BODY OF CHRIST

1. BODY OF CHRIST is the representation of God in heaven and earth in the likeness of Jesus Christ, “For in him dwelleth all the FULNESS of the GODHEAD BODILY” [Colossians 2:9] The GODHEAD was unveiled before Angels in the FIRSTBEGOTTEN, Jesus Christ, “And again, when he BRINGETH IN THE FIRSTBEGOTTEN into the world, he saith, And LET ALL ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM” [Hebrews 11:6] No Angel had ever seen God, the commandment to WORSHIP Christ was a sore TRIAL OF FAITH; those who obeyed were joined to God in One HEAVENLY BODY, those who denied Him fell, “And the great DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, that old SERPENT, called the DEVIL, and SATAN, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his ANGELS WERE CAST OUT with him” [Revelation 12:9] The FIRSTBEGOTTEN came to us in FLESH and BLOOD, that we, irrespective of race and gender should be joined to God in the BODY OF CHRIST. We are the BODY OF CHRIST on earth, who received Him as the fulness of the GODHEAD and shall in due season be united with the HEAVENLY BODY in One ETERNAL BODY, “For as the BODY IS ONE, and hath MANY MEMBERS, and all the members of that ONE BODY, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.… Now ye are the BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular” [1 Corinthians 12:12-27]

2. BODY OF CHRIST is the assembly of TRUE WORSHIPPERS, “GOD IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must WORSHIP HIM in SPIRIT and in TRUTH” [John 4:24] His BODY is not a religious organization that a man may join by registration or affiliation; valid membership is not in the hands of men to grant but solely by NEW BIRTH, “Being BORN AGAIN, not of CORRUPTIBLE SEED, but of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever” [1 Peter 1:23] The phrase, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN” is not a denominational doctrine and a stumbling block to many through the ages, even the learned. Nicodemus, a man learned in the Law and Prophets as revealed to Israel was none the wiser when confronted with the expression, “.. How can a MAN BE BORN WHEN HE IS OLD? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” [John 3:4] NEW BIRTH is not a gradual experience but as a baby is delivered in one day, so are we BORN AGAIN of the HOLY GHOST. The HOLY GHOST, the SPIRIT of the risen Christ is knocking at the door of your heart right now; if you will confess your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour He will come in, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: IF ANY MAN HEAR my voice, and OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” [Revelation 3:20] If any man has not the SPIRIT of Christ, he is not of the BODY OF CHRIST, “… Now if any man have not the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is none of his” [Romans 8:9]

3. We are the BODY OF CHRIST, many MEMBERS but ONE BODY, according to the PURPOSE of God in Jesus Christ, “To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING the WORLD unto HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” [2 Corinthians 5:19] As God was in Jesus Christ, so is He in us by His SPIRIT, we are His BODY and many MEMBERS; as members of a man’s body work to fulfil his purpose, so does God in us to accomplish His Eternal PURPOSE, “For it is GOD which WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of HIS GOOD PLEASURE” [Philippians 2:13] We are the BODY OF CHRIST who have yielded our lives to serve God in the manner of Jesus Christ, who was OBEDIENT to the end in the face of cruel death, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross” [Philippians 2:8] We are the BODY OF CHRIST not by confession only but also of SACRIFICE, saying goodbye to whatever we ever wished to be to become a LIVING SACRIFICE, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, … PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” [Romans 12:1] We are ONE BODY, each MEMBER bearing his own share of present suffering fully assured on unrivaled glory at His appearance, “If WE SUFFER, we SHALL ALSO REIGN with him: if we DENY HIM, he also will DENY US” [2 Timothy 2:12]

4. BODY OF CHRIST is according to FOREKNOWLEDGE of God, “For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of his SON, that he might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren” [Romans 8:29] FOREKNOWLEDGE is not PREDESTINATION; God gave all men FREE WILL and KNEW before we were born who would take His offer of SALVATION in Jesus Christ. In like manner, He FOREKNEW the Angels that would accept the FIRSTBEGOTTEN, that we and them should be joined to Him as ONE in the “… general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are WRITTEN IN HEAVEN, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” [Hebrews 12:23] We are all offsprings of God and demonstrated His LOVE for us in sending HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that in Christ we should be reconciled to Him, “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE” [John 3:16] We are the BODY OF CHRIST yet we groan in this earthly body as the world is tossed from calamity to another, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1 Corinthians 2:9] God LOVES you, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen