LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BODY LIFE The New and Living Way to Worship Deena Robertson Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………..1 Body Life……………………………………………………3 The Early Church…………………………………………….5 Gifted by the Holy Spirit……………………………………7 The Church Which is His Body…………………………………9 The Household…………………………………………………………11 Conclusion………………………………………………………………12 Bibliography……………………………………………………………14 Introduction Dietrich Bonhoeffer discovered a truth that is so very vitally needed to be rediscovered in modern day Christianity here in America. Bonhoeffer said that, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” [1] Somehow here in the western culture, a god has been fabricated in the minds of many professing Christians, a god who does not demand them to “come and die.” (Rom. 6:3-7, 1 Cor. 15:31, 2 Cor. 4:11, Col. 3:3) The most important part of the Christian walk, which is also one of the most overlooked and misapplied in today’s emerging church, is where Paul urges believers to “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Rom.12:1). As believers, now our bodies become the sacrifice. We lift them up to the Lord and worship Him through this process of sacrificing our bodies, declaring ourselves as dead, and allowing the risen Christ to live through us. When a believer offers their body a living sacrifice to the Holy Spirit, declaring themselves as dead, He then has free reign to perform the ministry of Christ through the gifts given to the believer by Him. Christ’s life is then manifested here on earth. This is the true statement that Paul made in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I, who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This process of “declaring ourselves as dead” ties right into the Body and the listing of the gifts in Romans 12:4-8. A believer must know that they are now a member of Christ’s Body with an important role to play with their God-given gifts, “since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, each us is to exercise them accordingly.” (Rom. 12:6). This is the new and living way to worship the living Christ (Heb. 10:19-26, Eph. 4:1-5:21, Phil. 2:1-18, Col. 3:1-17). In these verses Paul instructs each church on this vital subject of worshipping the living Christ in a living (Alive) way, “by presenting ourselves as living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1-2) with our various gifts (Rom. 12:6-8) to meet the needs of hurting or needful Body members. In Paul’s assemblies a verbally gifted member would present the Word, and then each member would present himself. And in presenting himself to God, God would tell him by way of the Spirit to meet whatever needs were expressed by other Body members with his gift, because he had presented himself a living sacrifice by using his gifts. In today’s Church, believers go in and sit and listen to a lecture, gather information and often drop it before they hit the door. There is no allotted time for “koinonia [sharing] fellowship.” [2] All churches in the Bible, even the Jewish churches, practiced worship in two parts: Present the Word and present yourself. Even James, Pastor of the Hebrews assembly saw worship as two parts, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17) In an effort to compare and contrast the Pauline era and our current “church life,” let us recall that Paul’s assembly did not have one building to meet in on one day at one certain hour. Paul’s assemblies met in homes and on any day or hour, and everyone knew they had a vital role to play. How can a human body perform correctly unless each part is performing its intended purpose? Paul’s scattered assemblies may have met in 15 to 20 homes in each city. They had many verbally gifted men in each city. Each house church had a two part worship service on whatever day they met. The verbally gifted Body members preached as directed by the elders while today’s churches have one large building with only one “pastor” and usually no elders. In between Paul’s church and today’s church is the Reformation. The one man per one assembly concept came to us through Reformer’s, who came from a Catholic High Priest background. Paul’s assemblies had a few under-shepherds and One Shepherd that was seated in the heavenlies (Rom. 8:34). Protestant Bible Colleges since the Reformation have created our high priest mentality out of the out of the Catholic influence in the Reformation. Today is a stark contrast to Paul’s assemblies and his instruction on how to worship the New and Living Way as detailed in Rom. 12:1-8; Eph. 4:1-5:21; Phil. 2:1-18; Col. 3:1-17, as a primary group of worship verses. Thesis Statement This paper seeks to enlighten its readers to the beauty and grace found in discovering the Body of Christ, the “gifted ones” that are given to the Body (Eph. 4:11-12), and the ‘Body Life’ found in living in community within the Body of Christ. There is joy unspeakable in being able to love, encourage, strengthen, and build up one another in the faith. If there ever were a time where we need to love one another and be loved by one another in the Body, it is now. Body Life There is One Head of the Church, Christ. This church is made up of only those who have been “baptized by the Spirit into Christ” (1 Cor. 12:13) and are “new creatures in Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:17) These people are members of the one body of Christ (Eph. 4:4), “members one of another” (Eph. 4:25, 5:30), and are a “habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22) From the time of Christ’s crucifixion until now, Christianity has taken on many different forms. Satan has placed many masks and cloaks over “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3) The local expression of the body of Christ is never to be perceived as an organization, for it is a “living organism.” [3] His saints are ‘coming to Him as living stones who are being built up as