The Coming Season - Images of the Church

A few weeks ago I blogged about Being the Church and how we need to operate in the nature of God, the government of His Word and the function of Jesus. I want to expand that line of thought with how that is accomplished.

As we look through the Word of God, we often see that God uses images and pictures to present certain truths to us. Jesus often spoke in parables in order to take what He saw, and what the people could identify with and make eternal truths more understandable. Well, as it relates to images, there is no doctrine in the Word of God that reveals more images and metaphors than in the doctrine of the Church. I believe that the reason there is such a wide range of metaphors, is to remind us that we are not to focus on one image exclusively but on the various images, which will enable us to appreciate how much God has given us in incorporating the favor, blessing and privilege of Being the Church.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.

Here you see this metaphor conveying Jesus Christ's leadership over the Body and it may also suggest His role in providing sustenance for it, as a husband for His bride.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

The first thing that I noticed in V. 4-6 is the reference to the Trinity. First, to the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father. Within the NT you will often see reference to God the Father with the word “God” (Gk. Theos, which is the normal Septuagint translation for the OT Hb. ’Elohim, “God”) and you will see the NT refer to God the Son with the word “Lord” (Gk. Kyrios, which is used in the Septuagint over 6,000 times to translate the OT Hb. name YHWH, “Yahweh” or “Lord”).

So just as you see the Persons of the Godhead and their diversity within the unity of the Trinity, you should see that diversity reflected in the variety of gifts within the unity of the body of Christ in Corinth. Therefore, Paul wants the Corinthian church, and us today, to understand how their unity and our unity can be enhanced by appreciating the variety of gifts God has given to us.

1 Corinthians 12:12- 17 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

I understand that Paul is speaking of spiritual gifts, however you have to recognize that he equates those gifts to the picture of the Body and what that is supposed to look like. V.12 Since the Body/Spirit is one, He unites peoples across the line of ethnicity and social class that would otherwise divide them. In other words, it doesn’t matter the color of your skin, where you were born, or where you live or how much money you make. There are going to be many members from every race, color, creed and ethnic background, we are still one Body and we have to operate that way! I recognize that there are people that will gravitate to where they feel the most comfortable, whether that be due to race or economic background, however, we should always see ourselves as one Body, with Jesus as the head.

V13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (unity in the midst of diversity) 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

You see in that last statement V.26-27 The Body is an indivisible unit. If one part is touched, the whole is affected. The life of the Church is only sustained as long as it maintains a Jesus centered relationship; in other words, the ministries of the Church must represent God’s nature, His government and function as Jesus functioned, which I spoke about last week! As we operate in that manner, we then must preserve and protect the essential unity of everyone who is a member of the Body. Any attack on the unity of the Church endangers the life of the Church. If we are all going in unity, in one direction, & you decide to go in another direction; we end up on “Sesame Street” singing, “Which one here is doing is own thing”?

Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Bond = ligaments that join the body together)

How do we maintain unity in the Body? Through peace. You see, peace is a state of reconciliation and love and therefore acts as a bond to unite believers in Jesus Christ. We as believers do not create unity; we preserve the unity that has already been established through Jesus Christ when He made us apart of the Body!

As we preserve the unity that Jesus has established, when He reconciled us through His love, we begin operate in the Body by putting off the “old self” allowing the Word of God to penetrate our minds and then putting on the “new self”. How do you put on the “new self”, by not giving any opportunity to the devil. This requires that we go through this time, “The Coming Season”, where we enter into a series of “stops and starts”.

Ephesians 4:25-32 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal (lazy, greedy), but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need (diligent and giving). 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

We stop falsehood and start speaking the truth; we stop being a thief and start doing honest work; we stop corrupting talk and start speaking words that build up, etc.

The Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father are more than sufficient and have provided you and I with the Word so that we as that Body are a complete unit, in and of itself. God has placed everything into the Body of Christ, that it needs.

2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, 4 by which He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world

because of sinful desire.

(Divine = the Trinity/ Power = 1) strength power, ability a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth b) power for performing miracles c) moral power and excellence of soul d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth e) power and resources arising from numbers f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Now look at “all things” and “very great promises” - here both “all things” and “very great promises” means that there will be diversity. We read earlier, “varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit”. As a Body, we consist of not just one but of many members. Each with a diverse background and ministry gift that can and should operate within the Body that that person has been planted in.

Now listen, unity does not mean uniformity, in other words, we aren’t all going to look exactly alike and we will each operate a little differently. There will be consistency that comes from being of the same body, however producing "mini-me" is not the goal.

The point being, as we have been reconciled and as we are bonded by peace, unity is maintained and expressed in the body in many diverse ways, all moving in the same direction. All of this causes the to Body operate at its best, in and through relationships. There needs to be constant interaction among the members of the Body to maintain life. And where there is healthy relationships there is healthy life, and where there is healthy life there is healthy growth. When each person is working properly the Body grows!

Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

So, in unity - with diversity, we see that each of us as different members can still share the same life. No one within the Body is supposed to be living by themselves or for themselves. When someone is not working properly, we speak the truth of God’s Word in love, seeking to reconcile and bring peace, knowing that that is the bond of unity.

This of course leads to organization within the Body. Without organization, diversity can lead to anarchy and unity is broken. Within our Body, we have a singular head, and a plurality of leadership. The Eldership of the Church govern the Body and and release the Pastor to lead as the singular head.

As the Body grows the organization with grow with it, so that what may once have been permissible at one stage of growth has changed so that it no longer permissible, in order to facilitate the growth that has occurred. Once again, balancing the unity with the diversity. This is one of the images of the Church, the Body, operating as it should. Many parts, various and diverse backgrounds, all coming together in unity and in love, so that all have the opportunity to grow healthy and fruitful lives. You see the growth, the organization and the functions of the Body operating together to manifest the mystery and the image of the Church, called the Body, into life. A life that fulfills what God through His Son, by the Power of His Spirit has called us, to accomplish in “The Coming Season”.

What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you, right now? As you have been given an image of the Church, functioning as a Body, how do you see yourself? Everyone one of us is needed, each of us have value. Regardless of where you have come from, God has a desire to see you functioning as a vital part of His Body.

As a member of His Body, are you are functioning as you should? Perhaps you are hurting, struggling in some are and you need care; understand that as a part of the Body, if one member suffers, we all suffer together. Let's get healed and begin heading in the direction that the Head (Jesus) wants to take His Body.