The Body Of Christ
Today’s sermon is all about the Body of Christ and how each part is related with each other.
Title: Principles of The Body of Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Introduction
This morning we talked about the principles concerning spiritual gifts. We talked about spiritual gifts as God given, that there are different kinds of gifts with different kinds of manifestation.
Tonight, we will be talking about the Body of Christ as the basic composition of God’s community, God’s church.
Principles Of The Body of Christ
Principle 1: The Body Is One (v.12-13)
The passage has been very clear that the body is a unit (v.12) composed of different parts. Let us talk first about the Body. The Body of Christ that we are talking about here is the basic unit of the church. This pertains to the local church in contrast to what other people is trying to prove about the “Universal Church”. Yes, we also belong to the Universal church, but the passage is not referring to the universal church but to the local church.
As a local church, each one of us were baptized in one Spirit into one body. Yes, we are one body. This means that we are identified as one, having the same goal, having the same outlook.
As we act as a body, all our actions are being defined as one. Let us take for example an individual. When his hand steal, it is not only the hand that goes to jail, but the whole body. Likewise, if the hand does well, it is not only the hand who is being commended but the whole body.
As one body we have the same goal. We move forward toward a common goal. Just like an individual who decided to go to a certain place, his whole body walks through the same direction, it makes a step each one at a time until he reach his destination.
As one body we also have the same outlook. As an individual plans ahead of time what does he wants to achieve, so are we as one body in Christ Jesus, we plan as a whole to achieve what we want to achieve in the future. There is no part of the body that go against the flow of the plan. But each one function for a common interest, to achieve the same outlook and goal.
I Am the Truth
“Jesus said unto him. . .‘I Am The Truth’. . .”
John 14:6b
It all begins and ends with Him.
Truth.
Everyone’s looking for it. And, so many—particularly the “religious” and educated—say “I’ve found it.” So, they write books. . .hold seminars. . .get advanced degrees. . .so others will agree and say “Yes, they’ve found it.”
But, they haven’t.
They’ve only formed opinions or gained insights. Relative insights. Biased insights. Short-sighted insights. Half-truths. No truths. Changing truths.
“But, I’m the expert here!” one declares.
“I’ve studied this issue for 35 years, devoting 15 hours a day to researching this matter with an open, objective mind. And, I’ve finally arrived at this irrefutable conclusion to which no one can disagree.”
No one, that is, except Him Who is “The Truth.”
Assuredly, Pilate’s question of “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38) as an aside was not heard by the bloodthirsty mob down below as they chanted “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” And, his question may have been born more of perplexity and pining than desperation and desire.
Yet, that question continues to be asked in every generation—particularly in this generation of relativism (“no absolutes”), humanism, hedonism, secularism and every other type of belief-system that ends up in schism and fatalism.
I Am the Way
“Jesus said unto him, ‘I Am The Way. . .’”
John 14:6a
It’s not a precept, principle or process; it’s His Presence.
“I Am The Way.”
When Jesus, the Incarnate Word, spoke these words, He was identifying Himself as the “I Am Who I Am” God that appeared to Moses that day at the burning bush (Ex. 3:14a). A most unusual Name to be sure; One-of-a-kind for certain. But, it’s an unchanging Name and, therefore, appropriate for Jesus, “The Way,” to use it.
Look at it this way:
Ask Him, “Who are You?” and He’ll reply, “I Am.” Ask Him, “Where are You?” and He’ll say the same, “I Am.” Or, ask “What are You doing?” and He’ll respond, “I Am.” Thus, it’s clear He is a present-tense, continuous action Presence. And, what better way for Him to express Himself than by saying, “I AM the Way.”
“The Way.”
Our technologically-, mechanically-inclined minds immediately think “method” or “formula.” We’re looking for a “means to an end” when we hear the word “way;” yet, Jesus is neither of these. He is not a pattern for us to copy, a formula to remember or an additive to improve. Instead, He is “The Way”. . . the “Only Way”. . .the “One Way”. . .the “Living Way” (Heb. 10:20).