a spiritual house’ (1 Pet. 2:4-5), His saints are His household. His saints are God’s fellow workers, God’s building. A stone that once was dead in their sins (Eph. 2:1) has now been brought to life, and in process of growing up. Every Christian is a stone added to this House, and “the Lord is very much at home in His Body, the Building made for Him by the Holy Spirit.” [4] “The Holy Spirit is the actual agent of the formation of the Body,” [5] He indentifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-6). Christ is the actual life-giver (1 Cor. 15:47; Eph 2:1) who “nourishes and cherishes believers because they are members of His body.” (Eph. 5:29-30). This is why Christ is called “The last Adam who is a life-giving spirit.” (Rom. 15:45) Christ’s role as a life-giving spirit involves giving life to the ‘dead’ (Eph. 2:1) and creating ‘new creations’ (2 Cor. 5:17) of individuals who believe in Him, and the new creation being ‘in Him’ (1 Cor. 12:13) and Him being ‘in them’ (Gal. 2:20).“The love of Christ for His church, corresponding to the love of a husband for his wife, is revealed in Ephesians 5:29 ; “For no man ever hateth his own flesh ; but nourisheth it and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church.” The Greek word for “nourish” according to Arndt and Gingrich means to “nourish” or “rear” or “bring up” as it is used in its only other New Testament occurrence in Ephesians 6:43 it therefore describes the general purpose of God to bring the body to maturity in the development of its individual members and their relationship one to another.” [6] Believers are in union with Christ and with one another (Eph. 4:16).” This is the ‘mystery’ that Paul speaks of in Eph. 5:31-32. The body of Christ is actually made up of living members, “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:4), and the members of His body are presided over by a living Head (Eph. 4:15), “We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the Head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15-16). “As a building “grows” when under construction, so the church as a living organism, is growing.” [7] The members of His body are dependent upon one another and are to sustain one another through all the trials of life (1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:15-16; Col. 1:18) The body of Christ is also referred to as a “temple of God” and is not built by man, but by the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 2:21-22, “In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The Early Church In the beginning of the book of Acts we see that, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the Apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing with them all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:43-47). “These early believers did not have special buildings in which to meet; instead, they met in homes (Rom. 16:5; Philem. 2). The early believers came together for worship (1 Cor. 11:18), fellowship (Acts 2:45-46; 4:31), instruction (Acts 2:42; 11:26; 1 Cor. 4:17), and for ministry such as sending out missionaries (Acts 13:2; 15:3). The result was that people were continually being saved (Acts 2:47).” [8] This picture of the early believers and first century Christianity was changed dramatically during the time of Constantine, when Christianity was legalized. It was a far cry from where the Bishops and the rise of the Papacy carried the message of Christianity. “The meetings of the early church were marked by every-member functioning, spontaneity, freedom, vibrancy, and open participation (see for example, 1 Cor. 14:1-33, and Heb. 10:25). The first-century church was a fluid gathering, not a static ritual.” [9] The static ritual that church has become, originated during the time of Constantine, and all of the events that followed him played a distinct role in guiding the Church, the Body of Christ, away from her God-given role. The early church meetings were alive and vibrant. They knew that ‘The Church’ was ‘His Body,’ not a building. God’s Word clearly tells us that there is One Church, which is His Body, “One Body.” (Eph. 4:4). The Body is a living, breathing organism. Believers were set free from their slavery to sin (Rom. 8:2), to perform a specific function within this Body. “The New Testament actually includes many details about how the early Christians gathered. For example, we know that the early church met in homes for their regular church meetings (Acts 2:20; Rom. 16:3; 5: 1 Cor. 16:19). Their church gatherings were open and participatory (1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25). Spiritual gifts were employed by each member (1 Cor. 12-14). They genuinely saw themselves as family and acted accordingly (Gal. 6:10; 1 Tim. 5:1-2; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:15; Rom. 12:13; 1 Cor. 12:25-26; 2 Cor. 8:12-15). They were fully united and did not denominate themselves into separate organizations in the same city (Acts 8:1; 13:1; 18:22; Rom. 16:1). They did not use honorific titles (Matt. 23:8-12). They did not organize themselves hierarchically (Matt. 20:25-28; Luke 22:25-26).” [10] The loss of all of these wonderful functions of the ‘One Body’ was lost when paganism and the power of the papacy entered her gates. [11] This beautiful view of worship was destroyed when Bishops and Catholic Priests were given these roles only, and when they were exalted to positions of hierarchy. “The Bishop eventually became the main administrator and distributor of the church’s wealth. He was the man responsible for teaching the faith and knowing what Christianity was all about. The congregation, once active, was now rendered passive. God’s people now merely watched the bishop perform.” [12] Gifted by the Holy Spirit The Church which is His body is formed through the ministry of the Spirit. Believers, through the baptism done by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), become an organism by virtue of a divine life indwelling all, and that life is Christ. This is fitly illustrated in Scripture by the figures of the vine and the branches and the Head and the Body. [13] One life animates every branch of the vine and every member of the body: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor.12:12-14). “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member’s one of another” (Rom. 12:5), “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” (Eph. 5:30). When Paul speaks of the church as a Body he makes it clear that no one joins that Body except by being immersed into Jesus Christ. There is no other way into this Body, the Holy Spirit is the only Baptizer for this dispensation of grace (1 Cor. 12:13).