We Are The Body of Christ - Part 1

The Church: The Body of Christ

Series: Body Life

Ephesians 1:15-22

The church of Jesus Christ is under much attack today. Please believe me when I tell you the liberal left wing elements of society would like nothing better but to silence the church's voice on moral and social issues. There is an ever escalating spiritual war taking place and in America there is a manifested cultural war taking place, and Bible believing churches are the primary target for the forces of darkness that dominate our society and this present world system.

However, the greatest threat to the church does not come from the external attacks we encounter from the:

*liberal media

*liberal judicial system

*liberal, satanic inspired social activists

Jesus said, "The gates of hell would not prevail against His church."  (Matt. 16:18)

The greatest threat to the church has always been internal forces of: 

*apathy

*false teaching

*division

Never does a church die from external dangers.  Churches die always because of internal disintegration.

I want to begin a mini-series of messages on The Church.  I have entitled this series "Body Life."  And our goal is three-fold.

1. To elevate every believer's love and appreciation for the church.  Eph. 5:25 says "Christ loved the church and gave himself for it."

2. To help every believer recognize the privileges and responsibilities that are his/hers as members of Christ's glorious church.

3. Encourage every member to discover their God-given, God-gifted ministry with the church.

4. To lead the church to live and function as a Body of Christ rather than a lifeless business.

This Morning... I want to lay the foundation for our study beginning in Eph. 1:15-22, as we look to the scriptures for understanding concerning what it means for the church to be the Body of Christ.

Text Eph. 1:15-22

Something you will hear me say repeatedly is this:

1. The church is a living Body not a lifeless business.

2. The church is a living organism not a lifeless organization.

Now, this does not mean that a church is not to conduct it's affairs in good business-like manner.  Nor does it mean the church is not to have organization and structure.  A church must have these BUT they are what we do not what we are.

And we must be extremely careful never to lose sight of what we are and allow functions to be our primary focus.

Ex: I have seen churches where the entire membership shows up for every business meeting.  The people are worried about the business of the church ... 

BUT

Try to get some of those same members to:

*visit a hospital

*visit a shut-in

*minister to a family in crises

*contact a prospect

*go on soul-winning visitation

And they don't have time or interest in such trivial things.

I am afraid that the average church membership today is far more interested in "Business Meetings" than "Body Ministry."

I am asking God to help us be most interested in "Body Ministry."

Now, as we begin to lay a biblical, theological foundation for our study of "Body Life" let me point your attention to four foundational, biblical, theological truths related to "The Church, The Body Of Christ."

I.THE MYSTERY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (V. 22)

II.THE MANIFESTATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (V. 22)

III.THE MANAGER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (V. 22)

IV.THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (V. 23)

 I.THE MYSTERY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST (V. 22-23)

Note: In the book of Ephesians Paul uses 3 metaphors to describe the church:

1. Eph. 1:22-23 - The Church is the Body of Christ

2. Eph. 2:19-22 - The Church is the Building of Christ

3. Eph. 5:25-27 - The Church is the Bride of Christ

And six times in the six chapters of Ephesians, Paul refers to, "The Mystery" of the church or of the gospel.

Now the question is this:  "How is the church a mystery?"

Let me tell you 2 reasons why Paul refers to the church as a mystery.

A. Two Reasons The Church Is A Mystery

1. The church is a mystery because of it's parenthesis in history.

a. The church, as the Body of Christ, was a mystery because it was not foreseen by the Old Testament writers.

b. The church age is like a blind spot in the mirror of Old Testament prophecy.

c. You see, the Old Testament clearly prophesies the coming of Messiah and the coming of the kingdom, but the church age (which lies between the two) is not prophesied. Therefore, it is called a "mystery" (a previously hidden truth that is now divinely revealed).

d. "The church is not in the Old Testament." (W. A. Criswell, Great Doctrines of the Bible, Vol. 3, Ecclesiology, p.35 Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel)

e. Theologians call the church age the "great parenthesis" of human history, because it is like an unforeseen parenthesis in holy history.

f. It is unpredicted space of time that occurs between Daniel's 69th and 70th week.

