The Body of Christ in the World
If all of us, if all of the world, was in the body of Christ, the world would be a different place. What is the body of Christ? The body of Christ is made up of Christians. The body of Christ humbles ourselves, we love and forgive others, we put others before us. Why is that offensive to people? Is that easy to do? No. We often fail, we are all imperfect and broken and fall far short of His grace. But if all of the world was in the body of Christ there would be no hate, there would be no crime, there would be no selfish agendas, there would be no war. As you consider your earthly body, your body works in unison with other parts of your body. Your right hand does not try to cut off your left foot. We can still be individuals within the body of Christ because the body of Christ also does not try to harm the rest of the body. If the world was in the body of Christ we would live in peace, love and joy on earth, it would truly be heaven on earth. The world described is heaven.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
When you hear of or see Christian groups going around the world to help people in need -first of all, they don’t have to do that-
‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.’ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
When we are saved by Grace through faith, that’s it, we are in the family of God, we don’t need to do anything else. We are not saved by our good works -AT ALL- but by grace alone, by receiving Jesus alone, not by how good we are. Right living does not always produce right believing, but right believing will produce right living. Christians don’t need to help people in need, but they do, these are the fruits of Jesus. They do it to show the love of God through their words and actions. It’s a stretch to hear about Islamic groups, Buddhist or Hindu groups or any other faith groups going around the world to bring help to people in need. It’s a stretch to hear about other faith groups showing this kind of love to others, God’s love for others. This is what the body of Christ does, these are the fruits.
At the last supper, Jesus prays for oneness for all believers- “…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one I in them, and You in Me;” (John 17:21-23)