What does the Body of Christ Look Like? - Part 2 of 5

This is a continuation of the previous discussion about the body of Christ, which has focused on 1 Corinthians 12:12. Part 2 will focus on 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 to further describe the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”

We “joined” God's team when we were baptized into the body of Christ. Baptize comes from the Greek words baptizo and bapto which mean to overwhelm, wash, make fully wet, and to stain. “Overwhelm” means to overpower in thought and to cover over completely. Through Jesus's resurrection and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we are overwhelmed, covered completely, washed, and, yes, even stained with Jesus's blood!

The word “stain” usually gives a negative connotation, such as the discoloring of our clothes or the carpet. But stain also means “a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in penetrating the pores of wood”. Look at these cabinets – they were not this color when they were 1^st carved but a stain was added to them to give them this beautiful color. The stain penetrated the pores of the wood to completely cover these doors.

Think about our bodies in the natural – we have pores in our skin. They are minute openings in the membranes that allow absorption or passage of liquid. We put lotion on our skin and it is absorbed. We sweat, and water comes out of our pores.

What about the “pores” of our minds and hearts? In the spirit, aren't they openings that allow us to absorb Jesus? Jesus's blood has stained us and penetrated our minds and hearts and souls and has changed us forever so that we will never be the same again! “As he is, so are we”! (1 John 4:17)

Regardless whether we are talking about the Tigers or the Sons of God, we are each a part of a whole. We are joined, fused together, connected by coming into union with Christ. And we must demonstrate oneness, inseparability, uniformity, singlemindness, and consistency in what we proclaim to be the truth of the gospel – that Christ lives in us and will never leave us or forsake us!

It doesn't matter, as the scripture says, “whether they are Jews or Gentiles, bond or free”. We “have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

One of the definitions of the word “made” is:

• fitted, intended, or destined by or as if creating

God fitted us, intended for us, and destined for us to drink into this one Spirit. The Greek definition for “drink” means to “furnish drink; irrigate; give (make) to drink, feed, water”. By directing us to “drink into this one Spirit”, God is intending us to be irrigated (or refreshed) with entry or inclusion into His Spirit by feeding on His Word, absorbing his word. It was His plan all along for every single one of us!

Verse 14: “For the body is not one member, but many.”

Just as the Tigers are considered an organized group on the court, the Sons of God are an organized group in the world; a mass that is distinct and different from other masses; a group of disciples organized for God's purpose; a group that gives shape to/represents the body of Christ.

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html  If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.