Building Up The Body of Christ (3)

Body of Christ and visible church

the building up the body of Christ is quite different from running local congregations. They are not the same thing. Jesus identify his family members in spiritual terms:

“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:49–50) God’s covenant people have His Law written on their hearts and minds, As it is written in Hebrews 10:15-16 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
It is written in 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. God’s church, the body of Christ is under his leadership.
But even during the apostolic age, their local congregations have both sheep and goat, wheat and tares, that means some disciples mixed with “many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers” (Tit 1:10). As Paul pointed out in verse 16, They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.(NKJV) Paul highlighted the difference is in the fruit of doing good works, or not. He wrote in chapter 3 verse 14, And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Modern local churches today have gone further away from the early churches, their congregations have dedicated buildings with organized structure, a leadership team for doctrine position and activities. The head of these churches is not Christ, they don’t hear his voice, as Paul Washer said in his sermon “I’ll be honest”: “A Chinese Christian, after visiting the United States and seeing all our churches and everything, do you know what he said? He said, ‘I am absolutely amazed at all that you people can do without God. It’s absolutely astounding what you can achieve.’ [I’ll be honest]
Beware hidden trap, many local church’s membership require allegiance to the leadership of that mixture —leaders who are not concerned about knowing God’s will. They have built organizations, not the body of Christ. The two are not the same.
True spiritual condition of many believers in these last days is written: 2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5, 7-8 (NIV) But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, …… having a form of godliness but denying its power. …… always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

Paul also warned about these teachers in 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They are everywhere today, especially in the organized religions. Their focus is on growth and attendance, not holiness and repentance.

The Building Up Process

there are 2 stages in the life of a disciple. First, we walk in the flesh, worldly, controlled by our old nature. This is where most remain. Second, we walk in the Spirit— surrender our own will and plan, so that we can do God’s will. This is what Paul meant when he said, “until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). This means imitating Christ.
at this level you don’t need anyone to teach you, because of the anointing. 1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
However, many fail to fight the temptation with the Word to become victorious in this spiritual battle. As Jesus compare them to the seed sown among thorns in Matthew 13:22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

the Urgent Warning we have to hear today

We have to re-learn how to repent, because many of us are still struggling at the first level, walking in the flesh and living with sins. We have to remember the danger of growing in sin, as it is written: James 1:14-16 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.

We have not really learned this Psalms 1:1-2 yet (NKJV) BLESSED is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Take heed the serious warnings that false teacher and rebellious people want to erase from the Bible. 1 John 5:16-17 (NIV) If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
And again it is written in James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. But what have we done? We keep skipping these verses as if they didn’t exist. We are too self-centered to put the word into practice.
Almost no one realize the consequence of absence of confession of sin, with no one seek the Lord for further instruction of how to bring them back. Think about the example in Galatians 2:11-14 (NASB) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? How many disciples have stood condemned till their end, with no one pointing out their hypocrisy? On the other hand, too many ignorant and ungodly want to justify sin by twisting Jesus’ word “do not judge”.

No Increase of Faith but Grow in Sin

God’s people are sleep walking into the deadly trap setup by the devil, growing in sin, instead of faith. So many have no faith and knowledge of God, they have difficulty in seeing truth from the Scriptures. Because they delighted in false doctrine and cheap grace gospel. Decade after decade, they listen to sermons with no anointing, as the blind guide leading the blind. The Scripture has good description of them, such as 2 Timothy 3:7 (NIV) always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
It is written in 2 Peter 1:5-9 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
the body of Christ are experiencing backsliding and stagnation of faith due to unlimited tolerance of sin. They were defeated in the spiritual war, being taken captive by the enemy. We need to be very gentle with them as it is written: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Everyday we feed our soul and mind with lots of information, most of them are garbage and evil. Only few are practicing the Lord’s prayer: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:4) Due to the lack of confession, more sin will creep in, and they slowly accumulates. Then it become less likely to understand what’s written in 1 John 3:7-9 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Nor what is written in 1 John 5:18 (NIV) We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We have to remember it all the time, not to be deceived by false hope or self-righteousness.
Because too many blind are leading the blind, as Jesus said in Matthew 15:14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit. They can’t see any warning from the Scriptures, such as 1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
We all face the real risk of making presumptuous sins. I have to confess I am still careless, I should have pray Psalm 19:13 lot more often: Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
I know the Scripture: Hebrews 10:26-27 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. And we are instructed to judged ourselves in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. But I somehow keep forgetting all the time.
I have to examine myself, after much prayer and meditation, I can see I have very little faith and love, but too much laziness and carelessness.

