The church, the body of Christ on the earth, has the advantage in the world.
It is important to emphasize “the church, the body of Christ on the earth.”It is not merely “the church as a group of believers.” But that the church as a group of believers is the body of Christ on the earth.
Let’s look at two (2) things in regard to the advantage of the church, the body of Christ on earth1. The distinction that Jesus Christ has made regarding the advantage.2. The distinction Paul says in regarding the advantage.
First, the distinction that Jesus Christ has made concerning the advantage of His people, the believer, the church, the body of Christ on the earth.John 17:14-16 (NKJV) 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.We are in the world but not of the world.Matthew 16:15-19 (NKJV) 15 He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Peter says, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus says, “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” “The Rock” is the revelation Peter had that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
God is alive and living in the world today in the church, the body of Christ on earth.
* In Jesus prayer before being taken captive for His crucifixion says in John 17:18 (NKJV): 18 As You (God) sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. * How did God send Jesus in the world?Acts 10:38 (NKJV) 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
This is how the disciples and apostles went into the world after the resurrection of Jesus.
Second, the distinction Paul has made concerning the advantage of the church, the body of Christ on the earth.Ephesians 1:17-23 (NKJV)17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. “He put all things under His feet to be head over all things “to” the church,”The word “to” or “for” the church is derived from the Greek word for church, “ekklesia,” in the “dative case.” The dative case indicates the recipient of who or what is receiving the action. In this case of ekklesia it is the church who is receiving the action of Christ’s resurrection power. You could use for the “dative case” the word “to” or the word “for.” When you use the word “for” it is understood to mean “for the benefit of.”
This gives the church, the body of Christ on the earth, the advantage.The action is God through the power of Christ’s resurrection has put all things under the feet of Christ.But it does not stop with this.Paul continues further to describe the feet of Jesus Christ by saying, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
The church is the body of Christ on the earth empowered with the resurrection power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the grave to preach the gospel in the love of God, establish righteousness, be the salt and light of the world, heal the brokenhearted and set captives free.In Romans 6:13 Paul says that “we are instruments of righteousness against unrighteousness.”
We have just established that God has put all things under the feet of Christ, the church.
→ Now, here is where it gets interesting.1Corinthians 15:24-28 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says, "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him “is excepted.” 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him (God) who put all things under Him (Jesus), that God may be all in all. Hebrews 2:8 “You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. Notice: Paul says in Ephesians that all principalities, powers, might and dominion have been put under the feet of the church, the body of Christ on the earth and now in 1Corinthians Paul explains why we still see these powers at work in the world. It is because the completed work of Christ on the cross in His death, burial and resurrection has not been released to the world but only to the church. Why? It is because God through Jesus Christ has given this authority and power to do His work on the earth as it is in heaven. Now, I want to bring in John 10:10 here to help understand this.John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.“May have” is in the subjunctive mood indicating a “wish” and implying “something necessary to be done.”
God has put all things under the feet of the church, the body of Christ on the earth but most born again believers are not walking in their position that God has given them. Paul says in Ephesians 3:20 "He is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that you could ask or think according to the power that works in you." The key here is "according to the power that works in you." We all have the generating power of the Holy Spirit, but we do not all have the same generating power "at work" in us. This does not mean you do not go through trials, tribulations and the storms of life but what it means is that you do not go through them like the world.
Jesus taught this in the parable of the two houses that went through the same storm but did not go through that storm in the same way. One was built on sand, and the storm tore it into pieces. The other house went through this same storm and the storm beat on it put it stayed together. We "the church, the body of Christ on the earth" have the advantage and need to be releasing the power of God through us. The eyes of the Lord are searching throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully trusting and believing in Him, 2Chronicles 16:9.
Next will be on “Releasing The Power of God In Your Life, For The Advantage.”It is titled, “A Bond Slave.”