003 – The Body of Christ

 

Identity in Christ

 

The Body of Christ

 

 

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV

 

 

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV

 

 

Corporately, as individuals, or many members, joined together, we are the Body of Christ.

 

Paul, inspired by Holy Spirit, uses the analogy of the physical body for the body of Christ.

  • For all its many parts, it still functions as a single entity
  • We, being many, are to function in unity

 

 

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV

 

 

  • We believers are joined together by Holy Spirit who is dwelling within us
  • Our individual choices, decisions, and obedience or disobedience affects the functioning of the body as a whole

 

 

And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV

 

 

We are to operate as one.

  • Sharing one another’s burdens and rejoicing in one another’s blessings
  • This happens in relative degrees, depending upon proximity and level of knowledge
    • We are to care for one another – those within our circles of influence
    • We are to pray for all believers

 

 

A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye

are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34-35 KJV

 

 

Love for one another is what binds us together.

  • We are commanded to love one another

 

This would be a good time to review the study we did on The Wall.

  • We, as believers, are the living stones
  • We, the living stones, are held together by the mortar, love

 

The study on the wall and living stones is a good foundation for knowing our identity in Christ.

  • Check out the “Past Sunday Sessions” on the web site, AnokaAwakening.com, or find the lessons in The Living Room
  • This is where discipleship begins
    • Being a disciple and making disciples
    • Understanding how we are knit together and are to operate in unity

 

The Wall from Past Sunday Sessions, 08DEC19 through 14JUN20

  • Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone – 08DEC19
  • Apostles and Prophets, the Foundation – 12JAN20
  • Believers, the Living Stones – 09FEB20
  • Stones Becoming Walls – 08MAR20
  • Molding Stones, Part 1, Disciples – 19APR20
  • Molding Stones, Part 2, Making Disciples – 14JUN20

That study lays out the structure for the body and provides an understanding of how we are to interact with one another.

 

 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 KJV

 

 

Remembering always that Christ is the head of the body.

  • We are to grow in faith and deed to be like Him (Christ Jesus)
  • Love is the driving force
  • To be like Christ is the goal

 

 

Be ye followers of me, even as I am also of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV

 

 

We all need, and should have, a mentor or mentors who lead by example.

 

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 28:19 KJV

 

 

  • For instruction, for leadership, and for encouragement

We should also be mentors and examples for others.

  • We are commanded to make disciples

 

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

Matthew 28:20a KJV

 

 

  • A consistent message to be handed down by believers to believers
    • All are to be on the same page, operating in unity of belief, faith, and purpose

 

 

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is

above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV

 

 

  • We each have a responsibility to God who has brought us together as one body
  • We each have a responsibility to one another for the health of the body; unity in love

 

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Romans 6:3 KJV

 

 

In our baptism we died to our old way of life.

  • It was put behind us
  • We are baptized into His death and given new life

 

 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:6 KJV

 

 

Our old man, old lifestyles, old behaviors, have been crucified with Christ Jesus.

  • Sin is no longer our master
  • We now serve the Lord, Christ Jesus
  • We now have the power and authority to overcome the strongholds of our sinful ways that are now dead
  • Christ has set us free

 

 

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Galatians 5:24 KJV

 

 

  • We put those old ways to death as we follow Christ

 

 

And He said to them all, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Luke 9:23 KJV

 

 

The life of holiness is a daily battle.

  • The cross is a means of torturous death
    • It is a daily battle to crucify our old ways and follow Christ
    • It is a daily battle of choices to deny our selfish desires and lusts
    • It is a daily battle to choose to serve Christ and one another in love rather than serving oneself in pride, lust, and greed
  • We must die to self daily

 

 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ livith in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son

of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 KJV

 

 

Christ gave himself for us as He died on the cross for our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.

  • Now freed from our old ways, we live for Him who loved us
    • We do this by allowing Him to love through us under the leading of Holy Spirit
      • We die to self and live unto Him

 

 

We love Him, because He first loved us.

John 4:19 KJV

 

 

It is because He loved us that we have been forgiven and set free. We can live free by loving Him and by allowing His love to flow through us.

  • Christ Jesus is the head of the body
    • He directs the body on how to live and move
    • We are to live for Him
    • We are to care for the body, for one another, and not for self alone
  • We must have a clear revelation and realization of what it is to be a part of the body of Christ
  • In Christ we are members of His body

 

 

Which Body Part

Episode 11 Addition

 

Paul uses the analogy of the human body in comparison to the Body of Christ. He says we are all different parts, but one body. This begs the question, “Which part of the body am I? Or you?”

 

 

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are

we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the

body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body”; is it therefore not of the body? And if the

ear shall say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body”; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?

If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if

they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no

need of thee”: nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem feeble, are necessary: and

those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more

abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part

which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member

suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in

particular.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 KJV

 

 

Our Sunday Sessions group went through this exercise which I found to be very interesting and informative. As we went around the room, some answers surprised me, and some seemed very evident. All were understandable when the explanation came forth as to why the specific body part was chosen.

