THE BODY - PART 2
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In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus established the church.
He is building it and He controls and directs it
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
We, as the body of Christ, share in His life and come under His control.
The way the physical body functions is to act out what the head is telling it to do.
This needs every part of the body to be working properly, obeying the signals coming from the head.
The body of Christ functions in the same way.
Unity in the Spirit
All believers are part of one body and there is an invisible unity among them, because they all share in the same Lord Jesus.
Jesus prayed for complete unity among all believers
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Many gifts and many functions
The body is not made up of one part but of many
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
God has arranged every part of the body
It is God who has arranged the parts of the body and who makes appointments in it
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Right relationships
Members of the body of Christ need to have the right relationship to the Head, Jesus Christ, and to each other.
We need each other 1 Corinthians 12:21
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
We must accept one another as Christ accepted us
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
We must forgive each other and bear with one another
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
A lot of your growth and development as a Christian will come through your relationship with other believers.
Commitment
We need to ask the question, ‘What can I put into the body?’ and not always ask, ‘What can I get out of this?’
Service
Your real attitude to Christ Jesus is seen by your attitude to His body, the church
1 John 4:20
A life of service for God is the most fulfilling life there is, because we are created by God to serve Him.
How to play your part in the body of Christ
Be filled with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Play your part without envying someone else’s. Use your gifts and abilities to serve the body as good stewards of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:15–16; 1 Peter 4:10).
Make room for others (1 Corinthians 12:17) and do not try to do it all yourself. Others may do some things better than you.
Know your place in the body (1 Corinthians 12:18–20) because this brings security and confidence (Romans 12:3).
Admit your need of other people (1 Corinthians 12:21).The church is your life support system, so do not be afraid to draw on the life of God through others in the church. Do not be so independent that you cannot be helped, advised or corrected.
Value other believers (1 Corinthians 12:22–24) and encourage them.
Care for the body (1 Corinthians 12:26), practice hospitality (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:7), and look for practical ways to share with and help your brothers and sisters in the church (Hebrews 10:24; Galatians 6:10).
Make love your aim and earnestly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1–3; 1 Corinthians 14:1).