At the time Peter Toon wrote this book on the place of the Church in the faith and life of the Christian, he was a teacher at Oak Hill College in London, England.
When you are born, you enter into a human family, which involves a series of relationships – with mother, father, brother(s), sister(s), aunt(s), uncle(s), cousins, etc. A new baby cannot live in isolation; it needs milk, warmth, and protection. When you are born again (or, born from above), you enter into God’s kingdom and family, which also involves a series of relationships – with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and with others who have been born again. A Christian cannot live in isolation; he needs spiritual food, fellowship, and care (discipline).
When you enlist as a recruit in your country’s army, you join others in training to be soldiers, in fighting the enemy, and in defending your land. You are placed in a company with other soldiers, for you cannot function alone. Likewise, when you join the Lord’s army, you learn to fight against sin and for righteousness. You learn to fight along with other soldiers of Christ.
To be born again or to become a soldier of Christ are two ways of saying that you have submitted to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and God has accepted you. To accept him as Savior is to receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life; it is also to become a member of the people who have also accepted him, those “saved” people who are called to be “saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2, RV). To be his disciple and follow him as Master and Lord is to do his will and adopt his life style; it is also to join others who are his disciples.
In Christian experience there is a horizontal and a vertical dimension. There is the vertical relationship to God the Father, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit; by this I receive my salvation. And there is the horizontal relationship to other believers; the same Spirit who joins me to the Father and the Son joins me to my fellow-Christians. Read More
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