tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19899361.post5456541892223423101..comments2023-08-07T08:31:15.857+01:00Comments on pete's college blog: Church in Hebrews 4Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04718124901471744829noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19899361.post-19297235668193821902008-05-01T11:34:00.000+01:002008-05-01T11:34:00.000+01:00Good question. I think I sort of tried to deal wit...Good question. I think I sort of tried to deal with it in passing later on in my essay.<BR/><BR/>Where I'm at at the moment is something like this. The church always participates in zion, because Christ is always there, he's always within the veil and so are we. We always have access, we're always seated with Jesus in the heavenlies. <BR/><BR/>However, and it's a very important however, especially given current discussions about worship etc., when the Church gathers there is a real sense in which this participation is intensified, ratified, confirmed, strengthened, experienced-in-a-more-specific-way. Part of the reason is that the church in the very act of gathering is playing out on earth the reality of the heavenlies - we gather here because we are gathered above sort of idea. The heavenly reality is more truly reflected when we gather than when we are scattered.<BR/><BR/>[So, like all of life is worship, the gathered assemblies of the church are intensified, corporate worship.]<BR/><BR/>This means that there is a significant primary application of Hebrews 12 to gathered worship - hence why we hear in our assemblies from the one who speaks to us from heaven.<BR/><BR/>I think it helps in this regard to think of our union (participation) with Christ. Surely we are always united with Christ. And yet, when we gather together, hear his word and respond, partake of the sacraments, then surely there's a real sense in which our union with him is strengthened, re-confirmed, in some sense reconstituted. Since our participation in Zion is through and in our participation in Christ I think I'd apply the same model.<BR/><BR/>[that said, 'the Lord's service' arrived in the post today, so I'll be thinking about this sort of thing a little more at some point in the near future)<BR/><BR/>I hope that makes sense. I'd love to know your thoughts too.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04718124901471744829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19899361.post-1760067386019482912008-04-30T18:19:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:19:00.000+01:00Thanks for these posts, Pete. Regarding the church...Thanks for these posts, Pete. Regarding the church's participation in the eschatological Jerusalem, do you think the latter verses of Hebrews 12 are talking about what happens when the church assembles, flowing out into the day-to-day worship of chapter 13, or do you think it's talking in general terms about the status of the church?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com