The Body of Christ

I. Jesus died to purchase the church

A. Detail about the great suffering of Jesus

B. Purchased the church with His sacrifice

C. Acts 20:28 – Purchased with His blood

D. Savior of the body, Eph 5:25-32

E. Jesus loved the church enough to die for it He cherishes the church and feeds it He cleansed the church with His own blood to make it holy

F. United the church as His body

G. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

H. Baptized into one body Constructed of many members Unified under Christ to glorify Him and do His work

I. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27

J. Though we are individual members, we must be united

K. There must be no schism, or division, in the body

L. Matthew 12:25 – A divided house cannot stand John 17:20-23 – A united house is testimony of Jesus’ glory

M. Same care for one another

N. James 2:1 – Do not show partiality Impartial care for the brethren

II. Where do schisms in the body come from?

A. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – Carnal minds

B. New Century Version: “You are still not spiritual, because there is jealousy and quarreling among you, and this shows that you are not spiritual. You are acting like people of the world.” ISV: “That’s because you are still worldly. As long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, you are worldly and living by human standards, aren’t you?” Reflects a poor understanding of God’s word since so much attention is given to glorifying Jesus through the church and being at peace Carnal thinking focuses more on the things of the world, my personal needs, and less on spiritual things and what is good for the church

C. Fruits of carnal thinking

D. Envy – “pain or resentment because of someone’s perceived advantage” –Merriam-Webster Strife – “bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension” –ibid

E. Divisions – separations, keeping apart, separate groupings

F. Jude further classified these sensual people who cause divisions as grumblers, complainers, and flatterers. Schisms derive from man because God desired a unified body

G. Envy, strife, and divisions are weapons used against God and Christ’s body

III. Danger of schisms

A. Destruction from within, Galatians 5:14-15

B. If we remember Jesus’ lesson of “who is my neighbor,” we know that all whom we associate with—especially our brethren—are our neighbors Just as cannibalism, the devouring of human flesh, is abhorrent, so spiritual cannibalism should be disgusting to us and avoided The apparently non-lethal attacks (bites) often lead to the destruction of the body—though the combatants would not have wished for such an outcome.“Strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are all consumed by broils” [Bengel]. Jamieson, R., A. R. Fausset, A. R. Fausset, D. Brown, & D. Brown. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Ga 5:15-16.“ Note, Mutual strifes among brethren, if persisted in, are likely to prove a common ruin; those that devour one another are in a fair way to be consumed one of another. Christian churches cannot be ruined but by their own hands; but if Christians, who should be helps to one another and a joy one to another, be as brute beasts, biting and devouring each other, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace to them, and the Spirit of love should depart from them, and that the evil spirit, who seeks the destruction of them all, should prevail?” Henry, M. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991. Ga 5:13. Pulpit Commentary : “They put an end to Christian peace. They injure the credit, character, and usefulness of Christian people…The contest will not end in a victory to either party, but will end in the common extinction of both.” Mike Willis: “Christians who are guilty of [“biting and devouring] will utterly destroy each other and will eventually be consigned to Hell, if this conduct is allowed to continue. Weak members will throw up their hands in disgust and quit worshipping with the church.” Truth Commentary: Galatians, p.250

C. Disqualified for eternal life

D. 1 John 3:14-151 John 4:20-5:1

E. Are in danger should judgment come, James 5:9

F. Judge is outside the door, ready to come in

G. In school, the students might be disruptive if the teacher left the room and would hurriedly be quiet when they heard the teacher’s footsteps coming close to the room. When the boss comes in the room, those who are goofing off quickly turn back to the work they should have been doing. We will have no warning for Jesus’ arrival—we will not hear His steps What if Jesus came in the double doors in the back of this building, would we be in danger for grumbling against our brethren?

H. Can destroy our brethren

I. I have talked to many people who lived long lives out of God’s service and most credited disunity and strife among brethren as their reason for leaving the Lord altogether.

J. Could you stand beside that brother or sister in judgment knowing your rudeness and ill treatment discouraged them so that they left the Lord?

K. Could we answer for the children who never obeyed the gospel for their parents were unfaithful during their critical growing years. If the object of our complaining and criticism does not abandon the Lord, can we answer for crippling their efforts to serve God by quenching their enthusiasm for godly service and causing them grief when they assembled to glorify God? Luke 17:1-2 – Better if such a one had been destroyed

L. On Judgment Day, some will have to answer for causing animosity, ill-feeling and fractures in the body of Christ—what will God say to their reasons?

IV. What is the solution?

A. Receive one another, Romans 15:7

B. Christ received us with our faults and shortcomings We must receive others with their faults and shortcomings

C. Longsuffering

D. Ephesians 4:1-4 – longsuffering in order to keep unity Colossians 3:12-15 – longsuffering and forbearance

E. Forgiveness

F. Colossians 3:12 – As Christ forgave you Matthew 18:21-22 – “Up to seventy times seven” Jesus followed this by the parable of the debts; we owe more to God than any brother owes to us; God will not “forgive our debts” if we do not “forgive our debtors.”

G. Do not speak evil, James 4:11-12

H. Demonstrate love to one another

I. Greet your brethren with a holy kiss

J. Romans 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14

K. The kiss was (and in Europe and the Middle East still is) a common way of greeting others and showing respect to one another.

L. According to Thayer it was a “sign of fraternal affection” that “Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith.” Via Romans by Hamilton, p. 864 In Luke 7:43, Simon, who was skeptical of Jesus, insulted Him by not giving Him a kiss when He entered the house. Paul did not introduce a new practice but encouraged them to greet their brethren with affection as is proper in the family.

M. In our society the handshake or a friendly wave is parallel.

N. We—especially men—understand that to not shake another man’s hand is an affront or an insult. We call avoiding greeting one another a “cold shoulder” for there is no warmth of love in the exchange. This violates the spirit of the passage Albert Barnes: “Greet one another in an affectionate manner; that is, treat each other with kindness and love, and evince all proper marks of affection.” Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament

O. 1 John 3:18-20 – Love in deed and truth

P. See this evidenced in the early church, Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-351 Peter 1:22-2:3 – develop sincere love and put off attitudes and actions that would disrupt that love.

V. Conclusion: It is frightening to consider that since the church is the body of Christ, Christ regards my treatment of brethren as affecting Him, Matthew 25:31-46. The bad that we do is evil committed against Christ but the good that we do evidences a love for Christ

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