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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