Kosmonia

The Affliction of the Second Generation Believers: Kosmonia Replacing Koinonia


Here's the scripture for last Sunday's topic.

1 John 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1 John 4

Testing the Spirits

 ¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. ⁴ You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

God Is Love

 ⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is ^[a]born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was manifested ^[b]in us, that God has sent His ^[c]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ We have come to know and have believed the love which God has ^[d]for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear ^[e]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us. ²⁰ If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen,cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

A little background on this scripture. At this time John was the remaining apostle of Jesus and he was a witness to the growth of the church or so it was. This is now John writing to the 2nd Generation and 3rd Generation church members and by his message we can see that a lot of them are missing the point. The lack of koinonia has broken the church and has allowed the penetration of worldly ways losing what the 1st generation of worshipers have maintained and that is constant fellowship and following strictly the ways of the church. So as an introduction it was discussed that Koinonia was fading away and that Kosmonia was quickly becoming a fad among the 2nd and 3rd generation of church members. It is an alarming trend that causes churches and families to fall apart. Without koinonia many of our institutions will end up as losers, failures, disappointments, you name it, these are consequences of neglecting the importance of Koinonina.

Definition of terms:
To better understand the concept of Koinonia here are the key words to take not of.
Koinos - that which is shared
Koinonos - anyone allowed to share as giver or partaker
Koinonia - the exclusive sharing relationship


An example of Koinos would be the church's doctrines and our singing in Praise and Worship.


So what is this that is causing the church to be "losers" to God that was brought upon by the 2nd and 3rd generation? It was called Kosmonia, and to explain here are its features.


1. Philos has replaced Agapetos. 

It is when Agapetos(God's love given to us) turned into Philos(love that is given by a friend). Agapetos was properly embodied in the use of the word "Beloved" which was used many times in this verse. By definition:

The New Testament Greek Lexicon
ἀγαπητός = Agapetos - beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love
This is really powerful we need to understand that in comparison to the NIV version John would use Dear Friends instead of Beloved and by that definition of Agapetos. Agapetos must overflow and dominate among church members when it comes to our devotion with God.


To have a better explanation of Agapetos I am quoting from http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/love.htm

"In respect of agapaO as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver."

another is this


" 'Phileo' is a love which consists of the glow of the heart kindled by the perception of that in the object which affords us pleasure. It is the response of the human [soul] to what appeals to it as pleasurable... The word was used to speak of a friendly affection. It is a love called out of one in response to a feeling of pleasure or delight which one experiences from an apprehension of qualities in another that furnish such pleasure or delight. 'Agapao' on the other hand, speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in the object loved, an apprehension of its preciousness. [Cp. Rev 22:15; Mt 6:5; 10:37; 23:6; Lk 20:46; Jn 11:3, 36; 16:27; 1 Cor 16:22]"


2. The principles of the Word gave way to the principles of the world

Next to this title I saw in my notes the word "pakikisama" and to explain this, this must be the fact that many Christians today when they go into the mission field some forget their purpose and their principles. Outside of church they become weak and they try to blend in again with other groups. In effect, when he/she goes back to church they become neutral and make exemptions. Barriers are broken and limitations start to fade away. We start accepting other things and mix it up with God's Word and tendency is we get lost by trying to merge the ideas of the world to the teachings of Christ. By being lost, like sheep, we wander off and lose our firm stand of God's truth.

3. The world was mot the church's mission field anymore. The church was the world's mission field. 

From what I remember, this is like the world influencing the church of its ways and everything that was secular was being incorporated to the church. It allows the other members of the church to accept what was permissible to the majority and these were exemptions, cultures that were not meant inside the four walls of the church and practices that really are not supposed to change what was already tradition. Often times we don't notice how we desecrate these small things and we teach others to be more liberal about it but we forget that it is not our ways nor our traditions or practices that need changing it is the world that is in the dark and we are the ones to bring light to them and not us switching to what is acceptable and "hip" or even "just fun" for that matter. We are the salt that brings life and not the dead dimming our light.

What is the result of all this to us as a church?

From my notes: Koinonia has faded and Kosmonia intruded and started to take control.Without Koinonia a believer, a Christian home, or any institution ends up becoming a loser before God and the world.

