We are coming to a close in the Biblical truth about the true Israel and the true Jew. As we have learned, the true believer in Jesus Christ as their High Priest, King, and Redeemer is the true spiritual Israel. As previously mentioned, there is just one ‘church’, one body of Christ, and one Israel. We will now look at more references as to the one body of Christ and what that means to all of us.
Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Once again we are reminded of being both united in faith and humbled by our faith. There is no hierarchy of faith. All are equal before the LORD. All that we have is a gift from GOD, none of our talents or gifts can we claim as our own. They are GOD given for His glory not ours. Now we know that we have to exercises our gifts for GOD to receive the glory, so we are not to be idle but must be active in using our gifts.
12:4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Again we are reminded of the one body, even as we are each unique members. A body that doesn’t have use of all of its functions of its members would be considered handicapped.
12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 12:7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 12:8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Everyone is given one or more gifts from GOD, but no one gets to choose their gifts nor does anyone get all the gifts. As all are needed, it is imperative that everyone needs to use their gifts accordingly.
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Paul begins this teaching with the somber reminders that we need to walk i.e. live in a humble manner to the very unique and specific calling from GOD. Here we read the emphasis on unity. Satan hates unity of the body so has many schemes to divide us in a myriad of ways. Our sinful flesh often agrees with his schemes and to the world we look like we cannot agree. You may have heard critics of the ‘church’ say that we all have the same Bible but all interpret to our own desires and purposes.
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Once again we are reminded of the oneness of our calling. There are not two or three bodies, even though it may look like it to the world. We all need to rethink why there is so much division in the true body of Christ.
How does GOD view this disunity?
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Paul closes with this amazing reminder.
All we have has been specifically given to us by Jesus Christ. It is all a gift. A gift we neither deserve or can earn. All we can do is humbly, thankfully, and reverently just need to accept.
We may be on our last study next Saturday on the true Israel.