Chapter 64 - Divine Reformation

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The reformation of the real New Testament church from law to life (zoe) is a gracious act of God. He is willing to illuminate the necessary biblical doctrine, the doctrine of life (zoe), and provide the living (zoe) desire to pursue Him for reformation and the gift of faithful dependence to trust Him for reformation. Further, God is willing to cultivate the life-based (zoe) small group community necessary for the decentralization and demonstration of His life (zoe) on earth and guide the divestment of all that is contrary.

                                    Divine Reformation

Right doctrine is the foundation for the divine reformation of the church from law to life (zoe). Biblically speaking, right doctrine is the “doctrine of God.” (Titus 2:10)

The “doctrine of God” clarifies that Jesus Christ is the living (zoe) foundation for church reformation. Further, it reveals that the origin of human desire for church reformation on earth is derived from the presence and power of His indwelling life (zoe). The doctrine of God also discloses the need for radical dependence on the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ and the significance of the New Testament design accommodative of His indwelling life (zoe). It is a design that allows for the decentralization of living (zoe) ministry and the demonstration of the indwelling life (zoe) of Jesus Christ. Lastly, the New Testament doctrine of God unveils the need for the divestment of dead, legalistic religiosity.

                                             Doctrine

As indicated, the church is privileged to contribute to the process of divine reformation by faith alone. Rather than “blind,” its reformative faith is founded on the doctrine of the New Testament, the “doctrine of God.”

Right doctrine leads to right practice. The order in which the Apostle Paul often wrote his epistles serves to illustrate. For example, Romans 1-11 is predominantly doctrinal and Romans 12-16 practical; Ephesians 1-3 doctrinal and Ephesians 4-6 practical. Paul intentionally presented church doctrine before church practice. He understood that right church doctrine was the source of right church practice.

The reformation of church practice from law to life (zoe) is initiated by the divine illumination of right doctrine, the “doctrine of God.” The New Testament clarifies that the “doctrine of God” is the doctrine of life (zoe). It is a message of life (zoe) that is designed to introduce the availability of life (zoe) to the spiritually lifeless and lead them to the Savior. Arriving at faith in the Savior, the dead are restored to life (zoe) and as a result, are privileged to enjoy intimate fellowship with the living (zoe) God.

The life (zoe) based doctrine of the Bible reveals that God desires for mankind to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him through a union of shared life. Thus, it is the path of recovery for fallen man, allowing him to experience life in fullness as God intended.

The fruit of life (zoe) based theology and practice is referred to in the New Testament as the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-23) It is spiritual fruit in New Testament quality and quantity. (Romans 7:4, 6) Conversely, erroneous church doctrine leads to unscriptural church practice and the bearing of little to no eternally significant spiritual fruit. (Romans 7:5)

The “doctrine of God” or doctrine of life (zoe) is foundational for church reformation. (cf. Titus 2:10) It clarifies that the living (zoe) God is the source of the desire, dependence, design, decentralization, demonstration, and divestment that is necessary for the reformation of His ecclesia from law to life (zoe).

As previously indicated, right doctrine leads to right practice. Therefore, the New Testament church must carefully evaluate the source and purity of its doctrine.
For example:
Does the doctrine of the church originate from heaven or earth?
Is the doctrine of the church biblical or adulterated by religious tradition?
Is church doctrine the “doctrine of God”/doctrine of life (zoe) or simply the             tradition of men?
Does church doctrine elevate the cultivation of intimacy with God or                       religious devotion to God?

God alone is the source of reformation for the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). By grace through faith alone, He has provided the foundational truth necessary for its reformation. Discovered in the New Testament alone, it is “doctrine of God” or the doctrine of life (zoe).

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Desire

The desire for church reformation from law to life (zoe) is not derived from the the church. It is inspired by the living (zoe) Spirit of God. Indwelling the believer, He is the inspirational source for every divine work on earth, including church reformation.

The desire for church reformation is a divinely cultivated, organic process. By His indwelling life (zoe), God graciously and lovingly gives His children the desire to pursue intimacy of fellowship with Him in His word. Renewing the mind with the biblical “doctrine of God” or doctrine of life (zoe) serves to cultivate a life-based (zoe) mindset and, therefore, life-based (zoe) church values. (cf. Romans 12:2) Life-based (zoe) church values lead to the desire for life-based (zoe) practice.

Conversely, inspiration derived from the human heart alone provides the desire to please and appease God through the practice of religion. In other words, it provides man with the religious motive to build the church for God according to the rule of law.

