God Calls You the Body of Christ P3

Metaphor: Body of Christ

Concept: If we are members of a single body, that of Messiah then we must think differently about our life and those we are a ‘member with’ in His Body, which is made up of those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus the Messiah or deliver and our Lord the one unique Son of God.  

 1 Cor 12:12-31 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

It would be helpful if you reviewed all of the scriptures given during the last three days of this study. Here are things to consider concerning our being the Body of Christ.

1.       Every race, gender and nation is included in God’s Body.

2.       We all given the one spirit to drink, scripture lays out very plainly that we must come through Jesus Christ to the father. This should compel us to live lives of righteousness or ‘Be Salt’ in our homes, school and work places. This brings God’s goodness to every situation.

3.       We must also not hide the goodness of God in our lives ‘ do not hide your light under a bushel basket’ for as others see working through every aspect of our lives, including both the good times and the bad they will be drawn to that which we have and this allows to give an answer for the hope that is in us.

4.       Choosing to treat others Biblically which means with righteousness/justice on one hand and grace/mercy on the other is to be a true representative of God toward them.

5.       We must act in love toward other Christians even if we do not always agree with their understanding of the Bible, for it is in Christ alone that we are saved. If someone believes differently on a point of Biblical teaching then we do arguing or being unpleasant toward them would be like beating your own Body. Remember we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling Ph 2:12. Now this is not about being saved by works but navigating life as a Christian while seeking to please God and live according to His Word in all our ways for we are saved by grace.

6.       Seek to know or discover your gifts and skills (both natural and spiritual) and develop them for in doing so you become the most effective member of the Body of Christ that you can be and by doing so you make the Body stronger.

 

Father, this truth is one that I we need to understand and incorporate into our lives and believers. Give us all that we need to fulfill our role in the plan you have for us as individuals and as the Body of Christ