That it might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God.1
Does God care about how He is perceived? When the world looks at us do they see Jesus? When the world looks at the culture of Christianity what do they see? Is it as in the time of Jesus? Do they see hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and external shows of piety, un-forgiving, back biting, and divisiveness? Do they see people who follow the law externally but not in their hearts, who do not know God but claim to, and who would have Him crucified on a cross today? Do they by their actions deny him? The Church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God.
Is it important to God that His name is not blasphemed among the people? Yes. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, here on earth and in heaven, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,2 It glorifies God that his Church makes known His wisdom in the heavenly places. This is an amazing concept; that the angels in heaven will see the wisdom of God manifested by His Church. Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,3
Are we, the Church, making the wisdom of God known? Repentance starts in the house of God, not the world. We are not to act like the world through the wisdom of men but of God, this is the only way his wisdom will be made known. The Church is to make it known to those rulers on earth and the authorities in heavenly places. Do we then blaspheme the name of God among the people if we do not? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.4 The Church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God, not blaspheme his name.
Jesus prayed for the manifold wisdom of God to be made known, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.5
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.6
Does God care about how He is perceived? When the world looks at us do they see Jesus? When the world looks at the culture of Christianity what do they see? Is it as in the time of Jesus? Do they see hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and external shows of piety, un-forgiving, back biting, and divisiveness? Do they see people who follow the law externally but not in their hearts, who do not know God but claim to, and who would have Him crucified on a cross today? Do they by their actions deny him? The Church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God.
Is it important to God that His name is not blasphemed among the people? Yes. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, here on earth and in heaven, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,2 It glorifies God that his Church makes known His wisdom in the heavenly places. This is an amazing concept; that the angels in heaven will see the wisdom of God manifested by His Church. Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,3
Are we, the Church, making the wisdom of God known? Repentance starts in the house of God, not the world. We are not to act like the world through the wisdom of men but of God, this is the only way his wisdom will be made known. The Church is to make it known to those rulers on earth and the authorities in heavenly places. Do we then blaspheme the name of God among the people if we do not? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.4 The Church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God, not blaspheme his name.
Jesus prayed for the manifold wisdom of God to be made known, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.5
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.6