{"id":1130,"date":"2019-05-26T14:28:44","date_gmt":"2019-05-26T21:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2019-05-26T14:40:33","modified_gmt":"2019-05-26T21:40:33","slug":"i-believe-in-the-holy-christian-church-the-communion-of-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/26\/i-believe-in-the-holy-christian-church-the-communion-of-saints\/","title":{"rendered":"I Believe in the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1130-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-6-05-26-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-6-05-26-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-6-05-26-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Sixth Sunday of Easter<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">May 26, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I Believe in the Holy Christian Church<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">the Communion of Saints!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear fellow worshipers of our Living Lord and Savior,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">He is risen!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is risen indeed!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Ever since the early days of the New Testament Christian Church, God\u2019s faithful people have been confessing these words, \u201cI believe in the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We confess these words every time we recite the Apostles\u2019 Creed here in God\u2019s house.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you speak those words, my friends, do they simply roll off your tongue without even giving them a second thought or do you heartfully reflect on what those words mean?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What you and I are confessing with the words, \u201cI believe in the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints\u201d is that we believe that there is only <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church\u2014 Church with a capital \u201cC.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church is the sum total of everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah who came into this world to save us from our sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church is not limited to any visible organization here on this earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church crosses all denominational lines.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church contains no hypocrites at all.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church is known <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only <\/b>to God Himself because <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only <\/b>God has the ability to look into a person\u2019s heart to see whether or not saving faith lives there.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As you and I continue our sermon series from the book of Revelation we are given a picture of the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one true <\/b>Church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For that reason let\u2019s study our text for today under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">I Believe in the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints.\u201d<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we study this text we\u2019ll see three things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First we\u2019ll see that the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints is the epitome of perfect beauty.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we\u2019ll see that the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints is the epitome of perfect protection.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally we\u2019ll see that the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints is the epitome of a perfect existence with God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our text for today is all but a continuation of last Sunday\u2019s text (Romans 21:1-5).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Last week we heard that John was given the privilege of seeing <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That picture emphasizes the close personal relationship that exists between <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe bride\u201d<\/i> which is the Church and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cher husband\u201d<\/i> which is Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then, in the verse directly preceding our text for today the angel says to John, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cCome, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our text then begins with these words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnd he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Since the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHoly City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God\u201d<\/i> is a <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">picture<\/b>\u2014 a <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">picture<\/b> depicting the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints we need to be careful that we don\u2019t read too much into this picture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The main point that I see the Holy Spirit emphasizing with both the picture of the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbride beautifully dressed for her husband\u201d<\/i> and the picture of <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Bride\u201d<\/i> as <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Holy City, Jerusalem\u201d<\/i> is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt shone with the glory of God.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">For the Jewish Christians who first heard these words the term <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe glory of God\u201d<\/i> was both very familiar and very significant.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Exodus 40:34, 35 we\u2019re told that the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> filled the tabernacle\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2014 to the point that Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In 1 Kings 8:11 we\u2019re told that when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Solomon\u2019s Temple, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> filled his temple.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And for me at least, the picture of the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory of God\u201d<\/i> automatically reminds me of the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus\u2019 face <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshone like the sun,\u201d<\/i> His clothes became <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cas white as the light\u201d<\/i> and a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbight cloud enveloped\u201d<\/i> Peter, James and John.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Matthew 17:1-5)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The point here, my friends, is that neither you nor I nor the church (with a small \u201cc\u201d) has any <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201choliness,\u201d<\/i> any <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory\u201d <\/i>in and of ourselves.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Scripture very clearly proclaims, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThere is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d<\/i> (Romans 3:22, 23).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then why do we believe in the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">Holy <\/b>Christian Church, the Communion of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">Saints<\/b>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The only reason we are able to confess those words is because through faith in Jesus God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">gives <\/b>us His perfect glory!