Jesus lives in the
members of the church, and the church is his body in this age.
Jesus lives in the
members of the church, and the church is his body in this age.
A good understanding of this Biblical truth is essential to the Christian way of life that we are to live, and without such an understanding we can never be one. An excellent place to start is with Jesus' prayer as recorded in the Gospel of John.
John 17:1-26 (summary and excerpts)
(I will let you find these verses in your own Bible, or you can go to this on-line Bible. That way most of this page can be devoted to explaining the significance of this passage.
John 17 is a prayer of Jesus. Keep in mind that when Jesus prayed aloud like this, it was "for the record" and for the benefit of the both the listener and the reader. For another example and illustration of Jesus praying aloud for the benefit of the hearer, see John 11:4, 41-43, when Jesus prayed and Lazarus was raised from the dead.)
John 17:1-5: (Here Jesus speaks, in prayer, of his impending death, and prays that he will now be glorified with the glory that he possessed formerly, when he was in heaven. Even so, his prayer is that his own glorification will result in the glorifying of the Father (vs. 1).
Christ lives in all true Christians, and glorifies the Father even today as we allow him to work his inspired works through us.)
John 17: 6 - 8 Jesus says here, "I have manifested your name unto the men that you gave me out of the world...." (vs. 6)
(The original Greek word that was inspired here is very important to the understanding of this statement. The word is ephaneroosa , and means, in essence, "to uncover, to make visible, reveal." Jesus "manifested" the Father's "name" to certain people.
God's "name" is much more than a "name" as it applies to a human being. A person's name is used for identification. God has many "names". He also has a unique name that no other being can claim, even in a limited sense. That unique name is represented in the Old Testament by four Hebrew letters that are approximated in English by the letters YHWH. This is variously translated as Yahweh, or Jehovah, in some translations, and many times as LORD or GOD (in capital letters) in the King James Version of the Bible. A shortened version of the word, in Hebrew "Yah", is often used. It means "I am", or "The Self-existent One." In other words, it identifies God as the one and only self-existent and eternal being. All other life comes from God, but only God is self-existent.
God has many other names besides Yahweh, or Jehovah. Some of his names denote what he does, some show mankind how he should be viewed or regarded or understood, and all of his names tell us something about his nature. Some names, such as the Hebrew El and Elohim , indicate living power. He possesses the names El-elyon - "Most High God," and El Shaddai - "Almighty God," and other names that identify him as healer and savior.
In reality, all these and the many others found in the Bible can be rightly called "names" of God. But they also can, altogether, be called "the name" of God. The name of God reveals the very nature and person of God. In the name, "Jesus Christ", God is revealed as "Savior" ("Jesus"), while the person Jesus is revealed as "The Anointed" ("Christ"). Being fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ is revealed as "Immanuel", which means "God with us."
The person, Jesus, revealed to mankind the nature and essence of God. He did this through both his works and his spoken words!
His words were the Father's words. And his works were the Father's unspoken words, the word of God in action. That is why Jesus is revealed as "the Word", earlier, in John 1:14. His life as the person, Jesus, was God's word incarnate - in the flesh.
Jesus has not changed his mode of operation. He is still God's word incarnate - in the flesh. But this time he lives in the flesh of every man, woman and child who has the Spirit of God, that Spirit which is Christ in them. This is the essence of his church. That is why the church is called "the Body of Christ!"
The church is intended to manifest God to the world. It is supposed to be the visible presence of God, walking among men. Even as Jesus Christ was dwelling in a body of flesh and blood before his crucifixion, so he is even now, after his resurrection.)
John 17: 9-10 (Here Jesus says that we belong to God and to him, and that he, Jesus, is glorified in us! Jesus must be always glorified in his people. All that the church does must glorify Jesus, and Jesus must be glorified at all times! Otherwise, obviously, the church would not accurately represent Christ to the world at all. If it does not accurately portray Christ in us as one body, it bears false witness!
We can't just declare that we are "one in Spirit", and think that that is good enough! Jesus Christ was always one in Spirit with God the Father, but it did not stop there. He demonstrated that oneness in his life! And we, his people, are to be one, even as he and the Father are one, not some other way. Jesus did not go about openly disagreeing with and arguing with his Father. His oneness with the Father was readily apparent to every onlooker. It is visible oneness that bears witness to the world in Spirit and in truth, that God's people are one in Christ.)
John 17: 11-19 (Now Jesus' prayer begins to address the task that we, his called out ones, are being given. He says that he "is no more in the world, but these (we, his people) are in the world...." He says that we are, however, no longer " of the world," we are no longer like everyone else around us. Rather, he says, he has sanctified himself so that we might be sanctified through the truth.
