"We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:15-16

Our spiritual birth delivered us into the family of God ... into the Body of Christ. Tremendous and wonderful things happened when we believed in Jesus Christ. Before that we were dead ... and then we became alive. We were enemies of God ... and afterwards we became His friends. We were in darkness ... and then we came into the light. However, our new life has much more significance than just the personal, individual changes. We also became part of His Body. We became equal and important parts in the Body with other believers.

Our life in the Body with other believers has particular privileges and responsibilities. The Bible gives us several illustrations to help us understand what it means to be in the Body. We are part of the Body of Christ ... the family of God ... the bride of Christ ... the house of God ... the temple ... the light ... a nation ... the vine ... and a flock. Understanding the implications of these helps us function properly as members of the Body.

The Bible gives us clear directives on how to function in the Body. In obedience to God's Word, we should follow our spiritual birth with water baptism as an outward sign of our identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. Moreover, we need to be together ... sharing our resources ... being taught ... worshipping ... praying ... and remembering His death through communion. We are also commanded to love one another, to preserve unity, to be pure, and to put love into action.

God has given us the resources that we need to function properly in the Body. He has given four kinds of specialized people, leaders, to equip us. In addition, He has given special abilities, spiritual gifts, to believers ... empowering us to do our part in the Body of Christ. Our proper use of these resources, as we fit into our proper place in His Body, causes the whole Body to grow up in all aspects to bring honor to Christ.

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IN THE BODY 1    PAGES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15    
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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.