Transforming Relationship
The gospel is a transformative relationship. Relationship? Yes, a relationship. It is a relationship we have with the Word, the living Word who is the source and expression of the Gospel. In Christ, we find our hope and salvation. In relationship with Christ. Not in relationship with a proposition. But also, in our relationship with our community of faith, the Gospel transforms. The working of the Gospel from both the inside and outside transform our lives. Also, it is in the Gospel that we can be fully transformed into the imago dei we were created to be.
A beautiful look at this transformation is found in Ephesians chapter two. This chapter is made up of parallel structures. Here is the outline:
Individually:
I. What we were before Christ: 2: 1-3
II. What God/Christ did in us: 2:4-7
III The resulting impact of the transformation: 2:8-10
Corporately:
I. What we were before Christ: 2: 11-12
II. What God/Christ did in us: 2:13-18
III The resulting impact of the transformation: 2:19-22
The first part of the chapter describes the individual. The second half of the chapter describes a corporate transformation. I noted this while taking a Biblical Exegesis class in Ephesians, and my professor agreed. He noted that this makes incredible sense, since the Korea people he had served as missionaries to connected with the second half of the chapter rather than the first, and us USAmericans were more influenced by the first part of the chapter than the second. The Korea culture is much more communal. It was nice of him to then take this outline and write a journal article on it, without giving me any credit! (No, I’m not bitter)
The Gospel transforms us individually, but also in and through the community of faith. In that sense, as the Gospel is lived out in our faith communities we share the impact of the Gospel with others. This is why we so desperately need each other and need to be in a community of faith, whether it is a house church or a traditional church. It is a way that the Spirit can speak to us. It is how theology can best be done. And it is how the transformation of the person can be best accomplished.
New blog post: Identity: The Gospel as a Transformative Relationship http://tinyurl.com/6359vh