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THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST VERSES
Universal or local Church?
Universal:
Ephesians 1:22,23 – "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Colossians 1:18 – "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firsborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
Matthew 16:18 – "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Hebrews 12:23 – "to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,"
Local:
I Corinthians 4:17 – "For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church."
I Corinthians 16:19 – The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets in their home."
II Corinthians 11:8 – "I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you."
Galatians 1:22 – "I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ."
THE BODY OF CHRIST – UNITY, DIVERSITY, AND MUTUALITY
1. Unity
Ephesians 4:4-6 - There is one body and one Spirit---just as you were called to one hope when you were called---one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Humility
Ephesians 4:1-3 – "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Romans 12:3 – "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Purity of heart
James 3:13-18 – "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Love
Colossians 3:12-14 – "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
2. Unity and diversity
I Corinthians 12:4-6,27 – "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same God works all of them in all men…….Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
3. Mutuality
I Corinthians 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. 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."
I Corinthians 12:14-20 – "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
I Corinthians 12:21-24 - "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are presentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,"
I Corinthians 12:25,26 - "so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
GOD'S GOALS FOR THE CHURCH
Fullness of Christ
Ephesians 3:14-21 – "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Jesus Christ
Colossians 1:27 – "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Spiritual Fruit
John 15:5,8 – "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…..This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
Love
John 13:34, 35 – "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Salt and light
Matthew 5:13-16 – "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Ephesians 5:8-11 – "You were once darkness, but you are in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19,20 – "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
God's glory
I Peter 4:11 – "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised though Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
GOD'S METHODS FOR REACHING HIS GOALS
1. The role of gifted men
Ephesians for 4:11-13 – "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
2. Mutual ministry of Christians
Ephesians 4:14-16 – "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
3. What are we to do for one another?
Encourage one another
Hebrews 10:24,25 – "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
I Thessalonians 4:18 – "Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Pray for one another
James 5:16 – "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
Ephesians 6:18 – "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Edify one another
Romans 14:19 – "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
I Thessalonians 5:11 – "Therefore encourage one and build each other up, just in fact you are doing."
Correct one another in love
James 5:20 – "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
I Timothy 5:20 – "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning."
4. Why we are to get together
To eat together
Acts 2:46 – "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Jude 12 – "These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm---shepherds who feed only themselves…….."
To pray together
Acts 1:14 – "They are joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers."
Acts 2:42 – "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Acts 12:12 – "When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying."
To worship together
Ephesians 5:19,20 – "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Colossians 3:16,17 – "Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sign psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
To learn together
Acts 19:9,10 – "But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord."
5. The role of spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ
I Peter 4:10,11 – "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised though Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 4:16 – "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
6. The role of discipling in building up the Body of Christ
Colossians 1:28 – "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
II Timothy 2:2 – "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust o reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."