Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The Assembly of God (PART V)
The passage from Amos quoted in Acts leads nicely into the first use of ekklesia in the Gospels.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my [assembly], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 ESV)
If the passage in Acts and Matthew are related (as I believe them to be), we see that the assembly of God is rebuilt upon either (1) Peter, (2) Christ, (3) Peter’s confession stated earlier in the above passage, (4) Christ’s teachings or (5) all of the above. I have heard of a theological belief that the assembly replaces Israel. I do not believe this to be true. Given the two passages above, the appearance is that Israel is rebuilt; the assembly of God is re-established, not replaced. A nice passage that appears to tie the above ideas together can be found in Ephesians. I quote the passage in full length because it captures the full picture.
“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22 NASB)
This passage clearly reveals the building of the “tent of David.” To be noted in the above passage are phrases like ‘formerly,’ ‘at that time,’ and ‘but now.’ The covenants of promise now belong also to the Gentiles—to the whole assembly. Also note the phrase ‘built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.’ This phrase fits nicely with what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew. The assembly is built on the (1) the Apostle Peter, (2) Christ the cornerstone, (3) Peter’s Messianic confession taught by the prophets, (4) Christ’s teaching which filled up the Law and Prophets, that is (5) all of the above.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my [assembly], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 ESV)
If the passage in Acts and Matthew are related (as I believe them to be), we see that the assembly of God is rebuilt upon either (1) Peter, (2) Christ, (3) Peter’s confession stated earlier in the above passage, (4) Christ’s teachings or (5) all of the above. I have heard of a theological belief that the assembly replaces Israel. I do not believe this to be true. Given the two passages above, the appearance is that Israel is rebuilt; the assembly of God is re-established, not replaced. A nice passage that appears to tie the above ideas together can be found in Ephesians. I quote the passage in full length because it captures the full picture.
“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22 NASB)
This passage clearly reveals the building of the “tent of David.” To be noted in the above passage are phrases like ‘formerly,’ ‘at that time,’ and ‘but now.’ The covenants of promise now belong also to the Gentiles—to the whole assembly. Also note the phrase ‘built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.’ This phrase fits nicely with what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew. The assembly is built on the (1) the Apostle Peter, (2) Christ the cornerstone, (3) Peter’s Messianic confession taught by the prophets, (4) Christ’s teaching which filled up the Law and Prophets, that is (5) all of the above.
# posted by Wesley Son of Cornelius @ 10:28 PM 
