Christ is the Body

“²²And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV)

It is that simple. We are all part of Christ as He is the head of the church, which is He.

I am reminded that as a member of the family of God, that I am the church. Not some building or some entity. It is the people that are the church and as Christ is the head of the church, He is the head of the body and as a part of the body, He is the whole and therefore Christ is the body.

I know that is a big circle and thought process to follow. I will say that in the past I had a hard time following it myself. I had to break down the parts to make the whole. First, as a follower, I am member of the church and have been given certain gifts and talents to do the work of God. As have others in the family of God. Like the different parts of the body, the hands, feet, head, voice and the like, we all are a vital part of the church.

Second, Christ is the head of the church as noted by Paul in the above verses and passage. My body takes direction from my head to perform tasks. I have to have direction and that direction comes from Christ.

Since I am the body of the church and take my direction from the head of the church, the head of the church rules the body and therefore Christ rules over me and becomes the body.

I am just a small part of the whole and get my direction from Christ. I have to remember that I have give my body as a temple for Christ and He dwells in me and controls my body and that makes him the body.

What is you take on your body in relation to Christ? Have you given yourself as the temple for His use? What if you did and realized that all you do is just Christ doing the work with your body as you are His?

Our Natural and Spiritual Bodies

As I was reading this morning, I could not help but think about what exactly my body would be when I am called to heaven. Yes, I know I will be free of maladies that plague this earthly body of mine, but what will that body be. Paul called out this question in his first letter to the Church at Corinth.

“³⁵But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’” – 1 Corinthians 15:35 (ESV)

His answer to the question is one that bares really thinking about.

“³⁷And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:37-38 (ESV)

So, what we become is based on what we are. Although, before I can become the new, I have to first be done with the old. The grain is done being grain and then it becomes wheat. It is this ending of one that results in the beginning of the other.

I have to remember that his body I have here in this world is meant for this world. My new body is meant for the new world. I have to leave the one behind to transform in to the next.

“⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:44 (ESV)

Before I can look for what I will become, I have to look at what I am and do with it all that I am to do with it. I have to use the body I was given by God in this world to make a difference and then, once I am finished with it (I die) I will then be raised with the new body that God has stored up for me that I might use that body as He intends it to be used.

I have the natural body today and will have the spiritual body tomorrow. Regardless of where I am, I have to remember that God has a plan for me and I should be working that plan in the moment and not concerning myself with what is to come. For what is to come will be here in its time.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

What are your concerns with your body to come? Are you worried as to what you will look like when that time arrives? What if you just lived in the moment with the body given you today knowing that the body He has for you tomorrow will be made for the work He has for you tomorrow?

All Together Now

Have you ever noticed that when you have even the smallest of aches or pains you are preoccupied with them and it makes staying on task just that much more difficult? I know that at the moment, I have what appears to be a case of planters factitious and the pain, even while sitting is immense. As such, I spend a lot of time thinking of and dealing with the pain and not doing other things. This pain is only on the one part of my body, yet drastically impacts the rest of me. The same takes place in the body of Christ.

“¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, yet one body…²⁵that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” – 1 Corinthians 12:19-20 & 25-26 (ESV)

We are all part of the body of Christ. As one of us goes, so goes the rest of us. When one is in pain, the rest of us feel the pain as well and do what we can to help them overcome the pain. When one is celebrating, the rest of us celebrate with them and do what we can to help them enjoy the success.

This concept of caring for one another as one body are not new or difficult to understand. Taking care to perform them and live them out is where things get a little complicated. You see, each of us has our own things that we are working through and the tendency is to take care of me and allow others to take care of everyone else. And I suppose there is some truth to that approach in that how much help will I be if I am constantly trying to deal with my own things.

Here’s the thing that I have to remember. God will take care of His. Yes, I may be dealing with things on my end, yet God will not let me go through those alone. When I make it known, others in the body of Christ will come to my care. I can care for those in need as others care for my needs. We are all in this together as the body of Christ. So, always be looking for how you can care for others and know that you will be cared for as others are looking out for who they may care for.

What is your approach to caring? Are you reluctant to care for others as you have plenty on your own that needs caring for? What if you just placed your trust in God and the body of Christ to care for you as you care for others?

