Humans want to belong. To what do humans want to belong? Something or anything. We all need to believe we belong somewhere to someone or something. Even people who believe they are outcasts want to belong to a group of outcasts. Even groups believing they are outcasts discriminate on what type of outcast can belong to the group. At some time or another, we all feel we need rules of inclusion and exclusion. Who fits, who does not, and who decides.
God so loved the world. That is inclusion. Salvation is by grace and not works, so no one can boast of self-works. That is exclusive and excludes everyone. By default that is inclusive. The entire group, where everyone belongs, is included in the ones who cannot boast in self-works. We abide unless the vinedresser removes us. That is who decides. Who is the vinedresser? Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). There is a group where we all belong and where the decision maker is not another human. Still the people charged with proclaiming the group divide and their proclamation is disjointed.
“The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). The anointing is who teaches how to remain in the group where everyone belongs. Jesus said, “You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). The anointing we receive who teaches inclusion comes through Christ Jesus.
Declare the good news. There is a place where we all belong. The place is abiding in Christ Jesus, which is the same place we get the anointing who teaches us to abide. Christ Jesus came teaching the kingdom of God and we go declaring Christ Jesus as children of the kingdom. “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are not separated by our own understanding of works or knowledge, but united by the grace and anointing of the Lord.
2019, Tim D. Coulter Sr.