"Sanctified" just means "set apart" (for a holy purpose). We are set apart for a holy purpose. One part of that holy purpose is to be a witness to the world that we are miraculously indwelled by Jesus Christ himself, through the Holy Spirit, and that we have a oneness that can only be explained by supernatural means. It is meant to demonstrate to others where God is...where he has "put his hand," his stamp of approval. It is meant to set the "true religion" apart from all false religious beliefs, to be a beacon of light in a world of darkness and confusing options.
False religions beckon from every side. Only one religion is the true religion, dating back to creation itself, and given to mankind from God himself to lead us to salvation. The church is supposed to be the light that mankind can see and come to, the place where they can be nourished and nurtured with true spiritual food. Where they can experience the love of God in action, and worship and praise him in a peaceful and loving body of believers. The church is intended to be the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ, and, as such, it is to be a visible manifestation of God to all mankind. One Body.
Earlier, Jesus made a great and profound proclamation..."I am the way, the truth, and the life...!" (John 14:6). It is because of this that the church is set apart from the world, no longer of the world, and always faithfully manifesting Jesus (as God) in us and through us...at least that is the way it is supposed to work. People are called to the Body of Christ, to be the called out ones, his church, because that is where he lives.
Those he calls are to be a part of a living organism, and be the members of the Body that manifests the way, the truth, and the life. The church is the very manifestation of God himself, revealing him to mankind, even as he did in the person, Jesus. As Jesus was the Body of Christ on the earth, so now the church is the Body of Christ on the earth. As Jesus worked then, so he intends to work now. We are now his body.)
John 17: 20-23 (Jesus makes plain here that he is not praying for the apostles alone, or even just the ancient church, but for all those who will believe on him through their word. You and I believe on him through their word. These men were faithful witnesses whose words were used to lead the first "New Covenant" believers to Christ. Those same words are still words of life to all who will believe.
Then Jesus goes on to say that the reason he is praying for the apostles, and for those who will believe through their word (including present day Christians), is so that we all may be one, even as Jesus and the Father are one. The way that Jesus and the Father are one is that they are "in" one another. We are described in many scriptures as being "in" Christ, and Christ is also described as being "in" us. It should be plain to see that God intends for all his people, together as ONE in him, to accurately reflect Jesus Christ, and we know that Jesus Christ always accurately reflects the Father!
He also says here that the reason we are to be one is so that the world may believe that Jesus has been sent of God. Our unity in God and Christ is to be supernatural proof that Jesus is the Messiah, sent from God, and that he is alive and well today, living in his people. Do you see what I am saying, brothers and sisters in Christ? May God help us to grasp this oft repeated Biblical truth!
Over and over and over, throughout the portion of the Bible that we call the New Covenant, this unity is taught and preached in many ways, so that there would be no doubt in the minds of believers that this is not some vaporous ethereal concept of some "invisible church" that is somehow "one" in the Spirit, while some of it's members are obviously and openly at each other's throats, many "shunning" entire denominations, and others just simply ignoring one another.
Some will say that Christ cannot be divided, so therefore the church is not divided in God's eyes. I would answer that Christ, in the Spirit, is not divided. I would agree that is a ludicrous concept. But Christ in the flesh can definitely be divided. Why else would Paul have to say to the Romans to "...mark those who cause divisions..." (Romans 16:17), and beseech the Corinthians that there "...be no divisions among you..." (1 Cor. 1:10), and tell them that there are divisions among them (1 Cor. 3:3). As Jesus' flesh could be wounded and crucified 2000 years ago, so his flesh can still be wounded and torn asunder in the sight of all the world. This dividing of his Body brings shame to his very name!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, enough is enough! We have no more excuses! ("But, John, this is impossible. But, John! We have too many differences!) NO! With God ALL things are possible! We need to quit looking to others to lead us to unity. We must raise the banner of oneness, and march there ourselves!)
John 17:24-26 (Jesus further expresses his will that we be with him where he is. Jesus states that the world has not known the Father, but Jesus has now revealed the Father to them, and will continue to declare him! Jesus has revealed the Father, and continues to reveal the Father. The context here is speaking of those who have believed on him. Those people now become one body, as a witness that Jesus dwells in them, and that he is indeed the Messiah. As a result, the Messiah reveals the Father to others because God dwells in us, and the character and love of God is revealed through us to the world, and the very love of God multiplies in us as we learn of the Father's love for us. ("We love him (i.e., God), because he first loved us. If a man say, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he that doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:19-20)
As this happens, as this love of God grows in us and flows outward through us to one another and to the world, we become more like God, and grow to be "perfect in one" (vs. 23). As we understand the depth of God's love toward us, we can return his love back toward him, and we can allow his love to flow on through us to our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as to all the world. The Body of Christ acts as a witness to the world that God loves them. Thus the effectiveness of our evangelism is multiplied with great power.)