Be as Who You are Trying to Reach

In interacting with others, it is commonplace and advised to “mirror” the person you are interacting with in order to connect with them, empathize with them, and influence them. There is nothing in that approach that says that one is to abandon who they are, or to become someone else. It is only to appear as them to connect and reach them. In our world of spreading the gospel, we are to do the same, be as the ones we are trying to reach for the gospel.

“¹⁹For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (ESV)

Paul makes note of this process as above. In order that he would have a better chance at reaching everyone, he would be as they and meet them where they were. Jesus did the same in His ministry as He went where the sinners were and did not expect that they should come to Him.

It is easy for us to attend church and events that are steeped in the gospel and God’s Word. But, what is that getting us when it comes to spreading the gospel. We are expecting that those who need the gospel are going to come to us so all we have to do is be there when they arrive and claim victory for Christ.

To be more effective, we should be going to those in need. We have to bring the gospel to them and in order to do so, we would need to be as they are to me more easily accepted by them. We cannot be timid and reluctant to do so as Jesus went wherever He was needed and he did not apologize for doing so, even in the times when He was questioned about the approach. He had the answer for those who questioned.

“¹¹And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ ¹²But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’” – Matthew 9:11-13 (ESV)

As Jesus and Paul demonstrate, it is important for us to meet the people where they are. It is also easier to do so when we are as they are when doing so. We have to remember though that we are to be as them, and not change ourselves. We are here to spread the gospel, not be “friends” only and allow them to not hear the gospel. We have to remain disciplined in our faith and our following of Christ so that there is not question as to our motives or actions. Paul knew this as he called out to the Church at Corinth.

“²⁷But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)

Where are you looking to spread the gospel? Are you waiting on the lost to come to you? What if you were to be as the lost and go to them, to be more easily accepted by them, to reach them where they are?

Your Body is not Your Own

I hear a lot in society about “my body”. Whether that is in connection with the choice narrative, or the way we treat it. The thought is that I own it and therefor can do with it what I want. Well according to scripture, our body is not our own.

“¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

Paul reminds us that we are not our own. We have been purchased through the death of Christ as He took on our sin and paid the price so we did not have to. Since we were paid for by Christ, we are therefor His and should be devoting ourselves to Him through our bodies.

There are a lot of things that we do during the day that are not necessarily illegal and yet are sins. Mostly these are outward and do not negatively impact us or our bodies, with the exception of sexual immorality. This is a sin of the body and will impact the body, mind, and soul.

Now I am not going to get into a debate on what is considered sexually immoral as that is defined in God’s Word, but I will say that once it starts, it is hard to stop. The endorphin release in the moment is something that not only affects the body, but the mind and soul as well. Once experienced, it is something that is hard to walk away from. And, as such, it will tend to consume you as you are in a constant search for more of the same.

On top of this addiction, there is the defilement of something that does not belong to you. As our bodies have been paid for by God, it belongs to Him as the temple for Him to dwell. I know that we have taught our boys that they should take extra care for other people’s things and ensure that we leave them better than when we were introduced to them. The consuming nature of the sexual immorality addiction does not give us the sense of caring for the body, we are driven to use it all up as we chase the addiction.

I have to remember that my body is not my own and that I should be working to build it up as opposed to using it up. I have to allow my body to be the temple of the LORD and give Him every opportunity to dwell here in His temple and work in my life. My body is for the LORD and His work.

“¹³’Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:13 (ESV)

What are your thoughts on your body? Are you progressing through life as though the body you have is yours for your pleasure? What if you devoted your body to Christ as it was intended and allowed Him to dwell there and use for His work?

Do Your Part

The story is told that President Kennedy went to NASA and casually asked a janitor what his job was and the janitor answered that he was helping put a man on the moon. Now I do not want to debate the legitimacy of the story, only want to call out the janitor for understanding and doing his part of the whole.

“⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)

Each of us has a talent or gift that was provided by God. And that gift is for a certain purpose. Where it may not feel as though our part is making a huge dent in the overall spreading of the gospel, it is just as important as the others. The janitor knew that his role was just as important as others in the overall goal of putting a man on the moon. I have been tasked with reaching a certain set or even one individual with the gospel. I may not even know that person and that is okay by me. It does not change the goal of reaching everyone with the gospel.

