THE BODY OF CHRIST

By Des Walter

It is important for us to understand what these terms mean in the scriptures. Most Christians consider that all those who claim to belong to Christ constitute the BODY OF CHRIST, but this is not so. First of all let us look at our physical body in the context of Christ’s body. We must bear in mind that CHRIST is not a HUMAN BEING, and neither is it the Surname of Jesus. Christ is the Messiah of the Old Testament who was invisible, but was able to appear at certain times in bodily form for a particular purpose.

This is the one created in the image and likeness of God in the beginning, that God called MAN. John calls him THE WORD or LOGOS who was in the beginning with God and was God. There is no mention of any corporeal body in connection with this one. However John goes on to tell us, “And the WORD BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, full of grace and truth.” Jn 1:14. If he BECAME FLESH then we know that he was not FLESH before he came to this earth

It must be evident to all that if CHRIST is SPIRIT then his body must of necessity be of the same substance. This we would call a SPIRITUAL BODY. Our problem is that the majority consider this physical body to be all that we are. Therefore when they receive Christ they believe they have eternal life and will live forever in some ethereal heaven in this same body with a few adjustments. Christians speak of family ties in heaven, and meeting parents and relations who have passed on before. So to be “SAVED” means that, what we see in the mirror is “saved” and will live on forever. This is the concept of immortality most Christians accept.

In reality, IMMORTALITY is a LIFE we can live now, in which there is no fear of death in any of its forms, for it has been destroyed and no longer exists. “Forasmuch then as the children (of God) are partakers of FLESH and BLOOD he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through DEATH he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.” Heb 2:14

There are two basic parts to our being, the SOUL and the SPIRIT which form the SPIRITUAL, invisible part of man, and the BODY which is physical and material. When we speak of D-E-A-T-H we consider it to involve the taking of LIFE from the BODY. This is a traumatic experience for all Christians who still live in the carnal mind where what we can see is the reality. The CARNAL MIND says :- I am a separate entity from God, having come from the dust and will return to the dust, and THIS IS THE DEATH which has come upon all men.

THE CARNAL MIND IS DEATH. Whenever the Carnal mind functions in us, WE ARE DEAD. The GOOD NEWS is, that the WILL and PURPOSE of GOD for man has been revealed in Jesus Christ WHO HAS ABOLISHED DEATH, AND HAS BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL. 2 Tim 1:10.

“For we know that if our EARTHLY HOUSE of this tabernacle (Temporary Tent) were dissolved, WE HAVE (not will get) WE HAVE a BUILDING OF GOD, A HOUSE (not a tent) NOT MADE WITH HANDS E-T-E-R-N-A-L IN THE HEAVENS. 2 Cor 5:1.

Where is that “BODY” NOW? This is the ”BODY” Christ has NOW IN THE GLORY, which is not a flesh and blood Body Christendom tells us he has up in the sky somewhere. Flesh and blood cannot dwell in the realm of Spirit. But I want you to notice that Paul uses the word “BODY” in the singular and never in the plural with regard to the BODY OF CHRIST. THERE IS ONLY ONE BODY OF CHRIST!! There are not a million SPIRITUAL BODIES IN THE HEAVENS waiting for us to put them on.!! THERE IS ONLY ONE and that one, is THE BODY OF CHRIST.

That BODY is available for us N-O-W to put on, so we are told to PUT OFF the old man and his way of life, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL DESIRES, AND BE renewed in the spirit of your mind. Then PUT ON THE N-E-W MAN (WHICH IS CHRIST) WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED (NOT BORN) IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.

Paul says, “If any man be IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION.” 2 Cor 5:17. Beloved we are speaking in this section about the BODY OF CHRIST about which Church theology has distorted the Truth leaving the saints confused. Every one who is BORN OF GOD was CREATED IN CHRIST Eph 2:10. So in the realm of Spirit or heaven, there will only be that MANY MEMBERED MAN that is CHRIST. James confirms our origin when he says, “Of his OWN WILL BEGAT HE US WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH that we should be a kind of first fruits of the HIMSELF KIND.” God’s will and purpose for man is this, “As we have borne the image of the EARTHY, we shall also BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY which is CHRIST.” 1 Cor 15:49.

 Paul says to Timothy, “Without controversy, great is the mystery of GODLINESS or GOD LIKENESS. God was manifested IN THE FLESH, Justified in Spirit, seen of messengers, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and TAKEN UP IN GLORY” 1 Tim 3:16. Beloved when we see beyond our physical identity into the reality of OUR BEING we are not looking at FLESH AND BLOOD at all, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT CHRIST the SON OF THE LIVING GOD.    

Excerpts from THE WILL AND PURPOSE Of GOD