communion – Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht

Colossiens – Une Exhortation à l’Unité dans l’Amour #2 Plénitude du Corps uni du Christ

Mai 20, 2024Mai 20, 2024 par Christadelphians, publié dans Jésus-Christ - Fils de Dieu, Paroles d'encouragement

Continuation de: Colossiens – Une Exhortation à l’Unité dans l’Amour #1 Séparation du monde

Chapitre 2-La plénitude du Corps uni du Christ

L’un des thèmes que nous avons remarqués au chapitre 1 est celui du Corps du Christ et de la manière dont les membres individuels pourraient en faire partie. Alors nous lisons:

« Il est la tête du Corps, l’ecclésia: qui est le commencement, le premier-né d’entre les morts; afin qu’en toutes choses il ait la prééminence. Car il a plu au Père qu’en lui habitât toute plénitude” (Colossiens 1: 18-19).

Le chapitre 2 reprend ce thème de la” plénitude » demeurant dans le Messie, soulignant la complétude de son corps uni:

“en lui (c’est-à-dire Christ) habite corporellement toute la plénitude de la Divinité, et vous êtes complets en lui, qui est le chef de toute principauté et de toute puissance” (v 9).

La plénitude ou la complétude de Dieu habite en Christ, qui est

“l’éclat de sa gloire, et l’image expresse de sa personne « (Hébreux 1: 3)

et nous, étant baptisés en lui (v 12), devons aussi être complets en lui. Rien d’autre ne doit être ajouté, pour toute lacune
(et il y en a beaucoup) dans ses membres constitutifs sont pardonnés, à cause de la perfection de leur Maître avec qui ils ne font qu’un, étant

« tricotez ensemble dans l’amour « (v 2),

dans une acceptation mutuelle de l’Évangile de Vérité.

Mais il y avait ceux qui cherchaient à imposer les ordonnances de la Loi à l’Évangile. Ces judaïsants constituaient l’apostasie à l’époque de Paul et cherchaient à ajouter à l’Évangile, en imposant un fardeau que ni eux ni les générations précédentes ne pouvaient supporter (Actes 15:10). C’est ainsi que, comme l’apôtre exhortait les Galates, les croyants devaient

« tenez-vous donc fermes dans la liberté avec laquelle Christ nous a rendus libres, et ne vous empêtrez plus dans le joug de la servitude” (Galates 5: 1).

Dans ces choses, il est nécessaire de reconnaître qu’il y a une “plénitude” en Christ et son sacrifice pour nos péchés. Il n’y a pas besoin d’y ajouter quoi que ce soit, pour qu’il devienne efficace. De nos jours, nous n’avons pas de judaïsants de la même manière, mais leur esprit de vouloir ajouter quelque chose pour rendre le sacrifice du Christ efficace est présent. Par exemple, il y a ceux qui insistent pour avoir du pain sans levain, afin que notre réunion commémorative soit acceptable – et il y a ceux qui insistent pour utiliser du pain au levain. Mais

“la viande ne nous recommande pas à Dieu” (1 Cor. 8:8),

et le vrai danger des deux positions n’est pas lié au pain littéral et à la façon dont il est fabriqué – c’est plutôt l’idée que l’économie l’étendue et la nature du sacrifice du Christ sont limitées en fonction du pain utilisé.
Encore une fois, il y a ceux qui croient qu’il est nécessaire d’avoir une effusion directe du Saint-Esprit pour être sauvé. Le même problème demeure: non seulement cela encourage les gens à avoir un faux espoir en quelque chose que le Père ne fournit pas dans cette dispensation, mais cela limite le Sacrifice de Christ, en disant qu’autre chose (c’est-à-dire le Saint-Esprit) est nécessaire en plus de cela. Mais la vraie situation est que nous sommes « complets » en Christ, ce qui signifie que rien d’autre n’est nécessaire pour être sauvé, à part notre foi et notre confiance obéissante en lui.

Le moyen par lequel le corps ecclésial est maintenu ensemble, est dit être le pouvoir unificateur de l’amour:

« pour que leurs cœurs soient réconfortés, unis dans l’amour ” » (Colossiens 2: 2).

L’allusion ici est aux circonstances de David et Jonathan, décrites dans 1 Samuel chapitre 18:

« et il arriva, quand il [c’est-à-dire David] eut fini de parler à Saül, que l’âme de Jonathan était uni à l’âme de David, et Jonathan l’aimait comme sa propre âme (1 Sam. 18:1).

