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I Am A Member of the Body of Christ 2
(Eph4:11-16)
God is love (1Jn4:8).
Through the greatest sacrifice He reveals His love (1Jn4:9-10) and
He takes those who dwell in His love (Jn15:9-10) to the kingdom of His love (Col1:13).
Faith is knowing that one has become a member of the body of Christ and
The life of this faith is loving brothers, fellow members, by the measure of the maturity of Christ (Eph4:13-15).
Brothers born of the same parents, same blood share
The same appearance, characteristics, social class and environment which makes them
The closest tie next after parents, to love, depend on and be honest with (Pr17:17).
In the last days, however, the surge of nuclear families and selfishness of people has
Degraded such relationships to that of jealousy, envy, and rivalry for
This is due to the continuing work of the devil who separated by
Deceiving Adam, the ancestor of mankind, to become God's enemy (Ge2:17, 3:4-6).
The Bible illustrates the events where the tension between brothers is the basis of human tragedy:
The first murder occurred when Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy (Ge4:4-8);
The eternal enmity between Jews and Muslims originates from
The tension between the twins Esau and Jacob (Ge25:29-34, 28:9); and
The slavery of Israel in Egypt for 400 years (Ge37:3-36) derived from
The conspiracy of brothers against their brother for whom the father had special affection.
After the Lord's beloved Israelites were rescued resting between His shoulders (Dt33:12),
They received the commandment to love the Lord God (Dt6:5) and
Love their brothers, their fellow Israelties, as themselves (Lev18:16; Dt15:1-3, 7-8, 22:1, 4).
The sanctuary where the stone tablets and the name Jehovah was
Reminded this to them for generations and
Instilled in them this sense of brotherhood.
Yeshua said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days," because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-20),
He would in the name Yeshua, not Jehovah
Eternally love not flesh and blood but souls
In a relationship between not master and servant but father and children (Ps135:1; Jn1:12), and
Let those who received such love to love one another (Jn15:7, 9-10).
As He suffered greatly He died and said, "It is finished" (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) The Father who gave His Only Son as an atoning sacrifice is truly love (Mt27:46; 1Jn4:9-10);
2) He judged the devil the separator (Ge2:17, 3:4-6; 1Jn3:8, 12); and
3) He died for sinners and demonstrated the love of God for all men (Rm5:8).
He resurrected and entered the kingdom of the Son whom He loves (Col1:13).
The Holy Spirit who came in the name of Yeshua lets
The Father's name and His love of the Son be known (Jn17:26).
He gives the brotherhood consciousness to those who
Through one blood from one Father received one hope (Eph4:4), and
Lets them experience His love and carry it out
In the body of Christ, the Church, whom He loved like Himself (Eph5:25, 29-30).
The mature Christian is he who
Shares suffering or honor with his brothers (1Co12:26) and
Does not neglect the poverty or suffering of his brothers (Rm14:15).
He also does not slander or speak against them (Jas4:11)
But bears with them and infinitely forgives them (Col3:12-14) as
He loves the Father's beloved children whom He left behind
Like a big brother does his younger brothers for
By loving one another he longs to pass from death to life (1Jn3:14).
O Lord,
Let us brothers and sisters have the heart of the Father who
Unconditionally forgives, protects and sacrifices Himself for His children.
Let such site of love that You desire be fulfilled while on earth
Here at the Church of Jesus! Amen.