Markus Barth: purification of the Church

Wednesday, July 29, 2020
    Feast of Mary, Martha & Lazarus, Companions of Our Lord
Meditation:
    You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
    —John 15:3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The holiness and spotlessness of the Church (Eph. 1:4; 5:27) are a gift and commission which God already has given, and is giving, to the assembled saints upon earth now. The Christians cannot make or call themselves holy. They would be ridiculous pretenders if they did. But they are called to acknowledge what “the word” does and says to them. By the word, they are purified... Despite all the counsel which the Ephesians needed concerning their worship, conduct, and testimony, they were actually God’s elect. They were commissioned and committed to be holy and spotless. They were entitled to believe and proclaim that God, despite all the sin and weakness of man, creates people called saints!
    ... Markus Barth (1915-1994), The Broken Wall, Chicago: Judson Press, 1959, Regent College Publishing, 1959, p. 106-107 (see the book)
    See also John 15:3; Rom. 4:3; Eph. 1:4-6,13-14;5:25-27
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, cleanse me again with Your word. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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