“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” 1 Corinthians 12:13
Dear Ones:
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (16:18) It is in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that we see that this “church” is not a man-made organization, but a living organism. It is the body of believers, bound to one another by a spiritual union created by the Spirit. That union is between Christ and every true believer. Every believer is bound by the same Spirit to every other believer, all in Christ. In fact, it is only as every believer is in fellowship with God, and with one another, that there will be the greatest manifestation of the life of Christ by the Spirit, on this earth. Herein is where the Lord “commands the blessing,” where “…brethren dwell together in unity.” (Ps. 133:1) So, if the will of God is to not only “dwell” in the heart of the individual believer, but dwell and reveal His presence in the church, how is this objective to be realized? We must begin with a vision, and for this, we turn again to Israel.
In the book of Exodus, we find that the Lord’s intent and will, was to dwell among the people. (25:8) This He did, evidenced by the revelation of His glory in the tabernacle. However, there came a moment because of Israel’s idolatry, that He said: “I will not go up in the midst of thee.” (33:3) It would only be by the intercession of Moses that God in His mercy would again go with them, distinguishing them from all the people on the face of the earth. In other words, the will of God for this “church” in the wilderness, was to dwell among them, and manifest His glory through the nation. However, He could only do this fully through those individuals whose hearts were truly submitted to Him, believing Him. As with the nation of Israel, and more so with the body of Christ, the will of God is to dwell in the heart, to manifest His glory in the individual member of that body, and in the entire body. The key for this to happen is not only by the individual walking in the light of God’s presence and truth, but also, walking in unity with the other members of the body of Christ.
The basis for believing God to fulfill all of His covenant promises with regard to His church is knowing the truth concerning His work. Paul writes, “…For by one Spirit are we ALL baptized into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13) It is uniquely by the Spirit of the living God that each member of the body of Christ is an integral part of that body. Secondly, we need to see that God has, in His sovereignty, “…set the members EVERY ONE of them in the body, as it has pleased Him.” (v.18) In doing so, He has given to every member spiritual “gifts” for the mutual building up of the body of Christ. This He has done in His wisdom and love, so that, as the members live in this union with Christ, and walk in unison one with another, there will be the “…manifestation of the Spirit.” (v.7) The greatest demonstration of the revelation of Christ in His church, is the love of God by the Spirit. There is no purpose, or experience, higher than this, that the body of Christ dwell together in unity, and there be the powerful demonstration of the love of God, one member for the other.
Dear Father, give to us to see and understand Your majestic and wondrous work in Christ, creating and establishing His body. O, fill us with Your blessed life by the Spirit, revealing Christ to the world in the power of Your love, by the Spirit. We praise and thank You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad