Revival Ministries Australia

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The church

The Body of Christ

Christ is the Head

“And He is the head of the body, the church,”

He has first place.

“who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.” Colossians 1:18

“God gave Christ to be head over all things to the church.” Eph.1:22

He fills the church with His fullness

“which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills the all in all.” Eph.1:23

As the Head of the church “He is the Saviour of the body.” Eph.5:23

The Church is the Body

As such “the church is subject to Christ.” Eph. 5:24

All believers have been “baptised into Christ Jesus” (Rom.6:3) and thus we have become “members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” Eph.5:30

The church is many membered.

“For in fact the church is not one member but many”

1 Cor.12: 14

Each member is set in the body.

v.18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

Many members but one body.

v.20“There are many members, yet one body.”

God composed the body and there are to be no schisms in the body

(v.24-25)

Yet each member is an individual within the body.

1Cor.12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ and members individually.”

There is a divine order in the body.

v.28 “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

Christ died for a spotless church.

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing , but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Eph. 5:25-27

And God raised her to sit with Him in heavenly places.

“And raised us up together, and made us sit together

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph.2:6

Growth of the Church

The church holds fast to the Head and the body is nourished. There is growth as each part supplies what the other parts need as:

“holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (the church) grows with the increase that is from God.” Col.2:19

The church grows as a result of the equipping that comes through the release of the five fold ministry gifts of the risen Lord. Eph. 4:11

The church “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Eph.4:15-16

Peter reminds the church that the word of God causes growth. “Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2

The Glorious Church – the Bride of Christ

This is the church for which Jesus died. He cleansed her with the washing of water by the word so that she would be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:25-27)

He nourishes and cherishes His church. (v.29)

There is to be a wedding so that the church will be fruitful.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” Rom. 7:4

The preparation for this wedding is taking place in the heavenly realms.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:2

John is shown “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (v.9), “having the glory of God” (v.11).

The glory of God in the bride church illuminates all around. (v.22)

The church reveals the glory of God as Christ, the Head of the church, fills the church, His body, with His fullness.

“Christ in us, the hope of glory” Col.1:27

Finally, it is the bride church who invites the Lord to return.

“The Spirit and the bride say ‘Come’!” Rev.22:17