I have to remember to continue to do my part as tasked by the LORD. My small part is just as important as that of those who are more visible like Billy and Franklin Graham, the Pope, and the leaders of great organizations in the faith. My task may simply be to reach those who do not know of those visible. I may be tasked to meat those who have logged onto the internet and do a search for a topic I have studied. I may be simply the one to put the information out there and allowing God to get it to those who need it. Like the janitor, I may be here to pick up all that which seems to have fallen aside and ensure that it gets to where it is supposed to be. I may be here to keep the path clean, making it easier for others to reach those in need. I have to do my part, whatever that part may be.

I know that I have spoken of my role in our church that is still borrowing space. I am one that helps to “tear down” or “clean up” the space we borrow at the end of the day’s services. It is not a glamorous job and frankly, most don’t even know that I am there and have actually done anything. But, like the janitor, my job is important to the ensuring that we do not wear out our welcome in the space so that we are able to continue using that space to spread the gospel. I am there to do my part even when that part does not seem to be that significant to the visual aspect of spreading the gospel.

As members of the body of Christ, we all may have a different function. One may be visible and another not so much. Yet, the goal is still the same, and none of the jobs are of less significance than the other. We all have to do our part for the glory of God.

What is your part? Are you concerned that you are not getting the recognition that you feel you should for the work you do? What if you were to be like the janitor and did your work knowing that it was important in the spreading of the Gospel?

Law of Sin or Law of God

This morning I am continuing my study of the word “body” and was brought to Romans 7. Paul is writing on the law and sin and I am struck by it as he writes in verse 7.

“⁷What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’” – Romans 7:7 (ESV)

It is true that I would not know that sin was even a thing if it had not been pointed out to me. I would have just been able to continue through through this world doing whatever I wanted, as would you, with no thought as to consequences or that anything was even wrong or “wrong”.

But, I was introduced to sin being sin. The LORD gave us the commandments to identify the basic sins and that they should be avoided in this world. As it was introduced, I now know and there is where the struggle lies, knowing and having to avoid, or not.

But Paul points out that there is a way to avoid sin and that is to live a life under God. And we can look at it this way, there is the law of God and the law of sin. The law of God is good and that is what is found in my inner self. This law of sin is of the flesh, or the body, the outer self.

“¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” – Romans 7:18-20 (ESV)

Notice the words of Paul. Sin is a part of the flesh, the body. It is the law of God where we should want to do things and that is found in our inner self, not the body.

“²¹So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²²For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,” – Romans 7:21-22 (ESV)

I have to remember to do what is in the inner self and avoid that which is found in the body, sin. I have to rely on the one who can keep me from the sin and that is the LORD, in all of His greatness. I have obey the law of God.

“²⁵Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” – Romans 7:25 (ESV)

What are your views as relates to the law of God and the law of sin? Are you following the body into sin as you are now aware? What if you were to look to your inner self, away from the body and into the law of God as He delivers you from sin?

Sin and the Mortal Body

It is easy to speak of sin and the body when we are speaking metaphorically. Jesus died so that my sins have been atoned. This gives me the sense that I can still sin and that is okay as that sin has already been taken care of by Jesus. Well, I am writing this morning to declare that not to be the case.

“¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” – Romans 6:12-13 (ESV)

Yes, my sin has been atoned through the death and resurrection of Jesus in my place. Yes, even if/when I sin, those have also already been forgiven. Still, that does not give me carte blanche to just go around sinning without consequence. I am still responsible for following the teaching of God and the example of Jesus. I still have to work to avoid sin. As Paul notes above that we should “not present your member to sin”, I have to remember not o subject my mortal body to sin.

I am not immune to consequences. When I do wrong, I am still responsible to pay for those wrongs. Just as in this world, when I break the law of man, I pay the price for the breaking of that law. With sin it is the same. If I subject myself to committing of sin, I am forgiven for that sin thanks to the blood of Christ, yet I am still responsible for the punishment that comes with the committing of that sin. When I lie and get caught, I am forgiven for lying, yet I am held to the truth as a consequence.