Lorsque nous considérons la relation intime entre ces deux hommes de foi, nous voyons un amour qui était “merveilleux, dépassant l’amour des femmes « (2 Sam. 1:13). Il y a ceux qui voudraient dégrader cet amour merveilleux en une relation charnelle – mais de toute évidence, ils ne connaissent pas le doux amour et la communion qui existent entre les frères du Christ, qui ont la même foi précieuse.
L’Unité des Détenteurs de la Vérité est la plus grande défense pour la famille de la foi. Notre Seigneur a enseigné que

« toute ville ou maison divisée contre elle-même ne pourra subsister” (Matthieu 12:25),

et de même, son apôtre a exhorté:

“si vous vous mordez et vous dévorez les uns les autres, prenez garde à ne pas vous consumer les uns les autres » (Gal 5:15).

Nous vivons vraiment dans des « temps périlleux “(2Tim 3:1), et il n’y a pas de temps pour qu’il y ait” des guerres et des combats » (Jc 4:1) parmi les membres de l’Église du Christ. Plutôt que de lutter les uns contre les autres, le corps devrait être un

” dans l’unité de la foi et de la connaissance du Fils de Dieu, jusqu’à un homme parfait, à la mesure de la stature de la plénitude de Christ » (Eph 4: 13).

Les différents membres de celle-ci devraient

« exhortez-vous les uns les autres chaque jour, pendant qu’il est appelé aujourd’hui; de peur qu’aucun … soyez endurcis par la tromperie du péché. »(Hébreux 3: 13),

plutôt que de se dévorer les uns les autres par de petites querelles émanant de ceux qui cherchent à s’exalter au-dessus de toute mesure. Être unis dans une « pleine assurance » des choses révélées de la Vérité est tout aussi nécessaire de nos jours, que jamais auparavant, pour que la foi puisse être sérieusement combattue (Jude 3) face aux faux frères qui chercheraient à nous séduire par les paroles séduisantes de la philosophie du monde.

Participants bonded together into one body

avril 18, 2024 par Christadelphians, publié dans Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Faith, Jesus Christ - son of God, Thought for today

In the ecclesiae of Christadelphians, members meet regularly to pray with each other and share bread and wine together.
There is also an annual high day commemorating Jesus’ last supper. This year, that commemoration celebration will take place on Monday 22 April. That evening, 14 Nisan is commemorated in recognition of God’s acceptance of Jesus’ ransom offering, offering Himself as a Lamb before God and instituting the Last Supper as an event to be repeated regularly.

At the service of remembrance Jesus Christ initiated at the “last supper” on Nisan 14 he broke bread and asked his disciples to do that likewise in the future. Jesus commands us to do this (eat bread and drink wine) in remembrance of him, until he comes. For followers of Christ, it is an important message and an act of connection with the master teacher.

As Paul expounds later, doing this is a participation (communion, fellowship, partnership) in the body and blood of the lord. He also emphasises that this is a communal act, and the participants are bonded together into one body. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

“16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not [the] communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not [the] communion of the body of the Christ? 17 Because we, [being] many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Darby)

As brothers and sisters, we want to go through life united and testify for the Nazarene teacher who declared himself willing to stand up for us and even die for us.

Before Jesus was betrayed, he had prayed that there could be unity among his followers. He said:

“20 And I do not demand for these only, but also for those who believe on me through their word; 21 that they may be all one, as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one, as we are one; 23 I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one [and] that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and [that] thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23 Darby)

Note in which directions this unity extends. There is unity between Jehovah God and His son Jesus Christ. Likewise, there is unity between Jesus and his followers. These followers should be one with Jesus and His heavenly Father as Jesus is one with His heavenly Father. Some wrongly see Jesus’ unity with God as a reason to assume that Jesus would then be God. They then forget the text that people should also be one with Jesus and with God as Jesus is one with his heavenly Father. Their way of thinking would then mean that people are also God and would even be God. (So that mindset is more likely to invalidate their Trinitarian thinking.)

We must even recognise that Jesus expects that « All » his followers should be one, not only those who lived then, but that it also concerns those who, by their word — that is, by the word of his disciples — in him would put faith, so that this unity extends into the future and includes all true Christians living today.
At the same time, that unity reaches into heaven to enclose Jesus Christ and Jehovah God, so that his followers could be — as Jesus put it — „in us be one”. And that being one is what will now be commemorated and highlighted next Monday on Nisan 14.

This memory is not merely a ritual, it is something to think about, and it is a time for self-reflection. It is a look back at what Jesus received from his heavenly Father, Jehovah God. But also what Jesus did with those received gifts, such as performing miracles. In addition, it is also a special commemoration of the Lord’s Supper, when Jesus and his apostles were together around the table and saw Jesus break bread and say a blessing over it. Then Jesus indicated that he would hand over his body and that blood would flow. But from then onwards, his blood would be a sign of a New Covenant between God and people.