Legalistic religious practice cannot contribute to the reformation of the eternal, organic church of the New Testament. On the contrary, although well-intentioned, it only serves to produce a spiritually dead simulation of the true ecclesia of God that is incapable of bearing eternal fruit. (Romans 7:4-6)
God has graciously inspired many during the Church Age with the desire to work with Him to reform His church. By motive of His indwelling life (zoe), He has consistently given mankind the desire to stand firm by faith and prayerfully seek Him to reform His legally compromised ecclesia. Although it remains an unfinished work, it has led to the progressive reformation of the church throughout the Church Age.

God provides the selfless desire for the reformation of the church from law to life (zoe). Therefore, the New Testament church must carefully evaluate the source of its desire for reformation.

For example:
Is the desire for church reformation from God or man?
Is the desire for church reformation heavenly or earthly in source?
Does the desire for church reformation emphasize and elevate God or man?
God alone is the source of reformation for the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). By grace through faith alone, it is initiated by a divinely originated desire in mankind.

Dependence

The living (zoe) reformation of the New Testament church does not occur by human life (psuche) working for God under the rule of law. Rather than a work fulfilled by earthly, human life (psuche) living in devotion to God, it is an act of grace alone satisfied by the living (zoe) God in and with mankind. Thus, the ecclesia must cooperate by dependent faith alone.

Through His earthly ministry, Christ provided a perfect example of cooperative, dependent faith for His future body, the New Testament church. By the Spirit, Jesus emptied Himself of His own authority and practiced unwavering dependence on His indwelling Father. (Philippians 2:6-8) In like manner, the New Testament church is to empty itself of any perceived authority of its own and, under the protective presence of divine authority, pursue unwavering dependence on the indwelling God. It is possible by faith alone.

The dependent faith of Jesus Christ was frequently demonstrated through prayer. It is recorded in the New Testament. (Matthew 14:23; 19:13; 26:36-44; Mark 1:25; Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 28; 11:1; John 17; Hebrews 5:7)

Cooperative, dependent faith demonstrated through prayer was also a primary and intentional activity of the early New Testament church. (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; 12:12; Romans 12:12; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1, 8; Jude 20) It was the means by which it faithfully communicated with God and, therefore, cooperated with Him on earth.

By the grace of God, the church has a privileged choice. It can remain under the rule of law (law of sin and of death) and work for God as a hireling. However, it is the choice that led the Apostle Paul to respond, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)

Conversely, the church can choose to live cooperatively and dependently by the rule of indwelling life (zoe) through faith alone. As a result, it has the privilege to rest in the gracious presence of God and faithfully allow Him to fulfill its works and practice. After learning this glorious truth, Paul responded, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

The New Testament church demonstrates dependent faith by its consistent willingness to prayerfully submit to the authority of the indwelling God and trust Him beyond the affairs and circumstances inherent to fallen life (psuche) on earth. Historically speaking, when the church has exercised such dependence on God, He has demonstrated that He will not only graciously provide but perform every work necessary to fulfill His plan on earth, inclusive of the reformation of His ecclesia from law to life (zoe).

God alone is the source of church reformation from law to life (zoe). The obligation of the ecclesia is to cooperate by dependent faith alone. Therefore, it must carefully evaluate its level of dependence on the living (zoe), indwelling God.

For example:
Is church practice characterized by cooperative, dependent faith, or self-effort? Is church practice characterized by the fullness of life (zoe) or religiosity?
Is church practice directed by the Spirit of Christ or a predetermined liturgy?
Does church practice emphasize and elevate God or man?
New Testament church life (zoe) is not lived for God by the man indwelt, but with man by the God who indwells. When the church learns to quit trying and live by dependent faith, it will realize spiritual fruit in New Testament quantity and quality.

God alone is the source of the reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). Human cooperation occurs by radical dependence on His willingness to provide and perform. It is achieved by grace through faith alone.

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                                                   Design

When the early New Testament church moved beyond Jerusalem, it gathered in small group community alone. The manifestation in intimate small group community was by eternal design.

Small group community is most conducive for the life-based (zoe) practices of the New Testament church. It accommodates the personal presence of the living (zoe) God and the cultivation of the spiritual intimacy necessary for life-based (zoe) practice.

According to apostolic tradition, the practice of the eternal, organic New Testament church is a celebration of life shared with God. Generally speaking, the ecclesia celebrates God through the life-based (zoe) practices of purposeful prayer; intentional community interaction; the Lord’s Supper as a full, celebratory meal; participatory praise and worship in song; joyful giving; corrective spiritual discipline; cooperative discipleship; and team-oriented outreach.

