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The Second Sunday in Epiphany
January 18, 2009
We are the Body of Christ

NKJ Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
 
Paul is teaching us about the church—and as we discussed many times there is only one church on this earth—there was one church when Jesus left—and there is one church today
 
We are members of that church—and we need to understand what that means—being a believer and a member of THE unified Church of believers on this earth is not like being a spectator at a sporting event—it is more like the example we used to explain our sermon hymn—Onward Christian Soldiers
 
We are soldiers in God’s Army—we surrender our individual identity to be identified only as one of Christ’s redeemed—we become part of something much larger than ourselves—Christ is the Head—we are the body—anyone who has been to a parade knows a marching army attracts spectators who watch intently as they pass—so it is that the unbelievers of this world watch Christians as they march through this life—therefore we must set a good example
 
In the first verses of this chapter—Paul instructs Christians to renew their minds by offering themselves as living sacrifices—he’s not telling us to physically offer ourselves—but to sacrifice our participation in the pleasures of this world—we do this in obedience to God and for the sake of the unbelievers—that they might observe our example—and be led to the Gospel message because of the hope we have
 
Notice that Paul’s description of the gifts of faith are all gifts that are shared with others—prophecy—ministry—teaching—exhortation—giving—leadership—showing mercy—and cheerfulness—we are to use our gifts for our neighbor’s benefit—not ours—these gifts are given by God to His Church through us—it is not about us—it is about the Church—we are merely the privileged participants
 
Our life in this world is for the glorification of God—we are here to do God’s will—to participate in God’s plan—and again as we discussed many times—our citizenship is in heaven—and we are on earth by His grace—to do His will—God has work to do through us—again this is a privilege
 
NKJ Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
 
We are citizens of heaven—and this life is a journey to do the will of God
 
NKJ Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
 
Christ came to this world to liberate us all from our imprisonment to sin—and we are in this world to be part of the Body of Christ—to help liberate others from their sins to become part of the Body of Christ—the Church
 
NKJ 1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
 
NKJ Ephesians 4:16 …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.
 
WE ARE BORN MEMBERS OF CHRIST
 
Consider the physical example of the eye—the eye is an eye from birth—because God made it an eye—the eye sees because it is an eye—it is not made an eye because it can see—the eye cannot boast about its ability to see—because it had nothing to do with obtaining that ability—it is a gift from God
 
Similarly, no Christian can boast about being a member of the Body of Christ—it has nothing to do with anything the Christian did—he is not a Christian because of anything he did—he is a Christian by the grace of God—it is a gift!—that no man can boast
 
NKJ Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
 
It is through faith that we are saved—and our faith is a gift from God—no one can boast—Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit—and it is the Holy Spirit that gives us understanding and faith
 
NKJ 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
 
NKJ Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 
We are born into the body with our new birth—through no merit of our own—we didn’t decide to be born the first time—and we do not make a decision to be born again into the Body of Christ—God chose us before the foundation of the world
 
NKJ Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
 
It follows that Christians are not Christians because they do good works—but a Christian does good works because he is a Christian—cause always precedes effect—effect never precedes cause—good works are an effect of being a Christian—not the other way around
 
Those that teach that man must do works to earn heaven and salvation—in effect they are teaching that “effect” produces “cause”—can a muscle become a tongue by speaking?—does running make feet?—does hanging from an apple tree make you an apple?—What foolishness!—we do good works because we are God’s—and all good is of God
NKJ Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
 
EACH MEMBER SERVES ALL THE OTHERS
In the body, each member conducts itself in a way that profits the other members and the body itself—such as the eye prepares the way for the hand or the foot—the foot is careful in carrying the body so the eye does not get injured—every member cares for and serves the other members—hence the body is served
 
NKJ Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
 
Christians should conduct themselves likewise—act in a way that will profit the other members—build them up—assist them for the sake of the body of Christ
 
TEXT:  NKJ Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
 
EACH MEMBER SUFFERS AND REJOICES WITH ALL
NKJ 1 Corinthians 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
 
Each of us must become true members of the body of Christ—if God gives you a duty—perform it according to your full capacity—don’t allow yourself to be distracted—rejoice in the work of others—again, it is not about us—it is about the Kingdom of God—the Church
 
CHRISTIAN GIFTS
Our gifts differ—thank God for all of His gifts of grace to His Church—Paul uses these words “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,”
Letting Scripture interpret Scripture—here’s another example from Paul’s writings.
 
NKJ 1 Corinthians 12:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: …11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
 
[Luther]  “The wretched condition of all Christendom, divided into innumerable sects, is, alas, plain testimony that no body nor member, no faith nor love, seems longer to exist anywhere.  Unity of mind in relation to the various gifts of God cannot exist in connection with human doctrines.  Hence it is impossible for the orders and the doctrines of our ecclesiastical lords to stand with unity in mind; one or the other must fall.
 
Faith brings gifts of the Spirit—these are the chief blessings of faith—different measures of faith and gifts for different individual Christians—not based on our merit or our will
 
We should leave here knowing that there is one Christ—one Church on this earth—and one way to salvation—and all these are all a gift of God!
 ALL GLORY BE TO GOD