We cannot imagine a stronger and closer unity than that which exists between Jehovah God and his son, Christ Jesus.

“23 For *I* received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was delivered up, took bread, 24 and having given thanks broke [it], and said, This is my body, which [is] for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye shall drink [it], in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye announce the death of the Lord, until he come. 27 So that whosoever shall eat the bread, or drink the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty in respect of the body and of the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man prove himself, and thus eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29 For [the] eater and drinker eats and drinks judgment to himself, not distinguishing the body. 30 On this account many among you [are] weak and infirm, and a good many are fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, so were we not judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-31 Darby)

Jesus asked whether his disciples could be included in the closest family association of God, a privileged sonship. The apostles should have seen „the glory as of a Only Begotten of the Father”.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;” (John 1:14 Darby)

They learned how to be one with each other and with Christ. They also proclaimed that their followers should take care to be one. So they had to

„preserve the unity of the mind in the unifying bond of the peace”

and had to be aware that there is one body and one spirit, as those who call themselves followers of Christ were called

« in one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, by all and in all.

Given the many things they jointly possessed, what a closely connected and contiguous body its followers must have become!

The apostle Paul compares the community of followers of Christ to a human body. That body has several limbs, but they still belong to that one body.

Our religious community also consists of many people from different nations. Each ecclesia in turn, has many members, and all its members belong to the same body of that religious community. That body of Brothers and sisters in Christ, however many, form one body. Together they are connected to and in Christ, baptised with one Spirit soaked, absorbed into that one body.

This coming weekend and Monday to Tuesday, we remember, that through Christ and through one Spirit, we have all become one body in the name of Christ.
These special days we are thinking in particular that there should be no division in the body, but that we, as brothers and sisters, as the members of that one body, care for each other equally.

“12 For even as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also [is] the Christ. 13 For also in [the power of] one Spirit *we* have all been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or free, and have all been given to drink of one Spirit. 14 For also the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body? 16 And if the ear say, Because I am not an eye I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body? 17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? if all hearing, where the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body, according as it has pleased [him]. 19 But if all were one member, where the body? 20 But now the members [are] many, and the body one. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have not need of thee; or again, the head to the feet, I have not need of you. 22 But much rather, the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those [parts] of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness; 24 but our comely [parts] have not need. But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to [the part] that lacked; 25 that there might be no division in the body, but that the members might have the same concern one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-25 Darby)

Let us not lose sight of that message, of that last meeting of Jesus and his apostles around the table in the upper room in Jerusalem, and grow in love for each other with the truth, under the watchful eye of one shepherd, Christ Jesus our lord, so that we will not be ashamed when we have to appear before his judgment seat.

As brothers and sisters of each other, we listen to Jesus’ voice as we unite as one flock with one shepherd.

“15 but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ: 16 from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to [the] working in [its] measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 Darby)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep:” (John 10:11 Darby)

Preceding

Find also to read

A new ecclesia = a new beginning

janvier 23, 2024janvier 21, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Announcement, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Jesus Christ - son of God, Thought for today

It is great that we have found a family in Anderlecht who wants to open their house to holding meetings.

Following the example of the early Christians, we can now come together in communion under the care of Christ to serve the God of Abraham and the God of Christ.

In Anderlecht, the seed may now be planted to grow a community of faith. Some people have decided to reach out to each other to strengthen each other in faith. Together they want to set out to start a fascinating pilgrimage.

With many questions and expectations, the first pebbles have been thrown on the path, so that without too many sliders we could go together to a fixed road that gives security and life. Together we want to move towards that light that shines in the distance and from where the call rings.

Each on his own can hear the voice of God and know that the decision taken is good. Those who go out together to face the great adventure will not be ashamed or shy that they were willing to take this journey together.

The great adventure started at the beginning of this year. On this website you (reader) will be able to follow the account of our wanderings, hopes and expectations. We are aware that not everything will always go as we wish. The fellow travellers will also have to contend with the reality of this life, births, school results, job offers but also loss of work, healthy trips, but also sad things like illness and even death. But anyone who goes out is willing to carry the burdens of the other person and support them, so that everyone can achieve the end goal.

Those who come together in Anderlecht believe that they belong together and want to go for the same goal, form a community worthy to continue as a community of followers of Christ Jesus, the sent of God, whom they view as their promised Messiah or Saviour.

With suit and pocket, loaded with good intentions, hope and a range of Bibles in multiple languages, they will take the Bible as their primary Guide on the path they are not afraid of and the people who will try to discourage them will not succeed in their purpose. All who plan to go on a trek will put on a firm step of shoes and set off completely boldly.