Romans 12:4-5 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another."
(The context here is about presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, about being changed by the renewing of our mind, about not thinking too highly of ourselves as individuals, and about Christians having different gifts to be used in the Body. The Body of Christ is intended to be one body, with all the gifts, rather than many denominational bodies, largely divided according to gifts. We sacrifice our body, our former worldly way of thinking, and any tendencies for self-aggrandizement, to become part of Christ's body.)1 Corinthians 12:4-25 (summary and excerpts)
(Read the larger context here to get the full meaning of these verses. In the preceding chapter, Paul addresses divisions in the church. He explains how sharing the communion bread and wine is sharing the body and blood of Christ. In chapter 12, he then addresses spiritual gifts, pointing out that there are diversities of gifts, but only one Spirit and one Lord. In chapter 13, Paul writes that all gifts, as well as all attempted acts of righteousness, are nothing unless love is the motivation. In chapter 14, Paul goes on to describe how the Body of Christ is to function by all members using their spiritual gifts, working together in peace and harmony, doing all things "decently and in order" - 1 Cor. 14:40.)
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (Some spiritual gifts are enumerated in these verses. Note verses 5 and 6: "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord, and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works in all." Some have attempted to lift these verses out of context to prove that denominational divisions are justified by Biblical reference here. The "differences of administrations" refers to administration on different levels of the church, and "diversities of operations" refers to the various operations of the church. There is nothing here that authorizes official schisms and denominational apartheid.)
1 Corinthians 12:12-25 "For as the body is one, but has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." (v.12) This plainly says that the body is one, even as Christ is one. We cannot pretend that this is true "spiritually" for the "invisible church," but not applicable to the visible church. This is not some high-sounding theological statement with no practical application in the "real world," as some would insist. Remember, Paul is addressing schisms and divisions in the visible church at Corinth, and these verses were passed down to us today to be applied to, and correct, all similar situations.
He is not telling the church at Corinth that it is alright to persist in their schism, and to perhaps divide into denominations so they can worship together only with those that they can "get along with." Rather, he is telling them, and in no uncertain terms, the error of divisions, the reason we must be unified, and the way to do it.
He tells the Corinthian church that the body is not one member, but many (v.14). Each member is identified by their spiritual gift, but is instructed to recognize that the other members, even those not sharing their particular gift, are still members of the body. These words of correction would apply to denominations that are fixated on their one special gift, and insist that all other members must have that gift or they are not members at all. "...the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor can the head say to the feet, 'I have no need of you'" (v.21). "....that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another" (v.25).
If Christians would carefully read these verses in context, putting aside for a moment our personal biases and prejudices, we would do much to lay the doctrinal foundation for unity, and be able to begin to build upon it.
We have different spiritual gifts, but we are not to divide along the lines of whatever gifts that we may (or may not) possess. I think this applies especially to the charismatic/non-charismatic rift. Let me plug an inexpensive booklet that is written by a charismatic leader and author, Harold R. Eberle. It addresses this subject well, and is entitled, "You Shall Receive Power: Moving Beyond Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology." Give his organization a call at (509) 248-5837 for the latest prices and ordering information.)
1 Thessalonians 4:8 "He therefore that rejects (i.e., rejects his brother, see context), rejects not man, but God, who has also given to us his Holy Spirit."
(God dwells in all Christians. The church is the Body of Christ. If we reject, or despise, a brother, then we are rejecting God, not just the person in whom he dwells. There is no provision for rejecting a brother because of our doctrinal disputations. We are not required to share the same doctrinal beliefs with our Christian brothers and sisters, but we must not reject them. We don't need to be "soft on truth" to accept, and not reject, other Christians. In other words, it's perfectly o.k. to think that another Christian is wrong in doctrinal matters. It is even o.k. to work hard at convincing other Christians that they are wrong. We can accept a brother as a brother, without accepting his every doctrinal belief as our own.)Ephesians 5:29-32 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
(Paul tells the church at Ephesus that the marriage institution was made to be a common, but lower level, illustration of Christ's relationship to the church. We can see that we are, altogether and collectively, his body, his flesh, his bones. We are his physical body, and he dwells in us in the Spirit.
That physical body is torn and wounded today, a fact that is obvious to the unbelieving onlooker. This blatant defect turns many away from the Body of Christ, because it makes it too difficult for them to see the reality of Christ in his church.
