Living in the Kingdom IX

Sunday 12/13/15

Series: Living in the Kingdom IX

Message – Union II – The Perichoresis & the Kingdom

The Perichoresis – Perfect & eternal Unity

Before there was ever an earth…before there was the first angel or a heaven in which for them to dwell there was the Godhead existing in perfect, unbroken unity. Before Cherubim and Seraphim could sing their praises, before the first pearly gate swung upon it’s hinges or the Father had a throne to sit upon – there was intimacy, true, pure and bottomless love, mutual admiration and deep penetrating respect flowing out of, towards and through the three members of the Godhead. It was perfect union in it’s first and ultimate form – this is what theologians mean when they use the word perichoresis or circuminsession.

Though I don’t like referencing theology much, in this case I think it is warranted.

Perichoresis is a Greek term used to describe the triune relationship between each person of the Godhead. It can be defined as co-indwelling, co-inhering, and mutual interpenetration. Alister McGrath writes that it “allows the individuality of the persons to be maintained, while insisting that each person shares in the life of the other two. An image often used to express this idea is that of a ‘community of being,’ in which each person, while maintaining its distinctive identity, penetrates the others and is penetrated by them.”

This is the picture John begins to paint of the existence Christ had with God before He became a man.

1 John 1:1-2,

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— (2) the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—”

The words “from the beginning” actually mean – before there was a beginning.

John is the only gospel writer who had previously defined the term “LIFE” by Jesus’ Own definition. In John 17:1-3, John records Christ as praying something to the Father which has DIRECT application to our teaching today, “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, (2) as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. (3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You in intimacy, You Who are the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.”

This life eternal, then, is not mere conscious and unending existence, but a life of acquaintance with God and Christ. In the Gospel of John, “know” (ginṓskō) denotes personal fellowship with God or Christ – the same fellowship which exists between the Father and the Son. It is intimacy through union with Him.

We’ve been invited in

The fact that John saw Christ, heard Him, experienced Him is great…I mean good for him! Is it, however, good news for me? Well John says it is…

1Jn 1:3-4,

“that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (4) And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

John here explains that the reason he is telling us this is so that we too can experience Christ, even as he has! The word fellowship means co-partnership and so John is saying that we can co-partner with all those who saw Him. The apostles were co-partners with Christ, so if we co-partner (lock arms) with them, by extension we are locking arms and co-partnering with Christ as well. This entering into partnership with Christ is to experience Him on a very real, personal and intimate level, which, like all intimate relationships, brings joy. Relationship with our Messiah God however, makes joy FULL!

This was a revelation John had received a long while back though and had already shared in part as the opening to his gospel account of Jesus’ life. Let’s look at what John says…

John 1:1-4,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

(4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

In Jesus was the intimate knowledge of God and that God could be known and experienced intimately was the light or revelation of man!

What is John saying here? THE message of the Messiah was clear even in His person and life – Christ LIVED what He taught. IN HIM WAS INTIMACY WITH GOD! That intimacy WAS His witness! Jesus was a living revelation that God desired and was making a way to have eternal intimacy with mankind! To know and be known! The same union enjoyed by the Holy Trinity from eternity past, WE – as created beings who share in His likeness, have been invited into FOREVER!

Isn’t that the very thing God says He is doing in us now – preparing us to be His permanent home? Isn’t intimacy – knowing and being known – what He promised was the kick-off for our eternal bliss with Him?

Sure, for now we learn and see and come to know Him little by little, even as Paul said we would, and as we come to know Him we become like Him.

2Cor. 3:16-18,

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

But there is a day coming when we will no longer see Jesus through a glass dimly, but face to face. On that day we will be changed to be just like Him in a moment – in a twinkling of an eye, because we will see Him as He REALLY is and know Him EVEN AS WE ARE KNOWN BY HIM!!!!

1Cor. 13:12,

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

1Cor. 15:51-54,

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”

This is OUR GREAT HOPE! To know and be known. The same thing Paul rejoiced over and forsook all he had ever known to lay ahold of!

Php 3:7-10,

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (8) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

There was much more to the teaching than this, so I hope you will listen to it and be encouraged towards study yourself. Remember the exhortation to Timothy – study to show ourselves as approved to God. This is just part of what it means to live in unity and union with God in the Kingdom!

Blessings!

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Attendance at our church will NOT even be mentioned nor will money.

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Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!