Emerging for Christ, they will not fail to make their goals known to others. Along the way, they won’t stop talking about that Nazarene man whose footsteps they want to follow. It was a man of words and deeds who submitted completely to Heavenly Father, Jehovah, the Only True God. And that is also what the walkers want to do during this trip: straight ahead of the charity, even though we know that it will not always be an easy course and that the gate to that Kingdom, where we are heading, is narrow. The road that leads to a narrow gate that we will have to go through. Although, it is said that it is more difficult for a camel to pass through that gate than to put a thread through the eye of a needle.

But everyone has been found willing not to be discouraged and to speak to others along the way to go out with us.

So, if you wish to go out with us. Feel free to come along and discover with us the fascinating stories, details and beauties that will be found on the path.

Additional reading

Une nouvelle ecclesia = un nouveau départ

janvier 23, 2024janvier 21, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Annonce, Christadelphe, Comportement ou attitude envers les autres, Jésus-Christ - Fils de Dieu, Pensée pour aujourd'hui

C’est génial que nous ayons trouvé une famille à Anderlecht qui veut ouvrir leur maison pour tenir des réunions.

Suivant l’exemple des premiers chrétiens, nous pouvons maintenant nous réunir en communion sous la garde du Christ pour servir le Dieu d’Abraham et le Dieu du Christ.

À Anderlecht, la graine peut maintenant être plantée pour faire croître une communauté de foi. Certaines personnes ont décidé de se tendre la main pour se renforcer mutuellement dans la foi. Ensemble, ils veulent commencer un pèlerinage fascinant.

Avec beaucoup de questions et d’attentes, les premiers cailloux ont été jetés sur le chemin, de sorte que sans trop de curseurs nous pourrions aller ensemble à une route fixe qui donne la sécurité et la vie. Ensemble, nous voulons nous diriger vers cette lumière qui brille au loin et d’où l’appel sonne.

Chacun, seul, peut entendre la voix de Dieu et savoir que la décision prise est bonne. Ceux qui sortent ensemble pour faire face à la grande aventure ne seront pas honteux ou timides qu’ils étaient prêts à prendre ce voyage ensemble.

La grande aventure a commencé au début de cette année. Sur ce site, vous (lecteur) serez en mesure de suivre le compte de nos errances, espoirs et attentes. Nous sommes conscients que tout ne se passera pas toujours comme nous le souhaitons. Les compagnons de voyage devront également faire face à la réalité de cette vie, aux naissances, aux résultats scolaires, aux offres d’emploi mais aussi à la perte de travail, aux voyages sains, mais aussi à des choses tristes comme la maladie et même la mort. Mais quiconque sort est prêt à porter les fardeaux de l’autre personne et à les soutenir, afin que tout le monde puisse atteindre l’objectif final.

Ceux qui se réunissent à Anderlecht croient qu’ils appartiennent ensemble et veulent aller dans le même but, formez une communauté digne de continuer en tant que communauté de disciples de Jésus-Christ, l’envoyé de Dieu, qu’ils considèrent comme leur Messie ou Sauveur promis.

Avec costume et poche, chargé de bonnes intentions, d’espoir et d’une gamme de Bibles en plusieurs langues, ils prendront la Bible comme leur Guide principal sur le chemin dont ils n’ont pas peur et les gens qui essaieront de les décourager ne réussiront pas dans leur but. Tous ceux qui envisagent de faire un trek mettront une marche ferme de chaussures et partiront avec audace.

Émergents pour Christ, ils ne manqueront pas de faire connaître leurs objectifs aux autres. En chemin, ils ne cesseront de parler de cet homme nazaréen dont ils veulent suivre les traces. C’était un homme de paroles et d’actes qui se soumettait complètement à notre Père céleste, Jéhovah, le Seul Vrai Dieu. Et c’est aussi ce que les marcheurs veulent faire lors de ce voyage: tout droit devant l’organisme de bienfaisance, même si nous savons que ce ne sera pas toujours un parcours facile et que la porte de ce Royaume, où nous nous dirigeons, est étroite. La route qui mène à une porte étroite que nous devrons traverser. Bien qu’il soit dit qu’il est plus difficile pour un chameau de passer par cette porte que de mettre un fil à travers le chas d’une aiguille.

Mais tout le monde a été trouvé prêt à ne pas se décourager et à parler aux autres en cours de route pour sortir avec nous.

Donc, si vous voulez sortir avec nous. N’hésitez pas à venir découvrir avec nous les histoires fascinantes, les détails et les beautés qui se trouveront sur le chemin.