Step One in Building Up the Body of Christ

Jesus told us the first step is taking up our own cross, the cost of becoming his disciple, the dying to the self. Without this step, we would not repent the old way of life, then can’t really learn anything from him, but continue to live in sin. For 1 John 3:6-8 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. This is not easy, for we don’t know how much we sin everyday, or how comfortable we feel when sinning.

When we Listen and obey the Word: When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. And then we have hope. When we speaking the Psalms to ourselves, we let the Spirit speaking to our heart and soul more directly than reading only.
Men-made doctrines and theologies (they maybe well received by the majority) do not help people to become like little child, as Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Mat 18:3). There maybe some truth in them, but the effects to discern correctly will take lots of time and energy. Look for those who have obeyed the Word: “If any anyone speak, let him speaks as the oracles of God“. Obviously, the rebellious and deceivers will not obey. They can’t build up the body of Christ, but will hinder those who want to grow in faith, as Jesus said, in Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Therefore, do not put any hope and trust on men, only trusting God through prayer.

Examine our Heart’s Posture

Jesus taught us how to discern the heart in Luke 18:11-14 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Pharisee has a heart blind to his own sin, he thank God for his perceived moral superiority and believes he has already met God’s standards. The tax collector, by contrast, ask for mercy because he can see his sin. The dividing line between them is not external behavior but inward sight: the ability to recognize one’s own sinfulness. A humble heart is precisely what Jesus calls “poor in spirit” in the Beatitudes.

In the same way, If we fail to see and repent of our own sin, we risk falling into the same hypocrisy. Our prayers inevitably reveal our true posture before God—nothing can be hidden. With this in mind, guard against the influence of self-righteous teaching. Remember it is written: Isiah 66:2 …… This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Only those who seek the Good Shepherd can truly approach the mercy seat in truth and reverence. As Psalms 5:7 (NKJV) But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Without the fear of the Lord and absolute respect for His Words, we can’t truly see him nor hear his voice.

Called into Fellowship, Imitating Christ

We were called into fellowship. As it is written: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV) I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pay attention to this phase, “for in him you have been enriched“. Not everyone who reads this verse is enriched; only those who truly live “in him” will experience this enrichment. Because they believe “in him” and imitate him, they are called into fellowship with his Son. This calling is re-emphasized in 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Verse 5 makes it very clear that this fellowship depends on how we walk: 1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The promise that “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” does not suggest our sin will be wiped out if we choose not to repent. For it is written: Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Furthermore, Hebrews 10:14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Again not every one who read this verse is made perfect forever, only the humble heart who trust and obey the Word can experience this reality.

Too many sheep unknowingly follow the paths of rebellion, and thus fail to imitate Christ. Let us ensure we do not follow their example. There is no shortcut to holiness; it requires patience, humility, and waiting on the Lord for truth and understanding.

During meditating, I realize we almost overlooked a crucial truth: our “fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” We have neglected the ultimate importance of the Mercy Seat, The Throne of Grace. As it is written: Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. The time of need is now. Let us seek Him for mercy and grace, for we are still too ignorant of God’s judgement and his righteousness.

Psalms 119:1-24 (NKJV)
BLESSED are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.
You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.
Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the proud–the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies.
Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

(To be continued)