The best approach, as Paul indicates I to not subject myself to sin. I have to work to avoid the conscious committing of sin. I have to stay away, where I can, from sin, and subject myself to righteousness. My writing in the mornings is an example of me avoiding sin and subjecting myself to God and His will in my life. I am filling myself with the study of His Word and as a result am more easily able to avoid the temptations of sin that are all around.

It is great to be a follower of Christ and saved by His grace and free from the burden of sin. I am so relieved to know that my sins, past, present, and future are forgiven. This relief of sin allows me to progress forward, knowing that whatever I do, I am loved and accepted by God into His kingdom. Yet, I have to still do my part and work to avoid sin where I can. I have to remember to not subject myself to the consequences of sin where I am aware. I have to fill myself and my body with the Word, work, and will of God so that sin is rooted out.

What is your approach to sin? Are you progressing as though you have carte blanche to do as you please? What if you worked to avoid sin and instead filled yourself with the Word, work and will of God?

Body of Sin Dies

I am a sinner and that is as true today as it was before I accepted Christ as my Savior. I will continue sinning for the rest of my mortal life. I cannot escape sin as I am surrounded by it and the evil one continues to bombard me with the temptations of sin at every instance. Yet, even that I am a sinner, I have experienced the death of sin with Christ.

“⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” – Romans 6:6 (ESV)

With my acceptance of Christ as my Savior, I have experience death with my old body and have a new self filled with Christ. Sin is the thing that died in my body. I was given new life where I know of the sin that was holding me back and I have a path forward to stay away from that sin and experience life with Christ that is new and full of redemption.

Notice that I have not and will not claim that sin is gone. I am, as noted in my first sentence here, a sinner. I will always be subject to sin, and the evil one will continue attacking me with temptations of sin. The thing is, I now have my eyes open to the sin and have the Holy Spirit with me to guide me from the sin that is presented. I have a path out away from the sin. All I have to do is keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and where I will still be attacked by sin, I have the way to pass right by it.

I have to remember that the way out is through and that way through is with focus on Christ who took my sin upon Himself to make my way easier. Jesus took the road of death for me so that I would not have to take it myself. I am still subject to the sin all around me, yet I have the way through it with my eyes fixed on Him. My body of sin was washed clean and given the newness that was only available from Christ who took on my sin to give me freedom from it.

What is in your body? Are you allowing the sin in your life to rule over you? What if you accepted Christ as your Savior, allowed your body of sin to die, and were to focus on Jesus to allow yourself to go through the sin even as it fully surrounds you?

Fill your Body with Light

This morning I shifted my study to the word “body”, and the first passage reminds me to fill my body with light.

“²²The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” – Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)

In this world today, it is easy to get sucked into the darkness. There are so many outlets that will draw me in that I have to make a conscious effort to avoid them. The internet, social media, news networks, TV and film are all breeding grounds for darkness. Notice all that I have listed above and how they enter our body, through the eyes. It is through the eyes that we are influenced. After all, seeing is believing, right?

It is no wonder that Jesus warns us of that which is infiltrating our bodies through our eyes. I see these two verses as the warning to stick close to the Word of God and avoid the darkness that is working around us. I have to be sure to focus on the good and Godly and avoid the bad and evil where I can.

I have worked hard to keep my focus on the LORD and avoid the idle times in my day. It is in those times of idle that I will find myself engaging in the breeding grounds for darkness. When I am idle, I look for something to “entertain” me and that leads me to the items I listed above, because they are easy engage.

It is so much better, although more difficult, to engage in the LORD as opposed to the societal influences that are perpetrated in the world. I have to remember, when idle, engage in the LORD through His Word. I have to grab my Bible and read. I have to get on my knees and pray. I have to engage in those activities and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Where these are just great opportunities to learn and study God and bring glory to Him, they are also the way to keep light entering my body through my eyes and allowing me the chance to avoid the darkness.

I have to fill my body with light and that is done through the study of God’s Word and keeping active in His work as I avoid the darkness that surrounds me. I have to do as I am right now in studying and writing relating to the Word of God and that keeps me from the darkness and bringing glory to Him and light to me.

What are you allowing into your body through your eyes? Are you allowing yourself to be influenced by all that you see when you are active and/or idle? What if you focused your attention at all times on the Word of God and doing His work and avoiding the influence from the world and the darkness that is presented?