Do You Adore the Body?

Which Body?

World Focus / Marketing on Health and Fitness.

Your body is Important!

Love it!

Look after it!

Endless hours — Gym.

Dieting / Healthy Foods

Disciplined

So focused on this.

Scripture Supporting:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” ()

But...

Common expression of Paul.

For Christians, there is another Body which is so important, and something that we are called to be focused on — if not more.

Eternal ramifications.

Spiritual Health rather than physical.

The New International Version Chapter 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Paul here is urging, beseeching us —

anybody who becomes a Christian

Present yourself as a living sacrifice &

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world.

Do not be fashioned accordingly.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Everything to this point, Chapters 1-11 about Sin & Salvation.

Chapter 12 Paul provides the Christian’s responsible response.

“True and proper worship.”

Indeed, rather then conforming to the world.

Paul is saying here that our body — our totality — needs to be conformed

It needs to be submitted to Christ.

The New International Version Chapter 12

test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The New International Version Chapter 12

test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

: It is God's will that you should be sanctified

Points to a method/a main means of the sanctification:

The New International Version Chapter 12

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The New International Version Chapter 12

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Wealth of text relating to a different body.

Common expression of Paul.

For Christians, this is another body which is so important, and something that we are called to be focused on — if not more.

Eternal ramifications.

Spiritual Health rather than physical.

It is the body of Christ, it is the church. It is that which Christ loved and died for.

Working (it) Out

It is a body that you, if you confess Christ, are a member of!

v5: “So in Christ, we though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

The question is — do you adore — do you love the church?

Do you love this body that Paul speaks of?

You see, if you are saved — if you are a believer in Christ.

Then you have been saved through faith by grace to union with Christ, and communion with God’s people.

§ Saved to have relationships Vertically, but also Horizontally.

Saved to have relationships vertically, but also horizontally.

Christianity is a corporate matter

Not me and Christ.

The Christian life can only be fully realized only in a relationship with others.

Cranfield: “Christians do not exist for themselves but are members of one another.”

As Christians, we’ve been called to the church and to work out life with it.

I’m not talking about the building.

Ekklesia — Assembly, the People.

Do our live our lives around the fact that we’re members of a body, a family

That we are Christians first and foremost.

Our bodies submitting to the body of which Christ is the head?

Or do we treat the church, the body, as something that revolves around us?

You see, we all have something to contribute to the church.

We all have different skills, gifts and abilities.

Paul states in verse 4: “we do not all have the same function”

Further:

The New International Version Chapter 12

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We all have different gifts which are intentionally designed to build each other up in the faith.

List not exhaustive.

If you are away from the church, how are these giftings or skills utilized? How are you using them?

Are you edifying your brothers and sisters, are you bringing your gifts to bear?

You may ask what giftings or skills that you have that you can use?

List not exhaustive.

But gives an idea.

Further, by living the way that it details in verses 9-21 in proximity to the church is itself a gift.

Speaking to other brothers and sisters of God at work is a gifting that you can bring to the church.

Loving God and Christ and having that exemplified in your life is a gifting that you can bring to the church.

We were created for community and without this covenant community we cannot experience live as God intended.

o We were created for community and without this covenant community we cannot experience live as God intended.

Flounder in the faith.

§ Flounder in the faith.

Community is what forms and reforms the Christian through the ongoing instruction of the word in worship, and the fellowship of fellow brothers and sisters who walk with us.

It is one of the chief vessels, a means of grace that God has given us for our sanctification.

This is where the work of the spirit and the ministry of the Word flourishes.

o This is where the work of the spirit and the ministry of the Word flourishes.

You will not grow if you are not a part of the church

And by starving yourself, it affects your growth.

It is impossible to be a functioning body part without within the body.

Are you holding your God-given abilities and skills away from the church?

Are you a part of it, are you seeing how you can be a part of this body of believers.

Here or Elsewhere (Other church)

Hospitality, Relationships, Meeting Up, Serving, Teaching.

Each gift and ability you have is a gift from God.

The New International Version Chapter 12

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment

As you are members for one another, a single body, are you stifling others from not being a part of their life? The life of the church?

“One another passages”

“Love one another with brotherly affections”

“Instruct one another”

“Carry one another’s burdens”

“Be kind to one another”

“Stir up one another toward love and good deeds”

“Confess your sins and pray for one another.”

Resolving to Be Fit (For the Kingdom)

The New International Version Chapter 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship

Your proper and true worship. Your reasonable service. Being Fit. Confirming your calling.

If you are a Christian, your body no longer belongs to you.

First Sunday of 2019.

It is to be a living and holy sacrifice.

Which has been given to the body.

The church.

The kingdom of God on earth.

First Sunday of 2019.

Resolutions — Be Healthy, Be Fit.

Go the gym, do more crunches, get the steps up.

Temporal goals.

Eternal Goals

Be Spiritually Health, embrace, adore the church.

Bringing together of diversity, a body of many functions and parts.

The bride of Christ.

The body of which you are a part of, look after it.

Think of the exercises that you can do to assist:

The New International Version Chapter 12

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” n says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” o

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Early church met everyday (Acts)

Broke bread together, thankful hearts.

Think about more then 60-90 minutes on a Sunday.

More than Corporate Worship.

Relationships, meetups — talk about God and Christ together.

Think about what you can do this year in 2019.

How you can be a blessing — an edification — to your brothers and sisters.

How you can become sanctified.

Jigsaw — making up a full image; combined with others a larger masterpiece.

Christ died for this!

The church is the fruit of the Gospel — cherish it!

What else can bring us together so many different people?

If you are not a Christian, I pray that you will know the love of Christ.

That he has for those who believe and confess Him.

The love of the body is only an small inkling.

Oh may today be the day you believe in Him.

Otherwise you are marching yourself to damnation to the beat of your own drum.

John Hannah: “No one who is ever in hell will be able to say to God, “Your put me here,” and no one who is in heaven will ever be able to say, “I put myself here.”

For all us, let us dedicate 2019 for our sanctification.

To live in a way according to the profession from our mouths.

Seeking to love Christ and his body.

Resolving to be Fit for His Kingdom, not ours.