The Church is The Body of Christ
THE CHURCH - 1 Corinthians 12
Jesus is the head of the body, the church. Christ is the foundation, cornerstone, and He is the head of His church. He's the head of the local church. And He is the head of the church in all-inclusive in a broader sense, Including all born again blood washed, spirit baptized believers in heaven on earth.
The church is more than a religious organization. It is an Organism. Which Christ as the living head. It is alive with the life of Christ made living in each member. Let us examine briefly the church and observe its role in the body of Christ.
- The members of the body are given spiritual gifts according to the will of the Holy Spirit (vs:1-11)
- The unity of the body is seen in in its many members the different operations and all related and coordinated under one head (vs.12)
- Were baptized by one spirit into one body (vs.13)
- There is one Holy Spirit
- There is one Holy Spirit baptism
- There is one body (the church)
This is the church in its broadest sense. Can I join this church? The only way to become a member of His body is to be spiritually born, (John 3:1-7) Baptized into it by the Holy Spirit.
- The members differ one from other, Yet they function as one in the will of God (1 Cor. 12:14-18)
- The least or weakest member is necessary for the proper function of the whole body (vs.22-23)
- If one member suffers, the whole body suffers, if one here's honored all are honored (vs.26)
- The members are to desire the best spiritual gifts, and minister in love (vs.31)
The Lord Jesus Christ has never delegated his authority to anyone. Whether he is the Pope, pastor, deacon or the majority of the church congregation he is head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22) The only absolute and final authority.
The Church: It’s Organization: A qualified witness is one who is:
- Established in the faith. To be established in the faith is to be rooted and grounded in God's word. In 1 Peter 3 verse 15, Peter said that we “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that he is thank you, with meekness and fear”
The 15 master outline studies in the Christian life New Testament were prepared to help establish us in the faith. Study them, carry this Christian life new testament with you, And take advantage of every opportunity to ponder a portion of one of the great doctrines. They will give you a foundation on which to build a strong faith (2 Tim.3:16-17).
- The Saved knows it. I know that I am saved because God tells me so in his word and God cannot lie. We have:
- The witness of this spirit (Romans 8:16)
- The witness of the word (1John 5:13)
- The witness of saving faith. “He who believe in the son of God not the witness in himself” (1 John 5:9-10)
- Separated. Paul said that he was separated to the gospel of God (Romans 1:1-16) This is positive separation and Paul analyzed it as follows
- A holy desire to share spiritual gifts - verse 11
- A holy purpose to bear fruit – verse 13
- A holy obligation to pay a spiritual debt – verse 14
- A holy eagerness to share the gospel – verse 15
- A holy boldness to exalt the cross – verse16
To be separated unto the gospel is to share the good news with the lost
- He loved the Holy Ghost be filled with the spirit (Eph. 5:18) We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Evidence of this spirit filled life is seen in the early Christians
- They spoke the word of God with boldness – Acts 4:31
- They witness with great power – Acts 4:33
- They witness with great grace – Acts 4:33
- They shared their wealth -Acts 4:34-37
- They worshipped in unity – Acts 2:42-47
- They suffered persecution – Acts 8:1-4
- They glorified and tribulation – Romans 5:3
- They sang in prison – Acts16:25
- Their love and prayed for the executioners – Acts7-54-60
- They rejoiced to suffer shame for his name – Acts 5:41
They were accused of:
- Filling Jerusalem with the gospel – Acts 5:28
- Turning the world upside down – Acts 17:6
The 120 spirit-filled Christians witnessed on the day of Pentecost and the people were:
- Astonished: that is, they were mentally arrested – Acts 2:6
- Amazed, that is, they were mentally challenged. – Acts 2:7
- Marveling, that is, they stood in mental awe – Acts 2:7
- Mocking, that is, some mentally rejected – Acts 2:13
- Inquiring, that is, some mentally acted – Acts 2:37
On the day of Pentecost 3000 acted as evidence by repentance in baptism while others mocking the weakness of those spirit filled believers.
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