Saturday, August 30, 2003 (3)
THE BODY OF CHRIST. NOW, YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST! A positive, emphatic word, expressing the grand position provided the believer who, truly is in Christ Jesus. There is no need to question the exalted standing in Christ, to which all have been called. It is the calling of the Lord to attain to the highest status which can be found in the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 12:27 Every member of the body, regardless of its position must be of equal spirituality. It is impossible for the body of Christ to be weak, emaciated and puny. Remember, what Christ is, we are to be. We are to possess His nature, His being, His might and power and be able to live the same life which He lived here on earth. He and His body are one, identical, equal one with the other in all spiritual matters. The Word of the Lord establishes a goal for the whole, for every member of the body of Christ. The ultimate is
that the entire body of Christ be unified and bonded together as one unit. That is not a quick fix. There is a process of spiritual growth, which even now is taking place in those who desire to grow and become mature in Christ. It involves ministry and motive. Speaking the truth in the spirit of love, that we might grow up, and reach full maturity in Christ. When the church reaches full growth, she will be completely like Christ. Eph. 4:14
TOGETHERNESS WITH CHRIST. The flora, the plant life which surrounds us has its beginnings with a seed, a bulb or a root. So, with spiritual life. THE WORD OF THE LORD, is planted within the human heart and becomes a thriving, vital, growing plant. 1 Pet. 1:23 Without the seed, which is the WORD, there would be no spiritual life produced. Spiritual life is found in the seed, the Word. The course of growth involves a number of actions necessary to cultivate the plant. For instance, the believer must be PLANTED IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH, thus assuring that the plant has the necessary life force to grow properly. That planting, is accomplished by the waters of baptism, and gives the promise of being in the likeness of His resurrection. Rom. 6:5 Water baptism is not a mere symbol of our acceptance of Christ as Savior and our faith in Him. In baptism we are to touch the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. There is no other way given by the scriptures for this step of spiritual growth to be accomplished. Water baptism is a cross and a grave, where the old, carnal nature, sinful self must be crucified and buried. It is a place of cleansing from the past sinful life and an introduction to the new life which is only found in Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:6 Baptism is basic Christianity. It is not a light, frivolous action. The Christian who would live in victory must know the power and effect that baptism has on our spiritual life. They need to appropriate that life fully unto themselves. Only by death can we live in Christ. The seed which is planted must first die in order to produce life. We are to be planted together with HIM. Plants need water.