God s Church 2. The Body. adamantbeliever.com/godschurch2.pdf 2017 G. Craige Works All Rights Reserved

God s Church 2 The Body adamantbeliever.com/godschurch2.pdf 2017 G. Craige Works All Rights Reserved

Jesus Christ Jesus came in physical form to show us how His body operates. While He was on earth, He was the eyes, hands, feet and mouth of God. John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Once Jesus returned to glory, He left us with the blueprint of how we should function in the earth, as His body. We are physically and collectively, the body of Christ. 1Cor. 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Christ dwells in us to rule our being and He should rule over the institutional church as well. He is head of our individual bodies and the church, which is the body of all believers gathered together. Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Eyes, Hands, and Feet The eye is the light of the body. We are supposed to be the light of the world. But if our eyes take in darkness, the light will not shine. We must have the eyes of Christ, so that the body will follow the light and not darkness. Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. The hands of the body of Christ are for helping one another. Whether it s doing alms, comforting, or praying together, the hands of Christ's body are His outreach in the earth. Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. We are the feet of God in the earth. We carry the gospel and spread it throughout the world through our lifestyles and child-rearing. We are to lead the way as others follow us. Whether we are pastors, parents or children, someone is watching and will follow our lead. Rom. 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

God s Voice Christ used His mouth to speak what God wanted to reveal in the earth. He was the voice of God on earth and now we are the voice of God in the earth. We should speak what He has spoken in His Word. 2Tim. 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Our mouths should be controlled by Christ, who lives within us. When we remember this instruction, it will help us to speak blessings and not curses to our fellowman. James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Some believers are chosen to preach and teach the unified body of Christ, while others are called to teach their families. No matter what our calling is, we must represent Christ s body by consistently lining up our words with God s Word. Heb. 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

SUMMARY

We take for granted the term body of Christ, but we should really consider what that term truly means. Being Christ s body, means that we took His place in the earth when He went back to glory. His Spirit resides in us and takes over our being, so that we can be His being! We are His church body and should function the same way He did when He walked the earth. We should avoid darkness and be the light of the world, just as He was. We should show compassion for others and help those in need, just as He did. We should speak the truth in love and proclaim the Gospel, just like He did. Being the body of Christ means that we are Christians and are Christlike. Obeying these principles ensures that we are properly representing Christ in the earth and are readily prepared for His return.

1Cor. 12:12 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. 1Cor. 12:13 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. 1Cor. 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. 1Cor. 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 1Cor. 12:16 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? 1Cor. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 1Cor. 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 1Cor. 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 1Cor. 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1Cor. 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1Cor. 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1Cor. 12:23 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. 1Cor. 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 1Cor. 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 1Cor. 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.