The Importance of the Body of Christ

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As we are praying for an outpouring of God’s Spirit, and also for God to bring forth gifts and ministries in each member of our assembling, we are becoming aware of the what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ, of the Body of the Messiah who is to come and establish justice on the earth.

(2/6/2005) As far as I know, the concept that the promised Messiah, Christ, consists of a great Head, and then a Body, which is His fullness, was given only to Paul the Apostle. We do not see this idea in the other New Testament writings.

I dare say that to be a member of the Body of Christ is an assignment so utterly important that all else of our life becomes insignificant by contrast.

The Holy Spirit gives various gifts and ministries to the Body. Although these gifts appear to be temporary, limited to the Church Age, it may be true that if we are faithful in using our gifts they may grow into a larger enablement that then defines what we are as a member of the Body.

For example, we may use the gift of prophecy, giving ourselves to it, until we become a prophet. Perhaps this office will carry over into the coming Kingdom Age.

In other words, the gifts and ministries of Romans, Chapter Twelve, and First Corinthians, Chapter Twelve, may be much, much more than appendages we add to our business-as-usual discipleship.

The Lord Jesus Christ has been made a priest after the order of Melchizedek. This means Christ is King of righteousness (His scepter is one of righteousness); King of peace (the Prince of Peace); and also the eternal Priest of God.

If this is true of Christ, then it is true of each member of His Body, in that the Head and the Body form one Divine Organism.

I am not indicating that we are as great in rank as is the Lord, nor were we with God from eternity. We did not create all things, as did He. Nevertheless our office is that of a king-priest.

It if my point of view that the 6,000 or so years of the history of the world have been for the purpose of bringing forth God’s king-priests, the brothers of the Lord Jesus. God has purchased the whole field, as it were, the whole drunken, insane debauchery we term the "world," because there is a treasure in the field. The king-priests are that treasure.

There may be a billion professing Christians in the world, including all denominations and persuasions. Within this mass of believers there may be but a few who are worthy to walk with Christ in the white robes of the priesthood.

To attain to the high calling of the king-priests requires every bit of dedication we can bring to the effort.

Small is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to the crown of life.

Whoever reads these words can choose to be a king-priest of God after the order of Melchizedek. But you will have to trust in the blood of the Lamb; you will have to follow the Spirit each day as He makes you a testimony of God’s Person, will, ways, and eternal purpose of God in Christ; and you are going to have to love not your life to the point of death.

There will be people in these last days who will attain to this goal. It can be you.

We are different from Melchizedek in that he was not a son of God. We who follow Christ have been born sons of God.

Now we are pursuing the priesthood that is empowered by indestructible life.

As I said previously—nothing, absolutely nothing—in this world compares in importance with being a member of the Body of Christ. When we are saved and baptized with the Spirit we have the potential to become one of those who will return with the Lord Jesus and install the Kingdom of God upon the earth.

Whether we develop this potential depends on whether we choose to follow the Apostle Paul in laying aside all else that we may gain Christ.