THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION

 

Chapter 14

​

​​

​​

Christians as Stakeholders in God's Vision

​​​

Text

Eph. 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

​​

Memory Verse

Gen. 1:26  Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

​

 

Introduction

A vision is something you see in your mind that is not visible yet. When you act on it, it becomes a mission.

​

God’s original vision was to extend His rule from heaven down to earth. So He prepared the earth and placed humans here as His representatives - people who would carry His government and character (Gen. 1:1-26).

​

As Christians, we are stakeholders in that same vision. That means we are not just saved to wait for heaven. We are meant to be ministers, ambassadors, law enforcers for God, and walking displays of what heaven looks like on earth.

 

Presentation

 

1. Christians as Ministers

God made us ministers in His government to lift humanity above every other creature that He made (Heb. 2:5-8).

​

All believers on earth together make up the Church (Heb. 3:4-6; Col. 1:18, 24; 1 Pet. 2:9).

 

The Church is like the spiritual Garden of Eden - a place where we access God’s presence and life by faith in Christ (Eph. 5:3-7, 32; 2 Cor. 6:14-18).

 

It is also a ministry, a workspace where each believer serves with the gifts God gave them (Rom. 12:3-8).

 

2. Christians as Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:17-20)

We represent heaven’s government here on earth. Our job is to help people to connect with our home government in heaven.

 

We do that by making God’s living policies known - His truth, His offer of reconciliation, His kingdom way of living (2 Cor. 5:17-19; Matt. 28:18-20).

 

Do not forget why you are here. Your priority is to reflect Him and bring others into His plan (Rom. 8:28-29).

 

3. Christians as Divine Law Enforcement Agents

We are called to guard Jesus’s instructions where we live and not to let them get twisted (2 Cor. 11:2-4, 29; Jude 3).

​

We have to be bold in giving people what God commands, even when it is uncomfortable (Eph. 6:19; John 16:33; Matt. 10:19).

 

And we correct when it is needed - out of love, not pride (2 Cor. 10:3-6; 1 Cor. 5:1-2, 12-13; 13:6).

 

4. Christians’ Lives Should Be a Satellite Heaven

Where believers live, the world should see God’s life on display (Matt. 5:38-48; Eph. 4:17-20).

 

The joy and peace which we carry cannot be found anywhere else (John 14:27; 16:22). We are supposed to be a visible outpost of heaven in a broken world.

 

Conclusion

Christians are God’s hands, feet, and mouth to the world. Everything about the Christian faith shows God coming to man, dwelling with man, talking to man, working in man and for man.

 

If you want to know what God is like, look at a Christian who is actually living it. God is pleased to reveal Himself through us.

​​​​​​​

Evaluation Questions & Answers​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. How would you define a vision?

   • A vision is an invisible reality in your mind - God’s plan or picture of what should be - before it is carried out. When acted on, it becomes a mission.

2. What is God’s original vision which He turned into a mission?

   • To extend His heavenly administration to earth by creating humans in His image to rule and represent Him here (Gen. 1:26).

3. Why are Christians divine law enforcement agents?

   • Because we are responsible to guard and uphold Jesus’s commands, correct error, and make sure that His truth is not twisted in the places in which we live.

4. What is the relationship between the Church and the Garden of Eden?

   • The Church is the spiritual Garden of Eden - God’s dwelling place where believers now have access to His presence and life through Christ.

5. In what one way is the Church a satellite heaven?

   • It displays God’s life, joy, and peace on earth so that the world can see what heaven is like.

6. How can unbelievers discover an invisible God by watching Christians?

   • Through our daily behaviour -  love, forgiveness, integrity, joy, peace, and selfless service. When we live like Jesus, people see God in action.

​​

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word. Keep us steady so that no spiritual attack or circumstance makes us quit our post as stakeholders in Your plan to save mankind. Amen.