Notice verse 32: (please bear with me while I use emphasis on certain phrases here to clarify a very important truth.) "This is a great mystery , but I speak concerning Christ and the church "! Now notice Colossians 1:24-27, where Paul writes of the purpose of his ministry: "Even now I rejoice in the afflictions which I bear for your sake, and am filling up on my part that which is lacking, for his body's sake, which is the church , whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints , to which God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you , the hope of glory!"
We are to understand this great mystery , which is Christ in us ! This is a "great mystery" that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but that is now revealed to us! His body is the church ! Paul is telling the Colossians that this great mystery is that Christ lives in them , his body being the church. This is a sacred mystery, hidden throughout the ages, that God has revealed to his people ! And yet many seem to regard this sacred mystery as profane and unimportant.)
1 John 4:12-14 "No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit, and we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son the Savior of the world."
(Why does John write that "no man has seen God at any time"? If we don't understand the subject here, it then appears to be an "out of context" statement that does not apply to the subject at all.
Let me restate this, with emphasis on certain words, to see if it can be clarified:
"No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit, and we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son the Savior of the world."
In other words, God himself is invisible, but if we love each other then God dwells in us, so it is we, the Body of Christ, that has seen him, and we then testify that the Father sent the Son the Savior of the world."
This is simply the implementation of Jesus' prayer in John 17, where Jesus prayed that we would be one, joined together in God's love, and love for one another, so that we could be witnesses, or testify, that Jesus is the Messiah, or Savior, sent from God.
God is invisible, but our job as a unified church is to make him visible. When people see us, the visible church, they are supposed to see God. This is what Jesus told people 2000 years ago, and he hasn't changed. He was the image of his Father, and we, as his flesh and bones today, are to be the image of both Christ and the Father.)
John 12:45 "And he that sees me, sees him that sent me."
(If you have read this far, then you know that Christ is to be seen in his people. When Christ is seen in us, then the Father who sent the Christ is seen.
It is not enough that the "invisible" church be one, as a certain doctrinal theory espouses. God intends for the church to be highly visible...a light...and to be seen as one, for God is one, and we are to be one with him.
There is no place in scripture for any quasi-doctrinal justification for our present-day state of visible disunity. Furthermore, if we are weak in faith, and unable to accept the express will of God about unity, and fellowshipping with other Christians would go against our conscience and cause us to sin, then we must educate our conscience with scripture, praying for God's help to overcome our own spiritual deficiencies. Repentance is at the heart of the Christian life. We must not resolve to continue in our weakness, clinging to the admonition, "whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). The Bible speaks of overcoming sin, growing in faith, It teaches that all things are possible with God.
I have heard many Christians argue that to have fellowship with other groups would cause some to sin, citing the aforementioned scripture. They are right. But that should be a temporary state, not a permanent excuse.
God, when he inspired Romans 14:23 (above) purposely created a dilemma for us, for James 4:17 says, "Therefore to him who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin." We are not called to cling to our phobias. Where is our faith? Jesus asked, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things that I say" (Luke 6:46). Indeed, why?)
Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of the everlasting covenant, our Lord, Jesus, perfect you in every good work, for the doing of his will, doing in you that which is well-pleasing before him, through Jesus Christ."
(These closing words in the letter to the Hebrews simply state once again a fact that every early Christian already knew: God lives in us. As we allow him to do good works through us for the "doing of his will," we are perfected. He does those works through Jesus Christ, who dwells in us. If we are allowing Christ to live in us, then Christ will be seen working in us and through us. Our works are God's works, and they show the love of Christ written in our hearts.
Many, many, scriptures show that this love must first be visibly and actively shown toward all the spiritual children of God in whom Christ dwells, our brothers and sisters in Christ.)
2 Corinthians 4:6-11 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
(Persecution and troubles and even death, when borne for Christ's sake, serve the purpose of manifesting Jesus in our mortal flesh. This is not speaking of dying so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our glorious risen bodies. This is speaking of the life of Christ being manifested, or made evident and visible, in our mortal flesh by our steadfast endurance. The Spiritual Christ is manifested in our mortal flesh.
This is the great mystery: we are with Christ, and know him, in the Spirit, and he is with us in the flesh. "...though we have known Christ after the flesh (as a man), we do not know him like that any more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).)
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Put yourselves on trial as to whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves, or do you not recognize yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are rejected."
(This is the translation of this passage that most closely follows the original Greek wording. Please read it again. To recognize Jesus Christ in us is a test of whether we are truly in the faith. A faction of the church at Corinth was challenging Paul's credentials as an apostle. Paul told them that they should be assessing their own credentials as Christians by seeing if they could recognize Jesus Christ in them, for the church is the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ in us is the very proof of our authenticity.)
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