Vine Abider Posted January 26, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 201 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,456 Content Per Day: 6.20 Reputation: 2,316 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I read something in a devotional last week that I've been wanting to post and I've done that below. After I read it, I also thought of a few verses (in blue) that seem to support the idea that the church really is Christ. Of course, when we believers look at each other, we usually see all kinds of things less heavenly . . . But what would the body be if the one Spirit wasn't in us all? We would be just another organization or collection, not one organic body. What do you think saints? "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12:24 "But when God . . . was pleased o reveal His Son in me." Galatians 1:15-16 "God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23 ****************************************************** "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12 Not only is Christ the Christian life, but He is also the reality of the church life. Apart from Him there is no church. We must understand that the practice of the church issues from the centrality of Christ. Christ is our relationship with one another (Col. 3:11). Because He is in all of us, we are related to each other in Him. We do not need to "join" the church. We do not sign up to become members of the church. The church comes into our spirit when we receive Christ. The church is in all of us because the church is Christ. We recognize Christ! When we recognize Christ, we recognize the church! The reality of the church is a Person. It is not a doctrine. It is not a way. It is not a man. It is Christ Himself. So wherever Christ is, there is the church. The best we can do is simply to see it, acknowledge it, receive one another, and say "Amen." We receive one another because we have all been received by God (Rom. 14:3). We have been redeemed by the same blood. We have the same one Father (Eph. 4:6). There is only one "Abba," one Father, and He is in all of us (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). So what do we do? We say, "We are in the same family!" This is the church. It is so simple. There is something already existing between us. God put it into us. It is called the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3). We learn to recognize this oneness of the Spirit between us and to keep it in our relationships. This oneness is so precious because it is made up of the oneness of the Father and the Son. The oneness between the Father and the Son is now embodied in the Spirit. Thus, through Christ as the life-giving Spirit entering into us, we have been admitted into Their oneness! Because of Christ, Their oneness has now become our oneness. This is the church. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted January 26, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 267 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,225 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,512 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted January 26, 2023 1 hour ago, Vine Abider said: I read something in a devotional last week that I've been wanting to post and I've done that below. After I read it, I also thought of a few verses (in blue) that seem to support the idea that the church really is Christ. Of course, when we believers look at each other, we usually see all kinds of things less heavenly . . . But what would the body be if the one Spirit wasn't in us all? We would be just another organization or collection, not one organic body. What do you think saints? "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12:24 "But when God . . . was pleased o reveal His Son in me." Galatians 1:15-16 "God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23 ****************************************************** "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12 Not only is Christ the Christian life, but He is also the reality of the church life. Apart from Him there is no church. We must understand that the practice of the church issues from the centrality of Christ. Christ is our relationship with one another (Col. 3:11). Because He is in all of us, we are related to each other in Him. We do not need to "join" the church. We do not sign up to become members of the church. The church comes into our spirit when we receive Christ. The church is in all of us because the church is Christ. We recognize Christ! When we recognize Christ, we recognize the church! The reality of the church is a Person. It is not a doctrine. It is not a way. It is not a man. It is Christ Himself. So wherever Christ is, there is the church. The best we can do is simply to see it, acknowledge it, receive one another, and say "Amen." We receive one another because we have all been received by God (Rom. 14:3). We have been redeemed by the same blood. We have the same one Father (Eph. 4:6). There is only one "Abba," one Father, and He is in all of us (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). So what do we do? We say, "We are in the same family!" This is the church. It is so simple. There is something already existing between us. God put it into us. It is called the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3). We learn to recognize this oneness of the Spirit between us and to keep it in our relationships. This oneness is so precious because it is made up of the oneness of the Father and the Son. The oneness between the Father and the Son is now embodied in the Spirit. Thus, through Christ as the life-giving Spirit entering into us, we have been admitted into Their oneness! Because of Christ, Their oneness has now become our oneness. This is the church. A big Amen to all of that bro. Just what we need to focus on and discuss. As to the oneness of the Spirit we are told to - giving diligence to keep, earnestly striving to maintain, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.` (Eph. 4: 3) This shows that although we may not all agree on certain truths we are to still keep the unity that the Holy Spirit has between us. We don`t have to make that unity, but to keep it. Then there is another unity which is the unity of the Faith. And that is what the Holy Spirit is bringing the whole Body to as He clarifies the truths of the Lord. (Eph. 4: 13) I have been thinking lately that as we recognise each other`s giftings in the Lord then we are able to receive of the Lord through each other. This then, by the Holy Spirit joins each to one another and allows the flow of the Spirit access through each. We may meet in public meetings or smaller groups, however the vital life of Christ by His Holy Spirit is the life source from one to another. The Head through His Body. Amazing and wonderful. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. M Posted January 26, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.34 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.03 Reputation: 1,798 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Share Posted January 26, 2023 1 hour ago, Vine Abider said: For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12 Here is a key element to accomplish this with one another. Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another in the fear of the Lord. What every believer needs to understand is that what the Spirit of Christ places in you is for everyone else's benefit. For us to receive the full benefit of the Holy Spirit, they must commit to regular, small group fellowship, because someone else has what we need. Obviously by design, that the Lord expects us to depend on one another for Life Everlasting. 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted January 26, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 267 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,225 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,512 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I would like to add, that the church is Christ`s body of believers. We will all have our own glorified bodies, however the very life of Christ and His divine character will be within each. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vine Abider Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 201 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,456 Content Per Day: 6.20 Reputation: 2,316 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 3:23 PM, Marilyn C said: I would like to add, that the church is Christ`s body of believers. We will all have our own glorified bodies, however the very life of Christ and His divine character will be within each. I heard someone say this a few years ago, "We are His boots on the ground" and that's really stuck with me. The sentence has been pronounced, but the execution happens through us, His body. This is also a fulfillment of "He will bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15) Couple that with, "And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet shortly." (Rom 16:20) 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 243 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 6,975 Content Per Day: 3.27 Reputation: 4,894 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted January 29, 2023 On 1/27/2023 at 9:23 AM, Vine Abider said: I read something in a devotional last week that I've been wanting to post and I've done that below. After I read it, I also thought of a few verses (in blue) that seem to support the idea that the church really is Christ. Of course, when we believers look at each other, we usually see all kinds of things less heavenly . . . But what would the body be if the one Spirit wasn't in us all? We would be just another organization or collection, not one organic body. What do you think saints? "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12:24 "But when God . . . was pleased o reveal His Son in me." Galatians 1:15-16 "God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23 ****************************************************** "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12 Not only is Christ the Christian life, but He is also the reality of the church life. Apart from Him there is no church. We must understand that the practice of the church issues from the centrality of Christ. Christ is our relationship with one another (Col. 3:11). Because He is in all of us, we are related to each other in Him. We do not need to "join" the church. We do not sign up to become members of the church. The church comes into our spirit when we receive Christ. The church is in all of us because the church is Christ. We recognize Christ! When we recognize Christ, we recognize the church! The reality of the church is a Person. It is not a doctrine. It is not a way. It is not a man. It is Christ Himself. So wherever Christ is, there is the church. The best we can do is simply to see it, acknowledge it, receive one another, and say "Amen." We receive one another because we have all been received by God (Rom. 14:3). We have been redeemed by the same blood. We have the same one Father (Eph. 4:6). There is only one "Abba," one Father, and He is in all of us (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). So what do we do? We say, "We are in the same family!" This is the church. It is so simple. There is something already existing between us. God put it into us. It is called the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3). We learn to recognize this oneness of the Spirit between us and to keep it in our relationships. This oneness is so precious because it is made up of the oneness of the Father and the Son. The oneness between the Father and the Son is now embodied in the Spirit. Thus, through Christ as the life-giving Spirit entering into us, we have been admitted into Their oneness! Because of Christ, Their oneness has now become our oneness. This is the church. Christ is many things metaphorically. He is the Lamb that was slain as well as the Good Shepherd. He loved His Ekklesia, literally His Called Out Ones, and sacrificed His life for them, they being both His body and His Bride, He being both the Head of the Body and the Bridegroom. Metaphors are word-pictures that carry meanings across by associating particular things with other things they are likened to. 1Corinthians 3:9 You are God's field, God's building. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 267 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,225 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,512 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted January 29, 2023 35 minutes ago, Michael37 said: Christ is many things metaphorically. He is the Lamb that was slain as well as the Good Shepherd. He loved His Ekklesia, literally His Called Out Ones, and sacrificed His life for them, they being both His body and His Bride, He being both the Head of the Body and the Bridegroom. Metaphors are word-pictures that carry meanings across by associating particular things with other things they are likened to. 1Corinthians 3:9 You are God's field, God's building. Hi Michael, Good point, however, the Body of Christ is NEVER called the bride or the wife. The Body of Christ is the New Man. `...so to create in Himself one New Man from the two, (Israel & Gentiles) thus making peace. `(Eph. 2: 15) And the Body will come to a perfect Man by the Holy Spirit. `...till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man...` (Eph. 4: 13) The `wife,` is Israel. `For your (Israel) Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name....like youthful wife when you were refused..` (Isa. 54: 5 & 6) The New Jerusalem is described AS a bride because the glory of God is upon it. `Then I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared AS a bride adorned for her husband...having the glory of God. (Rev. 21: 2 & 11) And that city is for the Old Testament saints. `But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them, (OT saints). (Heb. 11: 16) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 243 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 6,975 Content Per Day: 3.27 Reputation: 4,894 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted January 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Marilyn C said: Hi Michael, Good point, however, the Body of Christ is NEVER called the bride or the wife. Huh? 2Co 11:2 (2) I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 267 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,225 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,512 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted January 29, 2023 2 hours ago, Michael37 said: Huh? 2Co 11:2 (2) I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. Thank you Michael, That scripture needs to be looked at. So, we see that the Apostle Paul is speaking to his disciples and saying that he wants to present them to the Lord, as pure. Now we know from God`s word that the Apostle Paul does NOT present us to the Lord for it is the Lord Himself who will present us to Himself. `Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and TO PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...` (Jude 24) So, Michael would you now like to address the scriptures I gave to show Israel is the wife and the New Jerusalem with the Old Testament saints are in the city which is described AS a bride. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. M Posted January 29, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.34 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.03 Reputation: 1,798 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Share Posted January 29, 2023 5 hours ago, Marilyn C said: `Then I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared AS a bride adorned for her husband...having the glory of God. (Rev. 21: 2 & 11) Revelation 21: 9 Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Hebrews 12: 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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