[14] “The work of the Holy Spirit in baptism, if properly understood, would do much to correct the errors of the purposes of the church. It is the one work of the Holy Spirit found only in the present dispensation.” [15] Once a person has become a part of the Body, every member has a contribution to make with his gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to him. “As each member works at what God has given him to do, the whole Body functions as intended.” [16] “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” [17] The formation of the body began at Pentecost and since that time the Lord has “added unto the church, those who are being saved.” (Acts 2:47, 13:48) The Lord is adding to this body, and it is growing and increasing, unto its perfection during the course of this age. Special ministry gifts, unknown in other ages, are bestowed in this age to serve at divine appointments and in divine power for a limited time, “until” the body is completed, “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.4:7-13). This, it should be noted, is not only the individual perfection of many; but rather the perfection of one body by the adding of many individuals until there is formed the full measure of the stature of Christ. “The ones who are viewed as being ‘perfect’ are the ones who are at a level of spiritual understanding that is able to assimilate divinely revealed truth. When using the word assimilate, it is saying that divine revelation has entered the mind to the degree that it controls both thought and behavior, and when this happens a believer can be described as being ‘perfect.’ The ‘immature’ believer would be the one who fails to assimilate the Word that comes from God. Being mature is something that comes from making certain adjustments in one’s life; which results in better interpersonal relationships, which in turn, leads to a maximization of potential for more productive practical Christian service.” [18] This is what ‘perfecting sanctification’ is all about, and why the body needs the gifted ones and the “equipping of the word.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) “When Christians are properly adjusted in their fellowship with God, and consequently with each other, they are able to minister more effectively, which, in turn, leads to their own greater growth and development. In such a condition, they can be described as being perfectly knit together. The meaning is always that of adjusting relationships to God’s will. And this can only be done by obedience to the revelation that is found in Holy Scriptures.” [19] Paul wrote Timothy, in 2 Tim. 3:16-17, that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Church which is His Body “While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18) The church, which is His body, the church of mystery, the true church of this present dispensation of pure grace, is invisible to the world. It has always been invisible. It was hid in God since the beginning of the world. It was invisible in the Scriptures. It has been invisible to the world since it was revealed to Paul. It will continue to be invisible except as it is spiritually revealed to its members who are being called out. It is heavenly in position and spiritual in experience (practice). It is a spiritual church that worships in Spirit and truth at all times. A closer look at Paul’s description of the church that he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, reveals that the church is heavenly and spiritual. There is unity. There is worship in Spirit and truth at all times (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). There is the true Word of God—the word of truth. “There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Eph. 4:4-6) There is goodness, and righteousness and truth. There is love. There is true holiness, forgiveness, and long-suffering; which are the fruits of the Spirit. The Church, which is His body, has the following biblical characteristics: It is God-made (Eph. 1) It was established before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) It was established according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:11) It is a heavenly church (Eph. 1:20, 2:6; Col. 3:1) It is a Spiritual church (Eph. 2:22; Phil. 3:3) Christ is the (only) Head of this church (Eph. 1:22, 5:23; Col. 1:18) (there is no hierarchy) Its members are “in Christ” and Christ is in each member (Eph. 1:4, 2:10; Col. 1:27-28) Its members are one with Christ (Eph. 5:30-32) Its members are dead in Christ: no identity ( Col. 3:3) Its members worship in Spirit and in truth (The Holy Spirit never operates apart from the word of God—Truth) (John 4:23-24; Phil. 3:3) Its member study and rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15) and speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) Its members are in the light (Col. 1:12-13) This church has no buildings or ordinances or code of laws or traditions This church has unity—no division or denominations The Household “The householder says, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?” (Mat. 20:15) And even so does the God of heaven and earth ask this question of you this morning? “Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with