It is not an Exclusive Club

Isaiah 56:6-8

Whosoever will, Christianity it is not an exclusive club, and even before the return of the captives from Babylon God was making a place for “Whosoever will.  In no way did this lower the value to God of His chosen people, for it was always the plan that they would be a light to the nations. 

Do you recall Jesus telling us in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Then I’m sure you recall the apostle Paul telling us in Romans 11 how we Gentiles were grafted into the vine, Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ.  Picking up Paul’s account in Romans 11:17-20, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.” 

So what is our role, those who by faith through God’s grace have entered into the Vine?  We have entered into Jesus and He is the light of the world. Jesus proclaimed this in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  So as followers what happens to this light?  Many never let it shine, the cares of this world, family, not hiding God’s word in our heart, and the desire for more keeps the light from shining, and Jesus talks about how this happens in Luke 8:9-15.  But Jesus does not stop He goes on to explain the true follower will not cover their light in Luke 8:16, “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”

As children who by faith in God’s grace have been grafted into Christ, what is our calling?  We are called to walk in love, to be diligent but humble, for the apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:8-10, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”   As the Church we are to be the light in the world, Paul addresses this to the saints at Philippi in Philippians 2:14-16, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

The heart of God has always been for the “Whosoever will” to by faith enter into a relationship with Him.  Listen to Isaiah 56:8, “The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”  This is referring to Israelites who were taken to other lands but God is faithful to keep His promises, but look at Jesus talking with the Father; “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”  (John 17:20-23)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice