Ephesians 3: 9-13
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Recently, I heard someone criticizing the Catholic Church. For the purpose of this blog, we will call this man Peter. Basically, Peter said that he didn’t approve of the Catholic Church because it depended more on their traditions and their leaders than it did on scriptures.
If you aren't aware, this is one of the reasons the reformation started with Martin Luther. Martin Luther wanted to bring the apostate church back to the centrality of scripture. I love Martin Luther’s passion and insight, and for most of my life I have tightly held to a reform perspective.
However, when I heard Peter criticizing the Catholic Church, something didn’t sit right with me. Ephesians 3:9-10 came to mind. I have heard many Christians use scripture to demean or ridicule our brothers and sisters, which is the exact opposite of the gospel’s purpose.
The scriptures were created, as Paul has written, to stir boldness and give us access with confidence through faith! The leaders of the church and the traditions of the Catholic Church may very well be expressing the “manifold witness of God” to “the rulers and authorities in heavenly places”.
The church, Catholic and Protestant, is an extenuation of the gospel and a working of the Holy Spirit. The church is a powerful entity, just as the Bible is authoritative. The Bible is not somehow more central or weighty than the Church.
I long for the day when the Church will reach her fullness and become more treasured than the Bible. Once the Church becomes blameless by washing herself in His word, then Ephesians 3:9-13 will be more than words on a page. Ephesians 3:9-13 will be manifested through the church and will be displayed for the angels to see. The Church will no longer be dead or inferior to scripture. The church won't just read about God; they will display His wisdom! How glorious!
Recently, I heard someone criticizing the Catholic Church. For the purpose of this blog, we will call this man Peter. Basically, Peter said that he didn’t approve of the Catholic Church because it depended more on their traditions and their leaders than it did on scriptures.
If you aren't aware, this is one of the reasons the reformation started with Martin Luther. Martin Luther wanted to bring the apostate church back to the centrality of scripture. I love Martin Luther’s passion and insight, and for most of my life I have tightly held to a reform perspective.
However, when I heard Peter criticizing the Catholic Church, something didn’t sit right with me. Ephesians 3:9-10 came to mind. I have heard many Christians use scripture to demean or ridicule our brothers and sisters, which is the exact opposite of the gospel’s purpose.
The scriptures were created, as Paul has written, to stir boldness and give us access with confidence through faith! The leaders of the church and the traditions of the Catholic Church may very well be expressing the “manifold witness of God” to “the rulers and authorities in heavenly places”.
The church, Catholic and Protestant, is an extenuation of the gospel and a working of the Holy Spirit. The church is a powerful entity, just as the Bible is authoritative. The Bible is not somehow more central or weighty than the Church.
I long for the day when the Church will reach her fullness and become more treasured than the Bible. Once the Church becomes blameless by washing herself in His word, then Ephesians 3:9-13 will be more than words on a page. Ephesians 3:9-13 will be manifested through the church and will be displayed for the angels to see. The Church will no longer be dead or inferior to scripture. The church won't just read about God; they will display His wisdom! How glorious!
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