The Divine Community
by Thurlow J. Switzer
Community is persons living, walking and working together in common unity. Christian community at its heart and essence is a reflection of Divine Community, the interrelationships of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, the usual order by which the triune nature of God is referred.
A. The Triune God
Christian community should be a reflection of the divine community. Tertullian, a second century Father of the faith, said, “Where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are, there also is the church, which is the body of the three.” Seeking community life without the triune manifestation of God the Father, Son and Spirit is an exercise in futility. Community is communion with God the Father, in Christ the Son, by the Spirit. Recently, I had reason to note the following from Matthew 1:20-23, and observed three vital phrases referencing the Divine Trinity.
First, God the Father. Spiritual reality in Christian community is the truth of God’s presence. The prophet Isaiah declared that a virgin would be with child and will give birth to a son, and his name would be called “Immanuel," which means, "God with us" (Matt 1:23). We might ask in what way God is with us in Christian community? Community finds its joy in the special sense of God’s presence and the fact that God is with us.
Second, God the Son. The spiritual center of Christian community is the truth of redemption found in Christ Jesus. It is said of the virgin Mary, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). We might ask what it is that qualifies one to be part of Christian community? Christian community is comprised of those who are sinners saved by grace and have discovered that Jesus has saved us from the destructive power of sin.
Third, God the Spirit. The spiritual source of Christian community is the birthing reality of the Holy Spirit. “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:18-19). We might ask what makes Christian community so unique? Community is little more than a country club without the power of the Holy Spirit. However, the truth that God bears witness with His children that they are the sons and daughters of God brings divine life to community (Romans 8:16).
B. Three Principles for Community
1) Community is rooted in the divine life of the triune God. The slogan of Northgate Community Church for many years has been:
“Rooted in the Love of God”
“Reflective of Christ’s Mission”
“Responsive to the Spirit’s Power”
2) Community is a co-mingling of the faithful in Christ Jesus with one another. Community is the embodiment of God’s love, bringing healing and wholesome relationships. Community is the highest type of existence and activity; much superior to the existence of individuals acting on their own. In every community there is an intertwining of four elements. There is the human I, the divine THOU, the communal WE, and the significant YOU. We love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, and we love our neighbor as our self.
3) Community that is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission and extending the Kingdom of God’s authority is organized for the sake of internal cohesion, charity and cause. As a place of spiritually unity and oneness, it is a celebration of faith. As a place of spiritual brotherhood and love, it is a community of love. As a place of spiritual mission and service, its members are carriers of hope, organized to touch people with the message of hope in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, let us seek not just to attempt to create and walk out community, but seek a higher cause, to express community that is a reflection of the Divine Community, extension of the life of God the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Study the biblical passages which reflect the importance significance of the Triune Community to the early church. Compare with II Cor 13:14; II Thess 2:13-14; I Cor 12:4-6; Rom 14:17-18; 15:16; Eph 2:18, 20-22; 3:14-16; Gal 4:6; Titus 3:4-6; I Pet 1:2; Jude 20-21; Rev 1:4,5.
C. A Fourfold Progression
1. God’s Presence in Christ
Matthew 1:23 refers to Jesus being called “Immanuel," which means, "God with us." Community finds its joy in the special sense of God’s presence and the fact that God is with us. Community starts with Christ. When Christ Jesus is with us, God is with us. We participate in the Trinitarian communio through faith in Christ Jesus. John the Apostle said,
1 John 1:1-3 - “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” NIV
Christian community revolves around the common confession of Christ.
Matt 10:32-33 – “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. NKJV
Rom 10:9-10 - “If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” NIV
Heb 4:14 - “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” NKJV
2. Christ's Presence in the Church
Matthew 18:19-20 declares: “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Unity is two or three agreeing together and asking the Father for His will to be done. Community are people coming together in Jesus’ name under the authority of Jesus’ name. There Jesus is with them. Jesus prayed for his disciples.
John 17:20-23 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” NKJV
3. Christ’s Presence in Worship
Matthew 28:16-20 suggests that those who came to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go following his resurrection.
Matt 28:16-20 - “They saw Jesus, they worshiped him.” In this place of worship on the mountain, Jesus proceeded with authority to command them to go into all the world and disciple all people, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit, teaching them to obey everything commanded. In this way, Jesus declared he would be with them to the end of the world.”
Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God…, to joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.”
