Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Baptism Pt 4 - Cost of Discipleship Pt 133


Bonhoeffer- 'When he called men to follow him, Jesus was summoning them to a visible act of obedience. To follow Jesus was a public act. Baptism is similarly a public event, for it is the means whereby a member is grafted on to the visible body of Christ (Gal.3:27;1 Cor. 12:13)

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The breach with the world which has been effected in Christ can no longer remain hidden; it must come out into the open through membership of the Church and participation in its life and worship. When he joins the Church the Christian steps out of the world, his work and family, taking his stand visibly in the fellowship of Jesus Christ. He takes this step alone. But he recovers what he has surrendered -- brothers, sisters, houses, and fields. Those who have been baptized live in the visible community of Christ. We shall endeavor to draw out the full import of this statement in the next two chapters, the first of which deals with the "Body of Christ" and the second with the "Visible Community." '

My thoughts-

Most if not all of those reading this, is they've been following my blog, know how I feel about today's organized churches.  I truly believe they are the daughters of harlots who have become corrupt. I'm NOT saying everyone in them is corrupt, the individual is judged by God, as well as the corporate bodies. Are all the churches corrupt, I've yet to find one that follows all of God's truth as it is in His word. As long as the light of the truth has been revealed it cannot, it DARE NOT be denied by anyone. If we shove one tiny piece of truth under the carpet because we'd rather feel comfortable in a church then we are accountable for our action, we are accountable for hiding that truth and not believing it and following it.

Truthfully once we are baptized into Christ, putting on Christ it is an act of an individual, NOT of a church. A church as a whole is not baptized but rather the individuals. And as Bonhoeffer said it is a VISIBLE act, a PUBLIC act. The grafted body of Christ truly is the Church and the Church are the true believers wherever they are. Whether there is a church of two people, or three, or four who follow the Lord in all His truth faithfully, trusting in His grace, His love, His righteousness, they comprise the true Church of Christ. 

May God bless us as we continue the Bonhoeffer study, and may the Holy Spirit guide us to discern truth from error and discard the error while holding fast to the truth.

All in HIS love!

On a side note: My husband is doing really good. He's in a lot of pain, but by the grace of God he is on his way to a full recovery! Praise you LORD, all glory to you my GOD!


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