No Life Beyond the Body - I Peter 4:7-11

New Site at TheGJCOC.com!

Introduction.

1. We noticed last week that the fellowship in Christ's church was to be similar to the intimacy found in a family

2. In this lesson, we shall consider how the church in its fellowship is like a body

a. With Christ as its head

b. And its members dependent upon the head and each other so that it can be truly said there is no life beyond the body!

Body.

I. IS THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST?

A. WHAT THE BIBLE SAY?

1. Colossians 1:18

2. Ephesians 1:22-23

B. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE CHURCH?

1. WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST - Ephesians 5:23

a. He saved it out of love, and by giving Himself for it - Ephesians 5:25

b. He did so that He might make it a glorious church - Ephesians 5:26-27

1) By sanctifying and cleansing it

2) So it might be holy and without blemish

2. WE ARE NOURISHED and CHERISHED BY CHRIST - Ephesians 5:29

a. Even as husbands do for the wives they love

b. This suggests that the work of Christ in behalf of His church goes beyond just dying on the cross, but continues on in some way

3. Outside the body of Christ, there is no life!

a. There is no salvation outside the body, the church! - Ephesians 5:23

b. There is no spiritual nourishment outside the body, the church! - Ephesians 5:29

II. HOW DOES CHRIST PROVIDES LIFE TO THOSE IN THE BODY?

A. DIRECTLY, FROM THE HEAD TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY

1. As He suggested by the figure of the vine and branches - John 15:5

2. As illustrated in the statement of Paul - Philippians 4:13

3. So the direct and individual relationship we have with Christ is one avenue of the "life" (i.e., nourishment, strength)

B. INDIRECTLY, BY THE PROPER WORKING OF EACH MEMBER

1. Each member has been given some ability by the grace of God - Romans 12:4-8

2. We are expected to "minister it to one another", i.e., use it to the benefit of others - 1 Peter 4:9

3. When each member is doing its part, the body is capable of building itself up in love - Ephesians 4:15-16

C. THUS WE RECEIVE LIFE (STRENGTH) FROM TWO SOURCES

1. Directly from Christ (through our individual association with Him)

2. Indirectly from Christ (through our association or fellowship with the members of His body, the church)

3. An EXAMPLE of this:

a. We can receive "comfort" directly from God in Christ - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a,5 ( through prayer - Philippians 4:6-7)

b. Yet we pass this "comfort" along to others - 2Corinthians 1:4b

c. For that is how God often provides "comfort" to us indirectly - 2 Corinthians 7:6-7

III. ARE YOU SAYING EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY IS IMPORTANT?

A. EVERY MEMBER IS NEEDED FOR THE BODY TO FUNCTION WELL

1. No one can say they are not important - 1 Corinthians 12:14-19

2. No one can say others are not needed - 1 Corinthians 12:20-25

B. WE ARE SO INTERDEPENDENT AS MEMBERS, THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE AFFECTS ALL!

1. As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12:26-27

2. So when a member begins to reason within himself

a. I am not needed

b. I won't be missed

c. There's nothing that I can do that is important

d. and by such reasoning remains an inactive member, the whole body suffers!

3. In such cases, the body (church) becomes "handicapped"!

a. The church is not working at its full potential

b. Because there is not what Paul described as the effective working by which every part does its share - Ephesians 4:16

4. And when the body (church) is handicapped

a. Christ is unable to provide the full extent of His life and nourishment!

b. For as we have seen, the body (church) is one means by which He does so

c. The end result is that growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love does not occur!

Conclusion.

1. When we understand that the church is the body of Christ and functions like a body which needs the working of every member

a. We see the need for becoming more involved

b. We see the need for doing what we can to improve the fellowship among those who make up the body

2. Why would we deprive OURSELVES of the nourishment Christ provides through the members of His body?

a. For that is what we are doing when we don't have much fellowship with others in the body!

3. Why would we deprive OTHERS of the nourishment Christ can provide through the members of His body?

a. For that is what we are doing when we fail to add what we can do to the fellowship of the body!

4. Let's all work at being more productive members of the body of Christ, so that we may all benefit by the mutual strength and edification we have in Christ!

-- Don Treadway, May 2002 --

New Site at GJCOC.us!

