VISION: Many People, One Passion

OUR VISION IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST. Plain and simple.

One phrase you will hear often and see regularly at Trace Crossing is "Many People, One Passion". What exactly does that mean? It means that each of us as a part of this faith family - regardless of where we have been, regardless of what we have done - is called to pursue Christ passionately "til Christ be formed in us" (Galatians 4:19). We see the "Many People, One Passion" picture throughout the Bible beginning in Genesis. It is most clear, however, in Revelation 7:9-10. That passage says:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

It is a picture of many people from all the nations of the earth unified with one passion for Christ. Revelation 7:9-10 is many people with one passion. But our vision to be “with Christ” finds its beginning with three other simple statements regarding our relationship with Him.  

• Our Vision is to be “in Christ” (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17) To be “in Christ” means that we have taken that initial step of repentance and faith, responding in godly sorrow to the merciful offer of God’s love in Christ. This is the most important step of those listed here. We cannot be “like Christ”, “for Christ”, or “with Christ” unless we first be “in Christ.” Being “in Christ” makes all those other things possible. Being “outside of Christ” makes all those other things impossible.   
• Our Vision is to be “like Christ” (Galatians 5:19) To be “like Christ” means that we have begun that transformation journey from our old way of life to a new one, empowered by God’s Spirit. It is not possible to be “like Christ” without first being “in Christ”. Jesus’ life and death did not serve merely as an example for us to follow. His life and death were an atonement for our sinful rebellion.  
• Our Vision is to be “for Christ” (Philippians 1:12-14) There are profiles in passion scattered throughout the Bible: Peter, John, Stephen, Paul. These were all people who took no shame in being “for Christ”. Likewise, our world today needs believers who bear no shame in being passionate witnesses for Him.  
• Our Vision is to be “with Christ” (Revelation 21:3-4) As we stated before, our ultimate desire is to be “with Christ” personally and physically. That day will come when He returns or we go to be with Him. But being “with Christ” will not happen unless we are “in Christ.”

Our desire as The Church at Trace Crossing is to be completely captivated by the person of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is only in Christ that we can experience the life God intends for all of us to live. Christ is the focal point of all Scripture. The Old Testament looks forward to his arrival and prepared Israel for that moment. The Gospels lift him up as the Son of God, the blueprint of God’s divine design for all humanity. The rest of the New Testament tells the story and teaches the truths that marked his life and made it so powerful. In essence, Christ is the center of God’s Word and God’s Will. As such, he should be the center of our work and our witness as a church.