One Body In Christ
In Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Over the last several Sunday’s we have been looking through the New Testament and have been examining the theme “In Christ” by looking at the many different passages wherein the phrase “in Christ” is found.
Up to the point we have looked at many different aspects of what it means to be “in Christ” such as…
The type of faith that is in Christ.
The blessings of redemption in Christ.
What it means to be alive in Christ.
The freedom we have in Christ.
The unwavering love of God in Christ.
That brings us to today where we will be examining what it means to be “One Body In Christ.”
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Today I thought it would be prudent to use the word “ONE” as an acrostic to point out what it biblically means to be “One Body In Christ.”
With that in mind let’s examine our lesson for today.
Only Body
Only Body
Body = Church.
Body = Church.
Since the 1500’s there has been a concerted effort to eradicate the truth concerning the body and the church being one and the same.
After all you cannot have thousands of churches when the Bible clearly says there is “one body.”
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
The argument, as you all know, goes something like this…
“Christ is the head of the body and each individual denomination makes up the different ‘parts of the body.’”
However, like most false doctrines this isn’t even a challenge to prove its falsehood.
When it comes to Ephesians 4:4 we don’t even have to go outside of this particular book to find the truth, the body and the church are the same.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
This isn’t the only place that suggests the body and the church are the exact same thing, we also find it in the letter to the Colossian church.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Summary
Summary
So there should we, the church, should have no problem saying the church that Christ established and that belongs to him, the church of Christ therefore, is the “one and only body or church.”
This isn’t suggesting that just because one has the name “church of Christ” in their name or on their building that they are the “one true body or church of Christ” because that name only means something if it is made up of Christians or those that actually are disciples of Christ.
This means that to be part of the “one body in Christ” or “Christians” we must all be…
Narrow-minded
Narrow-minded
Legalistic
Legalistic
There has been a false narrative out there for a long time suggesting that anyone that is “narrow-minded” concerning God’s word is legalistic.
Before going on, let me define the term narrow minded and legalistic.
Being narrow-minded means: “having restricted or rigid views and being unreceptive to new ideas. 1
Being legalistic means: “of or relating to legalism.” 2
Legalism means: “Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code.” 3
First, why should the “one and only church in Christ” be narrow-minded considering that definition? “Having restricted or rigid views and being unreceptive to new ideas.”
The one true church of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ expects us to be narrow-minded or whole focused on his word and his word only.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
Secondly, why should the “one and only church of Christ” be legalistic considering that definition? “overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code.”
The one truth church of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ expects us to be legalistic toward his word.
The idea that the Pharisees were legalistic is preposterous because they were not strict or rigid with God’s word, they were strict and rigid with their “book of traditions” that added to or took away from God’s word making God’s word void.
6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Summary
Summary
The “one and only body in Christ” must be narrow-minded or not willing to listen to that which is not found in God’s word.
The “one and only body in Christ” must then be legalistic as well because we must be strict and rigid concerning that word that comes from above.
This means we, the church the body of Christ, must be…
Earnest
Earnest
Serious & Intent.
Serious & Intent.
There is no doubt that peace and joy over flows for those in Christ.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
However, in that joy and peace there must reside an earnest mental state.
The life of those that are a part of the one body in Christ must be mentally be serious and intent.
To be a disciple of Christ and one that is a part of the body of Christ we must be fervently focused on our walk with God.
We must be earnestly focused on the straight path of the Lord.
10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
We must be earnestly focused on always improving.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
We must be earnestly focused on our hope of the gospel or good news of Christ.
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Summary
Summary
The “one and only body in Christ” must earnestly or seriously and intently be focused on the goal of living for God and finishing the race.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The “one body in Christ” is the only church which belongs to Christ, it is narrow-minded toward all but God’s word, and earnestly focuses on the what lies ahead and beyond this life.
There is no greater blessing, this side of heaven, than being in “the one body in Christ.”
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Endnotes
Endnotes
Narrow-minded definition taken from “yourdictionary.com”
Ibid
Ibid