2.The church is a mystery because of it's population.

Read Eph. 3:1-7

a. The great mystery of the church, that Old Testament saints never understood was that Jews and Gentiles would become one in the Body of Christ.

b. In the church, the Body of Christ, there is no distinction between:

*Jew or Gentile

*male or female

*bond or free (Gal. 3:28)

f. This is what makes the church so great--people from all walks of life come together in sweet love, fellowship and harmony, because we are one body in Christ!

Conclusion of Point: As the Body of Christ, the church is a mystery. It is a mystery because:

*it's parenthesis in history

*it's population (Jew and Gentile are all one Body in Christ.)

II. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

Note: Eph. 1:22-23 tells us the church is the Body of Christ.  That is, the church is Christ's physical, visible, viable presence on earth.  When He ascended back to heaven, He ascended bodily.  However, He did not leave the world without a bodily presence.  He left His church on earth--which is now His visible, bodily presence on earth.

A. The Church Manifests Christ's presence on 2 levels. 

1. There is the church universal and the church local.

There is the inclusive church and the institutional church.

There is the invisible church and the visible church.

There is the church mysterious and the church manifested.

2. The church exists on a universal, invisible inclusive, mysterious level.  It includes:

*all believers

*from all walks of life

*from all areas

*from all ages in the body of Christ.

1 Cor. 12:12-13  "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ."  (13)"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

3.The church also is manifested on a local, visible, institutional, manifested level:

*local assemblies

*visible congregations

*organized, institutionalized groups of believers

Ex: Faith Fellowship Church is a local, visible, organized institutionalized manifestation of the Body of Christ.

4. So all believers of all times are the Body of Christ and also each local assembly is the Body of Christ.

5. We are baptized into the Body of Christ.  Universal, by God's spirit when we are saved,

AND we are responsible, then, as believers to connect ourselves with a local assembly of believers and join the Body of Christ.

Robert Godfrey makes a good point when he says:  "Many Christians today seem to assume that all God requires is a relationship to the universal church that occurs automatically for the believer.  In other words, it is often said that "the church is people." Hence, belonging to the church means belonging to Christ, not to an institution. That is, however, not true. The Bible is clear that Christians are also required to be part of the life of the institutional church, particularly the life of the local church, which God Himself has brought into being and structured by His Word."

6. I have a hard time with these folks that say, "I don't believe in being a member of a local Body of Believers. I am a member of the universal, mysterious Body of Christ at large."     

Note: I want to say to them, "Okay, you go call the universal, mysterious, invisible Body of Christ at large when:

*you want to get married

*a family member dies

*you want a hospital visit

*you need financial assistance

*you need pastoral counseling

Conclusion of Point:  The Manifestation Of The Body Of Christ.  The Body of Christ is manifested on two levels:

*the universal, invisible level

*the local, institutional level

III. THE MANAGER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

A. Christ Is The Head Of The Church.

Eph. 1:22-23  "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church."  (23)"Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

This same concept is repeated twice more in Ephesians.

Eph. 4:15  "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Eph. 5:23  "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior."

Col. 1:18  "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

Note: Since the church is a Body it needs a head.  No "body" can function without a head.

1. This means that Jesus Christ rules over His church.  He is in charge.

Note: The church is not an organization run by people ... it is an organism run by it's Head, Jesus Christ.

The church is not a democracy governed by the masses ...it is a theocracy governed by the Master, Jesus Christ.

A. There Are Two Beautiful Truths To Be Understood Concerning Christ's Headings Over His Church.

1. As head of His church, Christ is connected to His church.

a. The symbolism of Head and Body being

 a. In the physical realm, all bodily functions are controlled directly by the head--both voluntary and involuntary functions.  The head controls it all.

b. As head of His church, Christ is in control.

c. This church is Christ's church and He has the right to govern His church.

Col. 1:18 says it this way  "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

Note: The word "supremacy or preeminence (KJV) comes from proteuo.  It means to be in first position, is first priority.

Note: This truth has a tremendous impact on how we make decisions and operate.  Our goal is to never, ever be this:  "Give everyone an opportunity to express their opinion, then vote, and the majority rules.  Our goal must be to come together and by prayer, fasting and the Word of God, discover the mind of Christ and do it!

d. Remember, the church is not to be a democracy ... it is a theocracy!

