Garden City Church of Christ - THE BODY OF CHRIST

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

I Cor. 12:12-27

Intro:
1. Church represented by figures. This one Is common--Rom. 12:4,5
2. Figure of physical body shows relation to Christ & each other.
3. Discuss the points of analogy:
1. RELATION OF HEAD TO THE BODY.
  1. Read--Christ; Eph. 1:22,23; 5:23; Col. 1:18
    1. Head controls--physical.
      1. Not In direct contact with foot to move It. Nerves!
      2. Christ & the bible to direct bodily members.
    2. Only 1 head to each body... physical
      1. Error of Catholicism... heads ... Discuss-Mt.16:19
      2. Only 1 authority In N.T. church. One Lord, Master.
    3. Only 1 body to 1 head ... physical.
      1. But 1 body--I Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:4; Eph. 2:16
      2. denominationalism & its false representation.
  2. When did Christ become head of the body?
    1. When raised and ascended--Eph. 1:20-22
      1. Dan. 7:14... kingdom Is the church ... Mt. 16:18,19
      2. Authority exercised--Hob. 9:16,17; Acts 2:32ff
    2. Some claim church established prior to death of Christ. If so, it was a body without Christ as head.
  3. Members of the body obey the head:
    1. Obey immediately in physical body, not postponed.
    2. If members fall to obey head, body not normal.
    3. Members not capable of moving self--Jer. 10:23
  4. Body does the work of the head:
    1. All works done thru the body. Directs but 1 body & those in It. Not accomplished thru another institution-Eph. 3:21. All work done thru Christians as members of the body.
    2. Head doesn't work independently. Thus, DOES doctrine false.
    3. Members cooperate? Yes. But IN the body & not by forming another body thru which to operate, i.e., societies, etc.
    4. We are eyes to see--Jn. 4:35; Feet to carry gospel-Rom. 10:15
      Lips to speak--I Pet. 4:11; Hands to minister-Mt. 25:41ff
2. UNITY OF THE BODILY MEMBERS.
  1. Unity in common work--Phl. 1:27. Occasion of the text.
    1. Varying abilities for effliciency--Eph. 4:15,16
    2. Some expect 1 member to function as the entire body.
    3. Some now jealous of another's work & ability.
    4. Interdependence of members. Foot on eye, etc ... vs-15
  2. Unity In faith and practice--I Cor. 1:10
    1. If members act presumptuously, head not controlling.
    2. Head not in control if there Is strife--Jas. 4:1; I Jn. 1:7
  3. Unity In growth---2 Pet. 3:18
    1. Each grows In proportion, else the body Is deformed.
    2. Church disfigured & handicapped by some members.
    3. Inactive not growing. Diseased. Remedy? Try to heal & amputate If necessary--2 Thess. 3:6; I Cor. 5:1-7
    4. Needs nourishment--I Pet. 2:1,2; Exercise--I Tim. 4:7
  4. Unity In sympathy, love and consideration.
    1. Head is seat of sensation ... Acts 22:5-8. "Paul"
    2. physical body with nerve system.
3. LIFE IN THE BODY.
  1. Essentiality of the body and union therewith.
    1. Physical body ... Spiritual life in spiritual body.
      1. Church, the body of Christ & tabernacle of H.S. - Eph. 2:20-21
      2. Can the hand maintain life out of the physical body?
    2. Member outside doesn't have direction of the head.
    3. Member outside doesn't have the cooperation of other members, without benefit of the blood in the body and without the spirit In the body.
    4. We estimate the worth & efficiency of a body by Its head, hence, worth of the church, Christ's body.
  2. When was life given to the body?
    1. Not when Christ was on earth--Jn. 7:39
    2. Discuss establishment of the church on Pentecost--Acts 2
    3. Churches which claim prior establishment are dead-- Jas. 2:26
Conclusion:
1. How refer to this body? --- Rom. 16:16
  1. Body described In giving honor to Its head.
  2. Hence, Methodist to its head (rules methodically); Baptist to John the Baptist; Presbyterian to the presbytery; Lutheran to Martin Luther.
2. How to enter the body:
  1. Baptized Into--I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:5
  2. Paul baptized some of the Corinthians--I Cor. 1:14-16
  3. Paul didn't have power to give Holy Spirit baptism-Jn. 1:33
  4. Baptized Into Christ--Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-6

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

I Cor. 12:12-27