator, moderator, referee, umpire.umpire.DefinitionDefinition – 1) somebody helping end dispute – 1) somebody helping end dispute (somebody who works with both sides in a (somebody who works with both sides in a dispute in an attempt to help them reach an dispute in an attempt to help them reach an agreement)agreement)

2) substance acting as medium (a 2) substance acting as medium (a substance that acts as a medium in transferring substance that acts as a medium in transferring something from one place to another in the something from one place to another in the body)body)

Moses being a type of Christ becomes a Moses being a type of Christ becomes a mediatormediator ((Greek mess-ee-tace meaning a Greek mess-ee-tace meaning a reconciler) reconciler) between God and Israelites!between God and Israelites!

We are making the same choice We are making the same choice today!today! We are We are afraid afraid that we that we don’t measure up to the standard don’t measure up to the standard set forth in the 10 set forth in the 10 commandments and so we send commandments and so we send our pastors to get a message our pastors to get a message from God and then come and tell from God and then come and tell us what we should do. We us what we should do. We effectively equate our New effectively equate our New Covenant with the Old and strip it Covenant with the Old and strip it of any power to effect change in of any power to effect change in our minds wills and emotions.our minds wills and emotions.

A look at what Paul says about a A look at what Paul says about a MediatorMediator

1 Ti 2:3-5 -1 Ti 2:3-5 - For this is good and For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Who Who willwill (thel-o or eth-e-lo…the first is a (thel-o or eth-e-lo…the first is a stronger version of the word meaning to stronger version of the word meaning to determine the second meaning to wish, determine the second meaning to wish, intend or have rather) intend or have rather) have all men to be have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.the truth.

For there is one God and one For there is one God and one mediator mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Heb 8:6 – Heb 8:6 – But now hath he obtained a But now hath he obtained a more excellentmore excellent (Greek dee-af-or-os (Greek dee-af-or-os meaning to surpass) meaning to surpass) ministry by how ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a much also he is the mediator of a better better (Greek krite-tohn meaning stronger, more (Greek krite-tohn meaning stronger, more noble) noble) covenant covenant (Greek dee-ath-ay-kay (Greek dee-ath-ay-kay meaning disposition, literally a contract or meaning disposition, literally a contract or testament) testament) which was which was established established (Greek (Greek nom-oth-et-eh-o meaning to legislate, to nom-oth-et-eh-o meaning to legislate, to have enactments imposed, to be have enactments imposed, to be sanctioned) sanctioned) upon upon (Greek ep-ee meaning (Greek ep-ee meaning superimposed, above, have charge of) superimposed, above, have charge of) better promisesbetter promises

Hebrews 9:6-10:10Hebrews 9:6-10:10 with specific with specific attention to key words and phrasesattention to key words and phrases

Heb 9:9Heb 9:9 – – perfectperfect (Greek tel-i-o-o (Greek tel-i-o-o meaning to complete or accomplish)meaning to complete or accomplish)

Heb 9:10Heb 9:10 – reformation– reformation (Greek (Greek dee-or-tho-sis meaning to thoroughly dee-or-tho-sis meaning to thoroughly straighten or rectify)straighten or rectify)

Heb 9:12 Heb 9:12 eternal redemption eternal redemption (Greek ahee-o-nee-os and loo-tro-sis (Greek ahee-o-nee-os and loo-tro-sis meaning a perpetual ransoming of)meaning a perpetual ransoming of)

Heb 9:14Heb 9:14 – – purgepurge (Greek kath-ar-id-(Greek kath-ar-id-zo meaning to clean and purify)zo meaning to clean and purify)

ConscienceConscience (Greek Soon-i-day-sis (Greek Soon-i-day-sis meaning co-perception or your meaning co-perception or your consciousness)consciousness)

DeadDead (Greek nek-ros from root word (Greek nek-ros from root word meaning corpse)meaning corpse)

WorksWorks (Greek(Greek er-gon er-gon meaning labor) meaning labor) same word from Col 1:21same word from Col 1:21

Working understandingWorking understanding

Heb 9:14Heb 9:14 - - …….. ……..clean and purify clean and purify your co-perceiver from your corpse your co-perceiver from your corpse creating laborcreating labor, to serve the living , to serve the living GodGod

Heb 9:15 –Heb 9:15 – redemption redemption (Greek ap (Greek ap –ol-oo-tro-sis meaning ransom in full)–ol-oo-tro-sis meaning ransom in full)

trangressionstrangressions (Greek par-ab-as-is (Greek par-ab-as-is meaning the breaking of or violation of)meaning the breaking of or violation of)

Heb 9:22 –Heb 9:22 – remissionremission (Greek af-es-is (Greek af-es-is meaning freedom, deliverance, liberty meaning freedom, deliverance, liberty forgiveness)forgiveness)

Heb 10: 1 –Heb 10: 1 – shadowshadow ( Greek skee- ( Greek skee-ah darkness of error or an ah darkness of error or an adumbration ((meaning to give an adumbration ((meaning to give an incomplete or faint outline or incomplete or faint outline or indication of something)indication of something)))

Heb 10:9 –Heb 10:9 – taketh awaytaketh away ( (Greek Greek an-ahee-reh-o meaning to violently an-ahee-reh-o meaning to violently remove, abolish, murder, put to death, remove, abolish, murder, put to death, kill slay, take up)kill slay, take up)

Heb 10:10 –Heb 10:10 – sanctifiedsanctified (Greek (Greek hag-ee-ad-zo made holy or hag-ee-ad-zo made holy or (venerated meaning to esteem or in (venerated meaning to esteem or in a position of honor)a position of honor)))

So we see then that the So we see then that the law was never meant to law was never meant to save men or to be a save men or to be a standard by which men standard by which men were to be measured. were to be measured.

Galatians 3:19-25Galatians 3:19-25

With specific attention to 3:22 and With specific attention to 3:22 and the word promise which means in the the word promise which means in the Greek Greek the pledge or divine the pledge or divine assurance of GOOD!assurance of GOOD!

Law vs GraceLaw vs Grace

2 Cor 3:6-18 – 2 Cor 3:6-18 – Paul calls this the foundation of our faith Paul calls this the foundation of our faith in in

Hebrews 6:1 –Hebrews 6:1 – There leaving the There leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; go on unto perfection; not laying again not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead the foundation of repentance from dead

worksworks, and of faith towards God, and of faith towards God

We are choosing to live under an We are choosing to live under an abolished contract that constantly abolished contract that constantly reminds us we are not good enough. reminds us we are not good enough. It revives sin (missing the mark) on a It revives sin (missing the mark) on a daily basis and preoccupies to the daily basis and preoccupies to the extent that we become ineffective in extent that we become ineffective in our realm of influence. our realm of influence. Imagine choosing to live under Imagine choosing to live under Communist USSR instead of America. Communist USSR instead of America.