Expedition 44 Citizens of the Kingdom: Christoformity
Matt launches a series on Expedition 44 looking at the Kingdom of God and how to live as Kingdom citizens.
Christoformity
To be conformed/transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29- the purpose of salvation) and reflect that in our daily life. The church has gotten off track when it comes to discipleship. We think that to create a disciple is to teach someone how to make a conversion or just share their faith. True discipleship is to reflect Jesus; to become more like Jesus.
The Word of God
Mark 9:2-8; John 1:1-18
Image of God/Image of Christ
Genesis 1:27-28; Psalm 8:4-8; Romans 1:22-23, 3:23, 8:18, 8:29-30
- Glory here can mean honor, but the glory given to mankind as we’ve seen in Psalm 8 is to bear God’s image.
- To fall short of the glory is not moral perfection as the modern western tradition teaches. It is failure to bear God’s image.
- Glorification in 8:30 is in the present tense (aorist). Glorification is the result of being conformed to the image of the son who is the image of God.
- Christian theology teaches us that Jesus has always existed as part of the Godhead. If we are made in the image of God, we are made in the image of Christ (Col 1:15). Christ came and showed us how to be human and live out our calling as image bearers. So, when we conform to Christ, we conform to the image of God our vocation. Jesus is our example of how to be an image bearer (John 12:45).
Bearing the Name
Exodus 20:1-7
Faith(fulness)
Gal 2:16,19-21; 3:21-29
- Faith in the western Christian tradition is usually defined as agreeing with certain beliefs or propositions. Essentially a checklist of doctrine… believing Jesus died for you, saying a prayer, affirming God created, etc. … James actually condemns this as true faith; even the demons believe and tremble… faith without works is dead… we are not saved by faith (belief) alone but also works.
- While this has an aspect of the word pistis (translated as faith) this is not it’s primary meaning. Faith in the ancient world was a relational word and not primarily mental ascent.
- Allegiance to Jesus is also embodying the life and mission of Jesus ourselves.
The Example /Kenosis
Phil 2:1-11; John 13:1-17
Kenosis reveals the fullness of what God is like… remember John 1… “no one has ever seen God at any time”. The fullness of God dwelt in a human body (Col 2:9). Kenosis is not the surrender of attributes but the definition of God’s nature.
Living Epistles
2 Cor 3:3
- How might we be living epistles?
- How do we embody kenosis to the world around us?
- How does “faith” play into being a living epistle?
- How do you reflect the image of Christ?