CHRIST RULES SUPREMELY OVER ALL!

e. On a practical level, this should suggest that we spend less time in "business meeting or "committee meetings," and more time in "prayer meetings."

Conclusion of Point:  The Manager of the Church. used to describe Christ's relationship with His church indicates there is a living, vital connection between Him and His church.

b. There is a living connection between Christ and His church and between Christ and you as individual members of His church.

c. No body can live or function when disconnected from it's head.

Ex: When I was a kid we would often spend an entire day killing chickens, cleaning them and putting them in the freezer.  Whenever you cut a chicken's head off, the body would flop all over the yard--going nowhere, just flopping.

I see a lot of churches in this same condition.  They have been disconnected from their head, and they are just flopping and floundering around in:

*moral relativism

*social activism

*theological liberalism

d. But through the Holy Spirit all true believers and all true churches are vitally connected to Christ in a life giving union.

2. As head of His church, Christ controls His church.

Jesus Christ is the manager of the church because:

He is the head of the church.

Christ alone is the life of the church.

Christ alone is the Lord of the church.

IV.THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE CHURCH

A. The Lord Jesus Has Exalted The Church To Share In His Glory.

Eph. 1:22-23  "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church."  (23)"Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

1. Notice V. 23 says the church, His body, is the fullness of Him, who fills everything in every way.

2. The church is the "fullness of Christ!"

John MacArthur comments saying, "The church is the fullness or complement (pleroma) of Christ. As a head must have a body to manifest the glory of that head, so the Lord must have the church to manifest His glory (3:10). Jesus Christ is the only One for whom the word incomparable truly applies; yet in a thrilling and securing wonder, He has chosen us to display His incomparable majesty. We are guaranteed to come to glory in order that we might forever manifest His praise." 

The incomparable Christ is incomplete until the church, which is his body, is complete. Jesus Christ is fills all in all, giving His fullness to believers. But in God's wisdom and grace, believers, as the church, are also the fullness of Him. (John MacArthur, Ephesians, p. 49)

John Calvin said, "This is the highest honor of the church that until He is united to us, the Son of God reckons Himself in some measure incomplete. What consolation it is for us to learn that not until we are in His presence does He possess all His parts, nor does He wish to be regarded as complete." (John MacArthur, Ephesians, p. 49)

3. This is a message that needs to be broadcast today, because we are living in a day when the church is under increasing attack.  It is criticized maligned and devalued.  But the church is the Body of Christ:

*He loves His church

*He protects His church

*He sanctifies His church

4. I never mean to suggest that the church is without flaw.  No church is perfect because it is made up of so many imperfect members.

Eph. 1:9-10 Paul says, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

c. Before Christ the Jews and Gentiles were sworn enemies, they hated each other.  But in Christ they become blood brothers.

d. This is the most incomprehensible mystery of all the ages--how God could take:

*Jews and Gentiles

*males and females

*rich and poor

*black and white

*strong and weak

*big and small people, and bond them together as one loving, thriving, unified body.

e. What a marvelous, mysterious miracle--how God can take all sorts of people from all walks of life and bring them together in one body, through His Son the Lord Jesus.

5. However, the Lord Jesus loves His church and He is perfecting His church and preparing His church for glorification with Him.

6. For instance, no believer is yet perfect, we fail and stumble, but Christ still loves us and continues His sanctifying work within us.  The same thing is true of believers corporately.  No corporate body of believers is perfect BUT Christ still loves His churches and works in them and through them to bring glory to Himself.

Conclusion:

The church is the Living Body of the Living Lord Jesus Christ.  We've talked about:

I.THE MYSTERY OF THE BODY

II.THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE BODY

III.THE MANAGER OF THE BODY

IV.THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE BODY

Question:  

*Are you a viable part of the body of Christ?

*Have you been baptized into the body of the spirit of God through the New Birth?

*Are you a member of a local body of believers?

*Are you investing your life in a local body of believers through an active, spirit empowered ministry?