Not doctrine. Not orthodoxy. Not creed. Not ritual.
But, “The Essence and Epitome of Truth and Life.”
On Remembering Who He Is
“Who is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature—for by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things and by Him all things consist. 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.”
Colossians 1:15-18
Do not get caught up in the words; bask in the Word instead.
Who is this One we call Jesus. . .the virgin-born Son of God. . .the “Word made flesh, Who dwelt (‘pitched a tent/tabernacled’) among us” (Jn. 1:14) for around 33 years here on earth? Who is He—this One predicted by prophets of old—Who came from God to save us from our sins and ourselves and even now is “preparing a Place for us in Heaven” (Jn. 14:1-3)?
Who is He?
Today’s Manna adds a few more beautiful brushstrokes to this “Christ-Canvas.”
He is “the Image of the invisible God.” He is the “eikon” (Grk.= “profile, representation, resemblance, likeness of, etc.”) of the One Who sent Him (cf. Heb. 1:1-3). That’s why Jesus said “He that has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 6:45-46; 14:9). Simply put, the way Jesus talked and walked is the way the Heavenly Father is.
He’s also “the Firstborn of every creature.” He’s the Example and clear Epitome of what we were created to be. It wasn’t God’s intentions that Adam and Eve sin; yet, because of their freedom to choose, they did. But, our Heavenly Father demonstrated His omnipotence by sending Jesus as “the second Adam” (II Cor. 15:42-50) so we could be “translated from our sinful, Adamic image into the glorious likeness of Christ Himself” (v.49; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:13-14). Hallelujah!!
Transformed and Translated
“Giving thanks unto the Father, Who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light—Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, in Whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:12-14
It’s a process of perfecting and purifying—but the end-result is never in doubt.
“Who has made us meet.”
Those are the “words for the day,” Pilgrim. Read them again: “Who has made us meet.” This is one time the King James word leaves us a bit bewildered; however, when we realize it comes from the Greek word “hikanoo” and basically means “to enable, qualify, make competent, ample, sufficient, etc.,” we realize He will make sure there’s nothing lacking in us when it’s all said and done.
Isn’t that a wonderful thought, weary one?
Assuredly it is.
So lighten up a bit on yourself if you’ve “grown weary (Grk. ‘ekkakeo’—‘to become weak, fail in heart, feel worthless, etc.’) in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9a) and forgotten “in due season you’ll reap if you faint not” (v.9b).
Our Heavenly Father specializes in “transformation and translation.” Hallelujah!!
The Plan For The Great Flood
The Plan For The Great Flood
Text: Genesis 6:9-22
9 This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress [c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [d] 16 Make a roof for it and finish [e] the ark to within 18 inches [f] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
The Story Just Before The Great Flood
The Story Just Before The Great Flood
Text: Genesis 6:1-8
1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with [a] man forever, for he is mortal [b] ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
5 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
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Filled, Fruitful, Increasing and Strengthened
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding—that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
Colossians 1:9-11
He is the Source, Supplier and Supply.
There’s no question Paul loved the church in Colosse. His words to them in today’s “Morning Manna” are both simple and sincere. And, how we wish at times someone like Paul was praying for us! Glory!!
If the truth be known, there is.
Even now God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are interceding for us according to His Will (Rom. 8:26; Heb. 7:24-25). And, He’s even put legs to His prayers by assisting us in this process through His indwelling Holy Spirit.
Who of us doesn’t want to “be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”? Who of us doesn’t want to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing”? Who of us doesn’t want to be “fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” in all we say and do?
We know the answer, don’t we?
We all do! At least those who are serious-minded Pilgrims and long to be “strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
The question is “How do we get there? How can we be ‘filled, fruitful, increasing and strengthened’ as Paul describes?”
The answer is through what Andrew Murray called “absolute surrender.”