In contrast, the large group setting for church gatherings is not conducive for the life-based (zoe) practice of the New Testament church. For the most part, its organization and management is an impersonal endeavor, naturally facilitated by the rule of law. As a result, the large group church setting is typically characterized by law-based practice.

Reformation from law to life (zoe) requires the cultivation of intimate small group community. However, it cannot be achieved by simply adding small groups to law-based, predominantly large group church practice. The practice of law and life (zoe) are incompatible. Therefore, the addition of law-based small groups only serves to provide a different but smaller setting for law-based practice.

Conversely, organic, small group community is a fundamental characteristic of the distinct church of the New Testament. It alone can effectively accommodate life-based (zoe) practice.

Every small group community of the New Testament church is a spiritually interdependent part of the church body. Each one can accommodate the shared life function of the New Testament church fully and independently. Consequently, every practice of the church can be fulfilled in a life-based (zoe) small group community.
The small group communities of the New Testament church allow for the decentralization of the ministry of life (zoe). They enable the expansion and fulfillment of life-based (zoe) church mission beyond the walls of a building.

God specifically chose the design of intimate small group community for the gatherings of His ecclesia beyond Jerusalem. It was critical for the nurture of life-based (zoe) ministry from God and to one another. Therefore, the church must carefully evaluate its design for ministry.

For example:
Is the design for church ministry derived from New Testament apostolic tradition alone, or is it the product of religiosity, civic and historic precedent, practicality, and convenience?
Is the design for church ministry best suited for control and management by mankind or the indwelling Spirit of God?
Does the church gather in a large group setting simply because it has always done it that way before?
Does the design of gathering produce the fruit of life (zoe) or law?
Does the design of gathering emphasize and elevate God or man?

God alone is the source of the reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). By grace through faith alone, His reformative work is supported by the intentional cultivation of organic, life-based (zoe) small group community.

                                         Decentralization

The reformation of the church from a large group setting in one location to small group community in multiple locations serves to decentralize church life (zoe) and ministry. With minimal effort and expense, it contributes to the bearing of fruit in New Testament quality and quantity and extends the influence of indwelling life (zoe) “to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The living (zoe) presence of the sovereign God cannot be constrained on earth. However, it can be quenched. The primary means by which the church quenches the ministry of God on earth is by limiting access to His living (zoe) presence.

The advent of the church building and its corresponding large group meeting was a significant event in church history. It served to restrict church ministry to a single location. Its ministry centralized, the exposure and access of the world to God's living (zoe) presence was significantly reduced.

Scripturally speaking, it is incumbent upon the ecclesia of God to pursue conditions favorable for His indwelling life (zoe) to be freely accessible to the world. Instead of staying and waiting for the world to arrive at the church building, the command of Christ was to “Go…and make disciples of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

Christ and His disciples demonstrated that decentralizing ministry through life-based (zoe) small group community was critical for making disciples. The early New Testament church also revealed the effectiveness of life (zoe) based small group community. It was evidenced by the bearing of spiritual fruit in quality and quantity that was not of this world.

Only God can effectively decentralize the ministry of the New Testament church. Therefore, the church must carefully evaluate its ministry.

For example:
Is church ministry living (zoe) or merely a simulation of His life (zoe) attempted through the religiosity of dead “programs”?
Is the ministry of the church centralized in one location or decentralized in multiple locations?
Does church ministry reach past the walls of a building into the surrounding community and beyond (providing evidence of life (zoe))?
Does the ministry of the church produce spiritual fruit in New Testament quality and quantity?
Does church ministry emphasize and elevate God or man?

     God alone is the source of the reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). By grace through faith alone, it is supported by the decentralization of ministry through the intentional cultivation of small group community in multiple locations.

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                                           Demonstration

According to the biblical doctrine of life (zoe), the New Testament church was designed to be indwelt by the living (zoe) God. Thus, it was intended to be organically representational of God. During the Church Age, it was the chosen means for demonstrating the life (zoe) of God on earth.

The representational status of the New Testament church is not fulfilled by performance for God but by His immediate, living (zoe) presence within. Therefore, the representational role of the ecclesia is fulfilled only by life-based (zoe) practice. It is characterized by living (zoe) works of grace through the cooperation of dependent faith alone.