P.O. Box 307408, Gahanna, Ohio 43230 • Meeting at 7816 Havens Road, Blacklick, Ohio

10/05/2012

New Site at TheGJCOC.com!

Text: I Peter 4:7-11

Introduction.

1. We noticed last week that the fellowship in Christ's church was to be similar to the intimacy found in a family

2. In this lesson, we shall consider how the church in its fellowship is like a body

a. With Christ as its head

b. And its members dependent upon the head and each other so that it can be truly said there is no life beyond the body!

Body.

I. IS THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST?

A. WHAT THE BIBLE SAY?

1. Colossians 1:18

2. Ephesians 1:22-23

B. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE CHURCH?

1. WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST - Ephesians 5:23

a. He saved it out of love, and by giving Himself for it - Ephesians 5:25

b. He did so that He might make it a glorious church - Ephesians 5:26-27

1) By sanctifying and cleansing it

2) So it might be holy and without blemish

2. WE ARE NOURISHED and CHERISHED BY CHRIST - Ephesians 5:29

a. Even as husbands do for the wives they love

b. This suggests that the work of Christ in behalf of His church goes beyond just dying on the cross, but continues on in some way

3. Outside the body of Christ, there is no life!

a. There is no salvation outside the body, the church! - Ephesians 5:23

b. There is no spiritual nourishment outside the body, the church! - Ephesians 5:29

II. HOW DOES CHRIST PROVIDES LIFE TO THOSE IN THE BODY?

A. DIRECTLY, FROM THE HEAD TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY

1. As He suggested by the figure of the vine and branches - John 15:5

2. As illustrated in the statement of Paul - Philippians 4:13

3. So the direct and individual relationship we have with Christ is one avenue of the "life" (i.e., nourishment, strength)

B. INDIRECTLY, BY THE PROPER WORKING OF EACH MEMBER

1. Each member has been given some ability by the grace of God - Romans 12:4-8

2. We are expected to "minister it to one another", i.e., use it to the benefit of others - 1 Peter 4:9

3. When each member is doing its part, the body is capable of building itself up in love - Ephesians 4:15-16

C. THUS WE RECEIVE LIFE (STRENGTH) FROM TWO SOURCES

1. Directly from Christ (through our individual association with Him)

2. Indirectly from Christ (through our association or fellowship with the members of His body, the church)

3. An EXAMPLE of this:

a. We can receive "comfort" directly from God in Christ - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a,5 ( through prayer - Philippians 4:6-7)

b. Yet we pass this "comfort" along to others - 2Corinthians 1:4b

c. For that is how God often provides "comfort" to us indirectly - 2 Corinthians 7:6-7

III. ARE YOU SAYING EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY IS IMPORTANT?

A. EVERY MEMBER IS NEEDED FOR THE BODY TO FUNCTION WELL

1. No one can say they are not important - 1 Corinthians 12:14-19

2. No one can say others are not needed - 1 Corinthians 12:20-25

B. WE ARE SO INTERDEPENDENT AS MEMBERS, THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE AFFECTS ALL!

1. As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12:26-27

2. So when a member begins to reason within himself

a. I am not needed

b. I won't be missed

c. There's nothing that I can do that is important

d. and by such reasoning remains an inactive member, the whole body suffers!

3. In such cases, the body (church) becomes "handicapped"!

a. The church is not working at its full potential

b. Because there is not what Paul described as the effective working by which every part does its share - Ephesians 4:16

4. And when the body (church) is handicapped

a. Christ is unable to provide the full extent of His life and nourishment!

b. For as we have seen, the body (church) is one means by which He does so

c. The end result is that growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love does not occur!

Conclusion.

1. When we understand that the church is the body of Christ and functions like a body which needs the working of every member

a. We see the need for becoming more involved

b. We see the need for doing what we can to improve the fellowship among those who make up the body

2. Why would we deprive OURSELVES of the nourishment Christ provides through the members of His body?

a. For that is what we are doing when we don't have much fellowship with others in the body!

3. Why would we deprive OTHERS of the nourishment Christ can provide through the members of His body?

a. For that is what we are doing when we fail to add what we can do to the fellowship of the body!

4. Let's all work at being more productive members of the body of Christ, so that we may all benefit by the mutual strength and edification we have in Christ!