The Radiant Beauty of the Church
Defining the church can be a daunting task, especially when we try to do so through human eyes. However, when we gaze upon the church through the lens of eternity, we discover that its beauty and glory are rooted in the divine. The church is not a mere organizational structure, but a reflection of God’s indescribable love.
A Divine Origin
To understand the church’s true nature, we must peer into eternity past, where the church resided in the mind and heart of the triune God. The church is not an afterthought, created in response to humanity’s fall. Rather, it is the central body where all God’s presence, promises, and purposes are unveiled and eternally realized.
Reflecting God’s Glory
The church’s beauty shines most radiantly through the biblical concept of glory. When Moses experienced God’s glory, he was left speechless. Similarly, when we behold the church, we should be struck by the reflection of God’s perfect beauty. As the Apostle Paul affirms, Jesus is “the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4), and the church is his radiant bride.
A Community of Love
The church is not just a human organization; it is a community of love, reflecting the same love characteristic of the Triune Godhead. This love is most evident in the church’s oneness. As Jesus prays in John 17, believers are to be “perfectly one,” mirroring the divine Trinitarian oneness.
The Holy Spirit’s Role
The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the church, empowering believers to discharge every aspect of their ministry. As Jesus promises, the Helper will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance all that he has said (John 14:16). The Spirit’s presence ensures that the church is not left to its own devices, but is equipped to reflect God’s love to the world.
A Lovely Oneness
The church’s growing oneness defines its loveliness. As Samuel J. Stone writes in his hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation,” the church has union with God the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won. The church’s oneness is a brilliant testimony to the legitimacy of love expressed within the divine Trinity.
Conclusion
When we gaze upon the church through the eyes of Christ, we behold a radiant beauty that reflects God’s indescribable love. The church is a community of love, empowered by the Holy Spirit to reflect God’s glory to the world. May we cherish and cultivate this lovely oneness, that the world may know that we are his disciples.
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