Conversely, the law-based practice of the religious church is not demonstrative of the presence of the living (zoe) God. It is representative of divine law rather than representational of divine life (zoe). Thus, the law-based practice of the temporal, inorganic church only serves to demonstrate the legalistic emptiness of human religiosity. As a consequence, it is largely unappealing to both believers and unbelievers alike.

God has chosen the New Testament church to be demonstrative of His life (zoe) on earth during this present age. Therefore, the church must carefully evaluate its life source.

For example:
Is the church and its ministry demonstrative of the living (zoe) God or mere religiosity?
Is the church and its ministry characterized by a law-based “service”?
Is the church and its ministry evidenced by religious accouterment such as a predetermined liturgy, sermon, etc.?
Is life-based (zoe) small group community the primary emphasis of the church?
Is every member of the church body actively involved in spiritually gifted ministry?
Does the church and its ministry emphasize and elevate God or man?

God alone is the source of the reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). It is supported by a living (zoe), representational demonstration of His presence, purpose, and power on earth. Human cooperation occurs by grace through faith alone.

                                                 Divestment

The faithful pursuit of the living (zoe) Christ is the essential priority of the life-based (zoe) practice of the New Testament church. Fellowship with Him through His immediate headship and ministering presence must be cherished and protected above all else.

In contrast, the practice of dead religiosity is not a priority of the New Testament church. To the contrary, it is counterproductive for the pursuit of Jesus Christ and the eternal plan of God.

The practice of religion for God diminishes the awareness of His indwelling presence, His immediate headship, and His living (zoe) power. As a consequence, the practice of the church is not representational of divine life (zoe) but merely representative of divine law. Consequently, it appears no different from any other religious organization in the world and is the epitomy of dead religion.

The motive for the legalistic practice of religiosity does not come from God. Instead, it is a product of the Fall that originates from the sin nature, the world, and the devil.
Ultimately, the practice of religion provides fallen mankind with the ability to manage and control the church apart from God. It is the equivalent of replacing divine headship, the gracious rule of life (zoe), and life-based (zoe) practice with human headship, the rule of law, and law-based practice.

The practice of religion is not alive (zoe) to God but spiritually dead. Therefore, it must be ordered by a complex, predetermined liturgy.

The liturgical church “service” often includes but is not limited to an introductory prayer (frequently characterized by a religious prayer about God rather than to God); voluntary singing about or for God rather than participatory singing to God (not directed by the Spirit, but a hymnal or songbook); and lecture-style teaching rather than Spirit-directed, interactive ministry to and from the brothers and sisters of the body). It can also be inclusive of the ritualistic observance of the Lord’s Supper (not a full, celebratory meal, but a solemn, religious observance inclusive of broken cracker and thimble of juice); an offering (not for personal ministry, but typically for building and salary expense); and a concluding prayer (generally religious and impersonal for the benefit of the entire body rather than the individual needs of the members that comprise the church body and the surrounding, unbelieving community).

The organized, predetermined liturgy associated with dead religiosity is not typically practiced with God but for Him. It is performed in an impersonal, large group setting in an expensive building that is dedicated to God for the exclusive purpose of religious activity. To a large extent, dead religiosity removes the practical need for God's living (zoe) presence, His grace, and human faith.They are unnecessary.

The divine reformation of the church to New Testament standard requires the divestment of every characteristic of dead religiosity. Therefore, the church must continually “fight the good fight of faith” to eradicate every trace of religious practice. Any future readmission of religiosity must be carefully and continually guarded against, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)

God is willing to provide the direction necessary for the divestment of every aspect of religiosity. Therefore, the church must be willing to carefully and continually follow His lead, evaluate its quality of practice and divest itself of all legalism and dead religiosity. Consequently, the New Testament church must ask some important questions.

For example:
Is church practice derived from the New Testament alone?
Does church practice retain any vestige of religiosity, civic precedent, practicality, or convenience?
Is church practice law-based or life-based (zoe)?
Is church practice for God or with God?
Does church practice emphasize and elevate God or man?

God alone is the source of the reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe). By grace through faith alone, humanity has the distinct privilege of divesting the church of every attribute of dead religiosity.

                                        Living Reformation

The reformation of the New Testament church from law to life (zoe) is a gracious act of God. He is willing to illuminate the necessary biblical doctrine, the doctrine of life (zoe), and provide the living (zoe) desire to pursue Him for reformation and the gift of faithful dependence to trust Him for reformation. Further, God is willing to cultivate the life-based (zoe) small group community necessary for the decentralization and demonstration of His life (zoe) on earth and guide the divestment of all that is contrary. To God alone be the glory!

© 2022 James Hiatt

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