The Core – Part One
Is there anything than can unify denominations and “non-denominations”? Richard Foster believes that these different branches of Christianity are all streams of living water flowing together. But what is it that unites these streams? They must be united in the core of the gospel.
I believe that Christ offered the core of the gospel in Mark 12. In an attempt at unity I post this as part one of a multi-part series on the core of the gospel. Christ followers are to be defined and united by what we do, in this teaching Christ focuses on action. We are to unite under the authority of Christ to act as his body in his absence. Isn’t that the most important thing? Acting as the one undivided body of Christ? In order to act in service to God the first statement of the core of the gospel focuses on the nature of who God is.
“Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God,”
The unity of the church is centered on the Lord our God. Here God reveals his personal nature desiring to be known as “the God of his people.” (Jeremiah 24:7) He is defined by his actions of grace and love towards those who are his. He desires to call us as “his own” and for us to call him “ours.” He manifests his grace and love primarily through self revelation and has taken the initiative to reveal himself to humanity. He starts in the garden, works through the law, then is finally revealed through his son Jesus Christ. He will be fully revealed on the last day when heaven and earth are no more. Until that day he reveals himself to humanity through the church which is called his body filled with the Spirit. We are unified in knowing this God and being known by him. We are also unified when we follow his example by coming to know and being known by other believers (James 5:16).
“the Lord is one.”
While God may have three distinct personages (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19): Father, Son and Spirit – he is still one. His “oneness” also speaks to his completeness. He is one or as the text in Deuteronomy 6:4 states he is alone. The only God, all sufficient in himself. (See the “Definition of Chalcedon” for a more complete treatment.)
The unity of God is important to note as the “God of the Old Testament” is not opposed to Jesus, rather he is fully revealed through him. Additionally, the Spirit will not manifest any new teachings that are not one with (or congruent) to that which was revealed through Jesus and his disciples (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). It is through this unified revelation (known as the Bible) that we as Christ-followers can be united. We follow Christ’s example and that of those who have gone before us (1 Corinthians 11:1). When we live in unity we act as the Trinity and represent the body of Christ in his absence (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). In order to get to the core of the gospel we must recognize the complete and united nature of God and we must model our lives accordingly.
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April 10th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I like this, good reasoning. We are one through Christ. I’ve always found it confusing how we call ourselves nondenominational and yet we have our own set of ideas about doctrine, our we truly nondenominational?