I believe we become nothing more than those who are around us. Lost, confused, no form of fellowship or whatsoever, as dirty and as worldly as those around us. We miss the point and as Koinonia continues to fade and the rest of the 1st generation of worshipers pass away what will happen to us? No leaders, coming into one room but are all separated, quiet when we worship, thinking and looking forward more of what is out there in the world than the fellowship that we make with our brothers and sisters and in total a dull and lifeless church. Wonder what the apostle John would've said now, and to those churches losing its congregation or the church not even growing in any way? What word would he repeatedly remind us of because we've forgotten to keep our koinonia?

So Pastor Doy gave us reminders based from the scriptures and these are the 3 points that he gave.


1. The love of God for us is unique; it is called "protos love" (1 John 4:10,19)
¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us. 


protos - first

It was explained in the same way mothers would love their child. Mothers have this instinct that when a child cries for any kind of need the mother drops anything that she is doing to attend to that need. And like mothers, God loves us the same way. We are His protos, His first love, first in time, first in value, first in everything. We are his priority, and when we pray and cry to Him, He responds to us quickly to our needs. How great and awesome is His love for us? Is there anyone else that can give the same love?

2. The care of God for us is unique we are called: Agapetos (1 John 4:7)
⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Agapetos again for us means that we are recipients of the best love from God. It is essential that our love is differentiating us from the non-believers. It gives us our identity and it separates us from the world. We are reminded that we are His beloved and the care that He gives will never be found here on earth.

3. The challenge of God for us is unique. It allows us to aspire for perfected love of God in us. (1 John 4:12)
 ¹²No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

It says in my notes that sometimes the love of God in us is not complete and not His love for us. His love for us will always be full it is how it is inside of us that is important. If we really fill inside that we are loved and given value. As human and as Christians we tend to harbor anger, envy and every other thing that is not loving in nature. This causes this void, this emptiness, this imperfection of love in us that can only be changed if we 

follow His command of loving others the same way we love ourselves. So as we gain complete love from God we fill that emptiness and it becomes perfect and through this we can do anything. And as God abides in us, people will see God through us because we love the same way God does even if no one has seen God. This is the identity that we want to maintain, having to love those around us the same way God loved us.

TO END, honestly I had a hard time getting this one down but after reading the passage again I realized why John jumped from testing the spirits of the 2nd and 3rd generation of church members to God is love. The idea is that the church lost its koinonia because people come and go to the church bringing in false prophets and other worldly practices. As a warning it is imperative that Christians must be aware that a greater evil outside is working to tear down churches through attacking individuals who are prone to waver in their faith and introduce other teachings to the church they go to. It is important that we are alert at all times to face these lies and stand on the truth. From the time John was observing the church until now 2011 this still happens so let us be mindful of the teachings of Christ that we do not confuse it with false teachings.

 "We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." 1 John 4:6 says this and point is if its not from God, the Bible, or our leaders in church then take it as the spirit of error. Read the Word, let it not depart from you that you may not lose koinonia and not be part of those who introduce in kosmonia.

Part of the message, the reason why it jumped to God is love, is that John reminds his Christian brothers and sisters of the love that keeps the koinonia of the church. It is the kind of love that is cultivated among church members and is the kind of love that is shown outside of church. It is what fills us and nothing is to occupy that, nothing from this earth to replace our love for God and for our brothers and sisters. The world will teach us ways that will change our perspective of the church and bend our beliefs, this message of John reminds us of what our real purpose is, and what God did for us that no one in this planet can ever do for us. 

My prayer is that God helps us to set our eyes on our mission to bring light to those who are in the dark and that he gives us the strength to guard our hearts from false teaching or anything that the world will offer us that will cause us to lose koinonia. Let us thank God for the love that He showed us that in turn we can share that same love to others as well. Amen.

One useful link you guys can use for studying God's Word. :) http://www.searchgodsword.org/

Koinonia

Acts 2:42

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁴² They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.


