There are 195 countries in our world. Of those 195 countries, the USA has 173 embassies. These embassies are the official headquarters for U.S. diplomats and government representatives serving in that foreign country. The embassy is sovereign territory. It is an outpost and it belongs to the country it represents. It speaks with authority on issues where the United States government speaks. In a similar way, local churches  throughout the world are heavenly embassies; those churches who preach and teach Biblical truth  represent the kingdom of heaven and what the King has addressed. And, these local churches combined produce a great light which points to and delivers the King’s news to citizens of the kingdom of darkness. So, what happens when embassies of God’s kingdom are silent? At best we are unfaithful and at worst we betray our King. Today’s passage presents three distinctives about the confessing community we call the church. The first is…

The church is forged together by common confession and uncommon love

The church of Jesus Christ is founded upon Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). So, wherever there is a community of confessors who 1) covenant together to fulfill the Great Commission, 2) gather weekly on the Lord’s Day for worship, 3) preach and teach God’s truths and  4) observes the Lord’s Table  led by God gifted, congregationally recognized pastors, you have a church. Most importantly, we are bound together by a common confession and a mutual submission to one another.

Secondly, the church is bonded together through uncommon love. Let us consider the following two verses:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Brothers and sisters, are you obeying God by confessing this message and showing uncommon love for each other?

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