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul brings this out very clearly when he says in his letter to the Ephesians, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cChrist loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless\u201d<\/i> (Ephesians 5:25-27).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What does this mean?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means that the Holy Christian Church (of which you are a member); it means that the Communion of Saints (which includes you) is the epitome of perfect beauty!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, it is true that because of our old sinful nature we openly confess our sins before God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of our old sinful nature we daily ask our Father who is in heaven to forgive us our trespasses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, because of our faith in what Jesus accomplished <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill (Pointing to the cross) from God\u2019s perspective we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are <\/b>holy, in God\u2019s eyes we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are <\/b>saints.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of the robe of righteousness that He (Pointing to the cross) has secured <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for<\/b> us the perfect <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory\u201d<\/i> of God Himself shines in us and through us!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Let\u2019s move on to the second truth proclaimed in this text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are able to say that the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints is a place of perfect protection because of these words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt had a great high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The fact that the Holy City has a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgreat high\u201d<\/i> wall around it probably did not surprise John or any of his original readers.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In ancient times every city of any importance had a protective wall around it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What may have surprised them was the fact that this wall had twelve gates and on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What may have surprised them was the fact that there was a powerful holy angel stationed at each of these gates.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">There are two possibilities as to why a holy powerful angel is stationed at each of these twelve gates.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, they could be there to make sure that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only <\/b>the descendants of Abraham are allowed into the Holy City\u2014 hence the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on the gates.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now if that thought leads your eyes to well up with tears because as far as you know you don\u2019t have the blood of Abraham coursing through your veins, be of good cheer!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Romans 9 Paul writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham\u2019s children.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the contrary, \u2018It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, it is not the natural children who are God\u2019s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham\u2019s offspring\u201d<\/i> (Romans 9:6-8).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even though we may not have the blood of Abraham coursing through our veins, the fact that by the grace of God we have the faith of Abraham living in our hearts means that we are included in God\u2019s promise <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAll Israel will be saved\u201d<\/i> (Romans 11:26).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means that those powerful holy angels will allow us to pass through the gates and enter into the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHoly City\u201d<\/i> of our God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The second possibility is that the angels are stationed at the gates to insure that no unbeliever enters through the gates to eat from the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctree of life\u201d<\/i> (Revelation 22:2) \u2014 much like after Adam and Eve sinned against God we\u2019re told that the Lord <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cplaced on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life\u201d <\/i>(Genesis 3:24).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The fact that the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints is a place of perfect protection is also brought out in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A beautiful parallel passage here is Ephesians 2:20.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul says that we, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGod\u2019s household,\u201d<\/i> are <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbuilt on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Holy Christian Church is built on the rock-solid foundation of Christ and His holy Word, since the Communion of Saints is built on Peter\u2019s confession, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 16:16) Jesus Himself assures us that not even the gates of hell will be able to prevail against us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now that\u2019s the epitome of perfect protection!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The final point we want to glean from this text is that the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints is the epitome of a perfect existence with God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the closing verses of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Temple of the Lord was the very heart of the Old Testament city of Jerusalem.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Temple of the Lord was the center of Israel\u2019s worship life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Temple of the Lord was the place where God\u2019s grace and God\u2019s mercy and God\u2019s peace were dispensed to God\u2019s people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Temple of the Lord was the place where sacrifices were made to take away the sins of God\u2019s people as well as the place where God\u2019s people brought their offerings to their Lord. As John scanned the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHoly City, Jerusalem\u201d<\/i> he was indeed surprised to see that there was no Temple\u2014 until he realized that <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There was no longer any need for a special specific place where God\u2019s people needed to go to receive God\u2019s grace and God\u2019s mercy and God\u2019s peace.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There was no longer any need for a special specific place where God\u2019s people would bring both their sacrifices as well as their offerings.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Holy Christian Church includes being enveloped by a perfect existence with God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Communion of Saints includes living in perfect harmony with the Lord God Almighty\u2014 always and forever!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">My prayer then this morning, my friends, is that every time you gather together here in God\u2019s house and confess the Apostles\u2019 Creed that in your heart you will reflect on the words, \u201cI believe in the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember that the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints is the epitome of perfect beauty, the epitome of perfect protection and the epitome of a perfect existence with God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-6-05-26-19.mp3\">Easter-6-05-26-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 26, 2019 Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 I Believe in the Holy Christian Church the Communion of Saints! &nbsp; And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.&nbsp; It shone with the glory of God, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}