My first blog entry of the series of preachings from the Sunday services. I'd love to share my thoughts and my understandings while at the same time having people to react and correct me. This acts also as a record of all my learnings a journal if you will. :)


Last Sunday Pastor Doy preached on a topic that I feel is being strongly promoted in the church (which is Bread from Heaven Christian Fellowship) and this was the importance of Koinonia and one that has to be avoided was the 2nd generation syndrome which meant the loss of koinonia among the 2nd generation of worshipers and leaders. As defined it was this event in history of the Christian church where the next generation of Christians were bringing other ideas into the church that they gain from the world  that brought negative effects and gave them a different perspective altogether and because of this they lose this important part of Christian living which is having constant fellowship with your families or with your brothers and sisters in faith which in effect loses connection with the church and not being able to serve faithfully. 


This preaching is taken from 1 John and it was emphasized that churches nowadays neglect the idea that 1st generation worshipers and leaders forget to pass down their experience with God that the 2nd generation may also experience that same grace; be able to transmit that same level of faith that the church does not fall apart and parts of the congregation strays away. It is then essential that we ask ourselves 3 questions to check ourselves if we really are acquiring the 2nd generation syndrome.


1. What is it that you are not doing that is increasing the power and presence of sin in your life?


As a Christian or maybe as a Sunday goer what have you been doing consistently that is keeping you apart from God. What is it that you are not doing or what is it that you neglect that instead of doing the Lord's work or instructions you are stuck with all this earthly obligations and activities. We all know they perish and will mean nothing in the end why do we insist to live a life of complacency and compromise that the power and presence of sin is dominating you in every aspect.  


The answer is found in 1 John 1:5-7 saying that:
 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God Is Light

 ⁵ This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.


In my notes it says: Our sins have already been forgiven but through fellowship we decrease the power of sin.
Logically the more time we spend with our counselors and peers from church through Bible studies or even a simple dinner or just hanging out we put ourselves in a better place. Not only do we avoid evil but we enrich ourselves with God's Word and we enjoy more of God's blessings and presence when we are with the right people. The power of fellowship and communion is so important that if we continue as individuals we might just stray away and join wrong company.


2. What is it that you love that reduces the love of God the Father in you? 


So what is it that's occupying you more now than God. What's keeping you from loving God that you spend more time in this object or activity?


Well an answer for this has to be 1 John 2:15 which states: 
¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


Again this is related to what mentioned awhile ago about how this earth is passing away. Why do we set our eyes on the world that is temporary and is only the creation when we can look up to what is eternal who is the Creator of all things. All material things and all earthly thing for that matter will pass away and will have no significance to what you really are destined for. To be consumed by greed, the pride of life, and all the lust of the flesh is to live without purpose.  What we have now we can not take in the after life. At the same time we cannot say that because life is short we make the most out of this world and forget that we have a higher being to serve. It is to say we love this world more than the Father and if this culture is brought to the church then we lose our touch with God. We indulge on something we only are supposed to appreciate and be thankful for and forget that we are to soak ourselves with God.


3. What are the specific steps that I should take to purify myself with God?


So what steps are necessary to rid yourself of all this evil and neglect?


The verse is taken from 1 John 3:1-4 which say: 

Children of God Love One Another

 ¹ See ^[a]how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when Heappears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. ⁴ Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.


In my notes its says:
a. Have gratitude for the fact that God made me His own
b. Accept that sometimes my friends will not take me as their own
c. Purify myself through obedience with the specific will of God


I think what Pastor Doy gave is pretty self explanatory. To thank God that we(all those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior) are called His children. That when He comes we will look like Him and that we have represented Him well here on earth. And because of this people will reject us, our own friends that do not understand us will reject us just the same as Jesus was put to shame and rejected when He was here on earth. We need to understand that we are different and we are citizens of heaven that we live a different lifestyle and we do not live a life of compromise. Meaning we are obedient to God's will. We will stand to follow God's will no matter how this world will test us and through this we are purified and we bring a pleasant aroma towards heaven.


As part of the youth/young adults and the 2nd generation as part of a Joshua Generation koinonia will be essential in keeping this church together. We are able to increase in number and the congregation gets to grow in harmony. What a sight it would be that friends and families with the church leaders maintain fellowship and studying the Word as one. Breaking bread, comforting one another and uplifting those in need, singing songs of worship are examples of fellowship that we can do. It would be great that the church would be consistent with this practice that in the future it may also be passed on to the next generation of worshipers and leaders.