CHURCH: THE COMMUNITY OF THE BELEIVERS

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: All who become part of this Holy nation comes in as babies whether you are physically 100 years or just 16 years of age. These are a people whose sins have been forgiven and cleanse from all unrighteousness. We call this GRACE. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Christians are those who has believe, accept and confess Jesus christ as their personal lord and saviour. Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Those who have believed this report, go on to confess Jesus christ as God, who came in the flesh to save humankind, become spiritually separated from the world. Jesus says in the book in John 15:19, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. just as the children if Israel were called out of Egypt, which is a type of idolatrous world and separated to God himself so too, are believers separated, brought into the church, which is not the physical building of gathering, but a spiritual place called ‘ecclesia’,. Peter called this experience as being called out of darkness, which again signifies a world under condemnation and whose ruler is Satan himself, operating through familiar spirit in our biological families. All Christians are free from whatever curse may be in the paternal or maternal lineage.read Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: In this community of the believers, we all have a primary responsibility and a secondary one as well. The first responsibility is to grow by hearing, inculcating the world of God as written in the bible. For all who enter this community, do so as babies; but we expected all babies to grow by drinking milk. It is compulsory that the believer listens and obeys the world of God,asking question during Sunday School and not missing bible studies. See 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: As we do this, we grow spiritually and mature to know more of the deeper things that God has concerning you. The apostle paul once lamented of those who would do not grow in spiritual things:‘ For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat’. Hebrews 5:12. If we do not know the will of God for us, we obey our fleshly desires, which must gravitate towards selfishness, strife, animosity and suspicion of others. To those who sincerely enter this community, God grants them HIs Spirit [Holy spirit] to help them at all times. There are attributes or fruits we bear as members of this community. I can not write all here but some. HOLY SPIRIT: As we have many decisions and moves to make every day, there is a need to know that we are in the father’s will therefore, it behooves all those in this nation, [Holy nation] to have the Spirit of God the bible says Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. FAITH: Faith is the key to download all blessing we have In God. We speak faith daily, and practice faith daily Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. The measure of our faith in God is what gives us gargantuan victories. God can not resist those who come to Him by faith.Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. PATINECE: This attribute is indeed a fruit of the spirit. There is a need for patience for all this in this community. Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Your patience should have no time limit, for God is the creator of all times and season. He will always keep his promises. The psalmist said: Psalms 40:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. LOVE: Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. You do not struggle to love one another because there is a power that makes you love your brother/ sister unconditionally. it is only in this community you can find true love because of the power of love working on the inside of the believer. There are no do’s and don”ts for the matured believers, for the love of God works all good works in him. Do not backbite, do not slander, do not hate, do not bear false witness, do not covet your brother’s possession, all these are laws made for those who do not possess the holy spirit. When love has been indeed, shed abroad in our hearts, these written laws are unnecessary and most times for the babies; for the power to do good works just flows through the mature believer. Are you a true believer or just one of the mist multitude? Exodus 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. These are the ones who are not ready to be saved, make trouble, find fault with the pastor, see other brethren as enemies, and they stress out the ushers , for they will not obey and see others as beneath them. They are in the community, but not part of the community. See you in church.