 

Two of the aspects of this exercise is to discern between what we want to be and what we believe we are. If the two match, it appears to be a definitive track and a good thing. If the two do not match, the “why” of the matter is something to explore. Is there a gap of some sort that isn’t likely to be closed? Is the gap due to using one for the sake of growth to become the other? Is the one a precursor to becoming the other? It really depends on the path, and the point on that path, of the journey the individual is on.

 

Also, there may be a difference between what one sees for oneself, and what someone else sees in a person. It is important here to distinguish between desire or wishes and the actuality of behavior and decisions. With honest introspection, this exercise in a small group can be confirming or affirming, encouraging, revealing, and even prophetic.

 

We had nine or ten in our group on that particular day, and we all seemed to be in agreement after evaluating each person’s response. We heard it and listened to the reasoning of the person who was sharing. There may have been a bit of discussion, but mostly seeing in the person’s traits, character, or ministry, (sometimes more than one of those) the purposeful choice of a certain aspect of the body and its function. The gifts of the Spirit seemed to align with the choices made.

 

Let’s look at my choice as an example of this. I can’t say that this was always the way I was, but I seem to be closer to it today than ever. It was a desire that I expressed regularly in my personal prayer time. I wanted to be a red blood cell. The reason I used for this was the red blood cell was often close to, even within, the heart. I have wanted to be so close to Jesus that I could hear His heartbeat. Like the apostle John, laying upon the breast of Jesus, hearing that heartbeat. Like the writers of the gospels and epistles, knowing the heartbeat of God. What was His thought on a matter? What was His passion?

 

Another part of that was the red blood cell would go from the heart to whatever part of the body it was sent, and it would carry oxygen, it carried life. After making the deposit or delivery, it would return to the heart for the next assignment. And the cycle would continue. I want to do what God wants me to do and return to His very heart in worship, prayer, and thanksgiving, and receive my next assignment to whichever part of the body He sends me.

 

This appears to be the case in how I look out for others and minister to them and the variety of things He has me do. I also regularly return to Him with thanksgiving, worship, and prayer. Our annual public worship event is called, “In HIS Heartbeat” as this is where I desire every person to be during worship. It is there that we encounter the living God and can understand what it is that He would have us do, as we learn His passions and desires.

 

One person in the group struggled with the concept and couldn’t pin down an answer. I offered a suggestion and went on to explain why. I spoke of the observations I had made of that person concerning actions toward others and attitudes toward God. Pieces were confirmed by others, and a few added observations were offered. The person received it with joy, understanding the intentions of the descriptions. It was an affirmation for the person and an encouragement to continue moving in that direction.

 

So which part of the body are you? What do you see right now? What do you desire to be? Be sure to contemplate the answers thoroughly and see what Holy Spirit reveals to you. Listen carefully to others with you. A blind spot could be revealed to you, which can reveal something good which you had not thought of yourself. You may receive a confirmation as to the route you are on or to a question you have been contemplating. You may be exposed to possibilities in ministry you previously thought wasn’t you.

 

I believe this is a useful exercise to help us see who we really are as we learn how others see us, and most importantly, how God sees us. I believe God had a perfect life dreamed of for us. Unfortunately, the fallen world we live in and the personal sin in our lives have prevented us from achieving the perfect life. God, however, understands all of this. I believe He helps us as, much as we allow Him, to get as near as possible to the life He intended for us.

 

 

For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are

Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the

earth. You saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none

of them.

Psalms 139:13-16 KJV

 

 

To this I respond, “Lord, let it be unto me as You have written.” Before my days even existed, He wrote about each one in a book of my life. It is my desire to live my life in such a way as to come as close as possible to what God wrote about me. I doubt that very many of my days have come close to what God wrote, but for the ones that have, I will be able to rejoice greatly with thanksgiving to God.

 

I think we should ask God to show us day to day what He has written for us that day. We should ask Him to open our eyes for what He has prepared for us each day. We should ask what He desires of us each day. He has a plan; of this I am certain.

 

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 KJV

 

 

Let’s break this verse down a bit.

  1. We are His

 

 

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought

with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

 

 

  1. Created in Christ Jesus

 

 

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given

us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV

 

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He

chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

Ephesians 1:3-4 KJV

 

 

  1. For good works

 

 

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and

destitute of daily food, and one of you say into them, “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled”; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which

are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:14-17 KJV

 

 

  1. Works God prepared

 

 

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given

us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV

 

 

  1. Before our time to do them

 

 

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given

us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV

 

 

  1. That we should do them

 

 

“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and

manifest Myself to him.”

John 14:21 KJV

 

 

Our call is to obedience in love. (more)

 

 

Having purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you

have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

1 Peter 1:22-23 KJV

 

 

This sums up the daily Christian life; the Body of Christ doing the good works that He prepared for the body to do.

 

The question is, how well are we doing it?

 

 

Next Up:

04 – Clothed in Christ

 

 

All Parts of the Study:

01 – Introduction

02 – Children of God

03 – The Body of Christ

04 – Clothed in Christ