9. A Church Without Distinction Of Race Or Intellect - Zac Poonen

Zac PoonenMarch 11, 201920mWatch on YouTube

Part ofThe Glory Of The New Covenant9 of 14

Also in

Zac Poonen379 messages

Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: 9. A Church Without Distinction Of Race Or Intellect Series: The Glory Of The New Covenant Date: 03-10-2019 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that the New Covenant, established through Christ's death, has broken down all distinctions—including those of race, intellect, and social standing—creating one unified body in Christ. Paul emphasizes that this unity is a mystery known only through divine revelation, not mere intellectual understanding. The speaker urges believers to live out this reality by embracing the 'new self' renewed in Christ, rejecting all forms of internal and external enmity.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Understanding the New Covenant beyond theoryWe want to study the New Covenant not just theoretically or academically, but so it actually changes our lives in practice.

What is a biblical mystery?A mystery in the New Testament is something you cannot understand through intellectual effort alone; it requires divine revelation to truly change your life.

Jews and Gentiles made fellow heirsThe mystery revealed by the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is that Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Breaking down the dividing wall on the crossOn the cross, Jesus did not only die for sins and defeat Satan, but He also broke down the dividing wall and destroyed the enmity between Jews and Gentiles.

Dealing with the enmity in our fleshThe conflict between people comes from the enmity in our flesh, and the only solution is being crucified with Christ so He lives through us.Galatians 2:20

No distinctions in the new selfIn the renewal of the new self, there is no distinction between Greek, Jew, barbarian, scythian, slave, or free man, but Christ is everything.Colossians 3:10

Prejudice hidden in modern churchesRacial and cultural prejudice is so deeply entrenched that many believers unconsciously build old Covenant churches segregated by race or community.

Intellectual and social snobberyEducated and cultured people often make the mistake of only mingling with those at their own level, ignoring the poor and uneducated.

Recognizing our common originIf we boast in our heritage, education, or race rather than recognizing we all come from the family kicked out of Eden, we miss the New Covenant.

Missing the most holy place through prejudiceMany Christians understand theological theories but lack the fullness of joy because hidden prejudices and fleshly divisions keep them out of God's presence.

A clarification regarding marriageWhile the church must have no distinctions, practical factors like age and language are legitimately considered when choosing a marriage partner.

Mingling with the lowly to grow spirituallyClever and educated believers are encouraged to mingle with and learn from poorer, less educated people in the church to experience spiritual growth.

Related messages

Back to the catalog

NCCF Church

9. A Church Without Distinction Of Race Or Intellect - Zac Poonen

Zac Poonen · March 11, 2019 · 20m

The church Becoming like Him