The Church as God’s Closest Resemblance on Earth

Last Sunday, Elder Gideon Opoku Kissi delivered a compelling sermon to congregants of PIWC Tesano, focusing on the significant role of the church as God’s closest resemblance on earth. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:9-10, Elder Kissi emphasized that the church is a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, designed to reflect the character and authority of God in the world.

Elder Kissi began by referencing Genesis 3:9-10, highlighting that the most profound loss humanity experienced after the fall was the loss of communion with God. He pointed out that communion is not only essential for a relationship with God but also for exercising dominion over the earth. Elder Kissi further elaborated on this concept by referencing Genesis 3:21, where God made garments out of fig leaves to clothe Adam and Eve. He interpreted this act as symbolic of God’s plan for permanent restoration, which would later be fulfilled through the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Continuing with the theme of restoration, Elder Kissi cited Genesis 3:15, where God prophesied the eventual restoration of man’s dominion. This prophecy laid the foundation for God’s redemptive plan, which was further illustrated through God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel. According to Elder Kissi, God’s choice of Abraham and Israel was a demonstration of His intent to restore humanity’s dominion and to showcase the blessings that come with being God’s people.

Elder Kissi went on to explain the significance of the church, derived from the words ecclesia (Greek) and iodot (Aramaic), as a gathering of people called to discuss and fulfill God’s agenda on earth. He supported this understanding with several scriptural references, including Genesis 3:16, Isaiah 41:8, Genesis 18:17-19, and Deuteronomy 7:6. These scriptures, Elder Kissi noted, reinforce the idea that the church is not just a religious institution but a divinely ordained assembly entrusted with God’s purposes.

In a powerful conclusion, Elder Kissi reminded the congregation that Christians bear significant responsibility for the events in the world, as they have been endowed with power and authority by God. He outlined two key attributes of God’s church:

1. A People of Power and Authority: The church is called to exercise the authority given by God to influence the world positively and to stand as a beacon of hope and truth.
2. A Blessed People: The church is a community blessed by God, not only with spiritual gifts but also with the responsibility to extend those blessings to the world around them.

Elder Kissi’s sermon was a stirring reminder of the church’s divine mandate to reflect God’s glory on earth, to restore what was lost in the fall, and to walk in the power and authority bestowed upon them by the Creator.