4. Christ’s Presence in the Final Day
Revelation visualizes a future time.
Rev 21:1-4 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."NIV
A. The Triune God
Christian community should be a reflection of the divine community. Tertullian, a second century Father of the faith, said, “Where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are, there also is the church, which is the body of the three.” Seeking community life without the triune manifestation of God the Father, Son and Spirit is an exercise in futility. Community is communion with God the Father, in Christ the Son, by the Spirit. Recently, I had reason to note the following from Matthew 1:20-23, and observed three vital phrases referencing the Divine Trinity.
First, God the Father. Spiritual reality in Christian community is the truth of God’s presence. The prophet Isaiah declared that a virgin would be with child and will give birth to a son, and his name would be called “Immanuel," which means, "God with us" (Matt 1:23). We might ask in what way God is with us in Christian community? Community finds its joy in the special sense of God’s presence and the fact that God is with us.
Second, God the Son. The spiritual center of Christian community is the truth of redemption found in Christ Jesus. It is said of the virgin Mary, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). We might ask what it is that qualifies one to be part of Christian community? Christian community is comprised of those who are sinners saved by grace and have discovered that Jesus has saved us from the destructive power of sin.
Third, God the Spirit. The spiritual source of Christian community is the birthing reality of the Holy Spirit. “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:18-19). We might ask what makes Christian community so unique? Community is little more than a country club without the power of the Holy Spirit. However, the truth that God bears witness with His children that they are the sons and daughters of God brings divine life to community (Romans 8:16).
B. Three Principles for Community
1) Community is rooted in the divine life of the triune God. The slogan of Northgate Community Church for many years has been:
“Rooted in the Love of God”
“Reflective of Christ’s Mission”
“Responsive to the Spirit’s Power”
2) Community is a co-mingling of the faithful in Christ Jesus with one another. Community is the embodiment of God’s love, bringing healing and wholesome relationships. Community is the highest type of existence and activity; much superior to the existence of individuals acting on their own. In every community there is an intertwining of four elements. There is the human I, the divine THOU, the communal WE, and the significant YOU. We love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, and we love our neighbor as our self.
3) Community that is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission and extending the Kingdom of God’s authority is organized for the sake of internal cohesion, charity and cause. As a place of spiritually unity and oneness, it is a celebration of faith. As a place of spiritual brotherhood and love, it is a community of love. As a place of spiritual mission and service, its members are carriers of hope, organized to touch people with the message of hope in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, let us seek not just to attempt to create and walk out community, but seek a higher cause, to express community that is a reflection of the Divine Community, extension of the life of God the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Study the biblical passages which reflect the importance significance of the Triune Community to the early church. Compare with II Cor 13:14; II Thess 2:13-14; I Cor 12:4-6; Rom 14:17-18; 15:16; Eph 2:18, 20-22; 3:14-16; Gal 4:6; Titus 3:4-6; I Pet 1:2; Jude 20-21; Rev 1:4,5.
C. A Fourfold Progression
1. God’s Presence in Christ
Matthew 1:23 refers to Jesus being called “Immanuel," which means, "God with us." Community finds its joy in the special sense of God’s presence and the fact that God is with us. Community starts with Christ. When Christ Jesus is with us, God is with us. We participate in the Trinitarian communio through faith in Christ Jesus. John the Apostle said,
1 John 1:1-3 - “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” NIV
Christian community revolves around the common confession of Christ.
Matt 10:32-33 – “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. NKJV
Rom 10:9-10 - “If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” NIV
Heb 4:14 - “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” NKJV
2. Christ's Presence in the Church
Matthew 18:19-20 declares: “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Unity is two or three agreeing together and asking the Father for His will to be done. Community are people coming together in Jesus’ name under the authority of Jesus’ name. There Jesus is with them. Jesus prayed for his disciples.
John 17:20-23 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” NKJV
3. Christ’s Presence in Worship
Matthew 28:16-20 suggests that those who came to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go following his resurrection.
Matt 28:16-20 - “They saw Jesus, they worshiped him.” In this place of worship on the mountain, Jesus proceeded with authority to command them to go into all the world and disciple all people, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit, teaching them to obey everything commanded. In this way, Jesus declared he would be with them to the end of the world.”
Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God…, to joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.”
4. Christ’s Presence in the Final Day
Revelation visualizes a future time.
Rev 21:1-4 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."NIV