My own things?” There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, and that sovereignty overrules them and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought to more earnestly contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne.” [20] “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially those who are of His household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10). Paul tells us to show special attention to the household of faith. Only those of the household of faith are members of His Body and thus “fitly jointed together,” (Eph. 4:16) by the Spirit, for “the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16). His Body is like the human body, it is fitly jointed together so as to function as units (arms, legs, etc.) for the “common good” (1 Cor. 12:7) of the whole Body as directed by our command center—the Head. The human body is put together by the same God who puts together His Body. The forearm is jointly attached to the upper arm and to the hand, they function as a unit just like His Body functions in a unit under His Head. We are put together in working units for the whole Body purpose. It is mystical and also localized for function purposes. The members jointly function under His Headship. They function together for the “common good” of the whole Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:7). They are under His control and to do His will and His purpose (Eph. 1:11). The purpose jointly shared is in the glorification of His Son—as a unit. Ephesians 4:16 is one of the most enlightening verses of all Paul’s letters. He writes “the body builds itself up in love.”. The body members grow in units because the whole body grows as a unit—under the Head. Now that makes for lasting friendships because His whole body grows together. They no longer “act as children,” they all “grow” off of one another. (Eph. 4:15). In order for this to take place “every church leader should take his responsibility seriously. He must equip every saint to do the work of the ministry; to help each member to function and to help create a warm, accepting atmosphere where each member can contribute to the other members of the body. Practically, this means he must break the “pulpit habit”—that is, the tendency to mount the sacred platform and expostulate three or four times a week without giving his people opportunity to share their own life and ministry with other members in the body. The body must have time to build itself up, and this process is absolutely essential for spiritual growth to take place both at the individual and corporate level.” [21] Conclusion “Jesus said the church is His Body, that He is the life of the Body. “There is one Body, and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:4-6). But in many places today it seems the life has gone out of the Body. In the early church all Christians were intimately and actively involved in the vibrant life of the Body. Their witness to unbelievers coupled with their deep love for each other rocked the Roman world. And it must be so again.” [22] BIBLIOGRAPHY Barna, George, and Frank Viola. Pagan Christianity? Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 2012. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1995. ———. Life Together. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1954. Elliott, T. G. Christianity of Constantine the Great. Scranton: University of Scranton Press, 1996. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008. Getz, Gene A. Sharpening the Focus of the Church. Chicago: Moody Press, 1974. New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000. Dr. Henry Hudson. In Christ. Holland, Michigan: Whitest Blue Publishing, 2011. Spurgeon, Charles. The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Publishing, 2009. Steadman, Ray. Body Life. Glendale, California: Regal Books, 1979. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning, 2008. Walvoord, John F. “The Present Work of Christ in Heaven.” Bibliotheca Sacra 121, no. 483 (1964): 195-208. Walvoord, John F. “Bibliotheca Sacra.” The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation 98, no. 392 (1941): 421-46. [1]. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1995), 11. [2]. Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today (Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning, 2008), 625. [3]. Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody, 2008), 362. [4]. Steadman, Body Life, 71.17. [5]. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 360. [6]. Walvoord, “The Present Work of Christ in Heaven,” 203. [7]. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 362. [8]. Ibid., 359-60. [9]. Frank Viola and George Barna, Pagan Christianity (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale, 2012), 50. [10]. Ibid., 8. [11]. T. G. Elliott, Christianity of Constantine the Great (Scranton: University of Scranton Press, 1996), 56. [12]. Viola and Barna, Pagan Christianity, 112.50. [13]. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 363. [14]. New American Standard Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000). [15]. John F. Walvoord, “Bibliotheca Sacra,” The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation 98, no. 392 (1941): 8. [16]. Steadman, Body Life, 70. [17]. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York, NY.: Harper Row, 1954), 19. [18]. Dr. Henry Hudson, In Christ (Holland, Michigan: Whitest Blue Publishing, 2011), 96. [19]. Ibid., 97. [20]. Charles Spurgeon, The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon (Uhrichsville, Ohio: [21]. Gene A. Getz, Sharpening the Focus of the Church (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974), 122. [22]. Ray Steadman, Body Life (Glendale, California: Regal, 1979), 17. https://youtube/watch?v=WuqaKWy4NuM
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:58:18 +0000
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