THE BODY

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

The body of Christ is that body of born again believers who have been joined to Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit

The body of Christ, the Church must fulfil the task of witnessing to and establishing the Kingdom of God which He began.

Mark 16:15 NKJV

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

For everyone to hear the Gospel, we must be prepared to go everywhere

In fact everyone should be a soul winner

Everyone needs to hear the Gospel, not just behaviour change, but Holy Ghost transformation

TRANSFORM — to change radically in inner character, condition, or nature

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

The primary assignment of the Church is Soul winning

Jesus gave every believer the authority of His name and the power of the Holy Spirit so that on His behalf, we may be involved in the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Mark 16:17–20 NKJV

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

All disciples of Jesus have this same responsibility.

These disciples need to work together as a body of many members with Jesus as the Head.

Our loyalty as disciples of Jesus:-

Christ Jesus

His worldwide church

The local church where He has put us.

All the believers in God’s worldwide church obviously cannot meet together, so God has ordained that we meet together in smaller groups, whether in a city church (1 Corinthians 1:2) or a church in a house (Romans 16:5).

The Church consists of born again believers, all of whom are priests

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Jesus is committed to building His church on earth and He is not going to let Satan overcome it

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

As disciples of Jesus, we should devote ourselves to the church, which is shared life in Christ

Acts 2:42 NKJV

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Various pictures

There is no single picture which can adequately describe what God has in mind for His people. Paul uses several pictures to illustrate various aspects of God’s revelation about the church.

A temple

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

A family

Mark 3:31–35 NKJV

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

A bride

Isaiah 62:5 NKJV

For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

Ephesians 5:25–27 NKJV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

A body

1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

God wants us to minister life and healing in the same way that Jesus ministered when He was on earth

Remember, God did not originally plan denominations, e.g. Church of England, Methodist, Baptist etc., they have come because of human divisions throughout the history of the church. Jesus founded and is building one church, one body, to which all born again believers belong

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 4:4 NKJV

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

THE END