39.What is the attitude of an individual toward his own physical body?

He is concerned about it; he does not hate it.

People have a high regard for their own body, feeding it, clothing it and attending to its needs if a bone is broken or if blood is flowing from a wound. People enjoy making a good appearance in the flesh and desire to be healthy and strong.

In the same manner Christ views the saints as being part of His own body. Christ feeds the saints, clothes them with righteousness, and attends to their needs if they are "broken" or "wounded" in any manner. Christ enjoys making a good appearance in His Body and desires that His Body be healthy and strong.

Christ cares for the members of His Body just as we care for the members of our own body.

The Christian Church is the Body of Christ. Each Christian person is part of the Body of Christ.

The Apostle Paul reveals this truth to us. There is no greater truth in the universe.

The consequences of being part of Christ go far beyond our ability to understand at this time. It is enough for us to realize that God is becoming incarnate in us just as He is incarnate in His beloved Son.

The Lord God of Heaven is enlarging His Being, not in angels but in people. We are being created an integral, eternally inseparable part of God Himself. Every person who receives Christ becomes an enlargement of Christ, an enlargement of His resurrection glory.

The Jews know of the coming of Christ to be with us. The mystery of the Gospel is that Christ is being formed in us. This is a "mystery" even to the present hour. Who is able to comprehend and receive such love, such splendor? We are an eternal part of Christ forever and He is an eternal part of us. This is spiritual marriage—marriage to Christ for all eternity.