Sunday, 29 August 2021
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30).
There’re some who see the Church as a Gentile nation that got some “second-class” salvation from God. Those who hold such erroneous beliefs about the Church don’t understand the mystery of the Church.
The reason some people don’t understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ about the Church is that the Old Testament, which is what they hold on to, doesn’t explain the revelation of the Church. It was a mystery; it wasn’t revealed to the Old Testament prophets. So, the experts in Judaism don’t know anything about the Church, even though the prophets testified of salvation of Gentiles. To learn about the Church, you’d have to study from the gospels (from the words of Jesus Himself) and then into the epistles where the revelation of the Church as the Body of Christ was unveiled.
Ephesians 2:16-17 says, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” In other words, God preached peace and reconciliation to both the Jews and the Gentiles and brought them together in one body called the Church! It’s a new body made up of people from among the two groups: Jews and Gentiles. However, to be in this body, you must be born again, whether you’re a Jew or you’re a Gentile.
Neither of the two groups is inferior to the other. Our opening verse says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” It doesn’t get closer than that! The Church is His body. And when He said, “...I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18), He was talking about the body of Christ, and that’s you and me, all our brothers and sisters around the world; we’re the expressions of His reality, of His fullness, His grace, glory, kingdom, power and personality. We’re His body! Glory to God!
CONFESSION: I’m a member of the body of Christ, the expression of His reality, His grace, glory, kingdom, power and personality! He’s my completeness. What an honour it is to be the expression of His fullness! I carry His life and divinity in me — spirit, soul and body — because I’m a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones! Praise God.
FURTHER STUDY:
Galatians 3:27-28; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Colossians 3:10-11
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 13 & Proverbs 1-2
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 19:28-40 &1 Samuel 17