The Work of Reconciliation

The Blessing of Reconciliation

Book of Ephesians 2:11-22

Reconciliation is a change from being an enemy to becoming a friend and it is mutual between both parties.

Before we begin this lesson today, we must clearly understand God will never compromise His position or go against His Word to become our friend.

It is we who are sinners who must make a change. It's called "repentance"!

Today many of the church are trying to compromise with the sin of the world, and going against the Word of God.

That congregation may feel they have done the right thing, but God will never approve of such things!

We can never compromise the Word of God because His Word is settled In Heaven and it cannot be changed on earth!

We need to understand what God has already done:

1) Before Jesus Christ, God dealt with man through the Jewish nation. Since Christ (the Messiah) has come God has dealt with humanity on a world-wide scale in those who would follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Those who claim there were writings before the time of Moses have forgotten the Tower of Babel, where God scattered all people to their different locations and certainly there would be many similarities, but the 66 books we have are the complete and the whole truth.

God takes the Jew and the Gentile (all others than Jews) and creates a new race of people called the Christian by this evil world!

2) Before Jesus Christ, God dealt with nations but after the Messiah, God is dealing with the individual through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3) God is no longer dealing with earthly divisions of nations. God is dealing with a new nationality a new body of people, the Body of Christ, the Church! These are the same ones who will join Christ in His New Kingdom!

These are all those who have been born again into the family of God.

These are the same ones who can look back and see how far they have come, since accepting the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.

*****Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

As Christians we should be able to look back at the miserable condition we were in before coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way.

The word Gentile means all others but the Jews. (Sometimes even called Heathen)

The word uncircumcision means all those who are not in the covenant that God made with the Abraham.

The word Circumcision would mean Jews, but only the Jews who are under the covenant God made with Abraham. (would include some Proselytes)

Circumcision involved the removal of a certain piece of flesh by some other human being, with that skill.

The most important statement in this Scripture is, "that we were without Jesus Christ". "We were cut off and separated from God"!

To be a Christian is to say, "I am not what I once was"! "I am a used to be"

We were not only lost through our sin, but we were one step away from eternal death, eternal separation from God!

When we remember these things, we should feel joy.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

As Christians when we look back, we can see that we once lived in spiritual misery!

When I look back, I can remember many days that I thought I was having fun, but I can remember just as many days I was in total misery!

The Jews intended to keep God to themselves and this led to their own downfall!

No one, nor no one nation owns God!

The Jews rejected God's Son, and it brought their destruction, a destruction that just recently has shown signs of recovery.

God turned to the Gentiles and this allowed the Jews to grow again. The Jewish nation has always grown through adversity!

The all-time greatest event by far in the history of our world was the visit of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

If the world cannot accept this, then this world will see the wrath of God while still living in a world with no hope.

In this season of the birth of Jesus Christ, there far too many who suffer from SAD. This is Seasonal, Affective, Disorder and the cause of this thing which brings so much "depression" into their lives is a lack of light. Many believe it is a lack of sunlight because of the winter months but , they suffer from a lack of the Light of Jesus.

Do not fall into this trap of depression but come to know the Savior, who is also the Light of this world!

Those so full of depression and live without hope will stand before God in their own person and be separated from Him forever.

Those who have trusted in the work of the Lord, the light of this world will stand before God, with Christ, and will live eternally with God.

To be without Christ is to be lost and to have no hope!

Isa 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Isa 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

To know Jesus Christ is to be washed in His blood and freedom from sin!

*****Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The world is so blind not to realize that it is "sin" that separates humanity from a loving God!

It is sin that separates one group of people from another.

It is sin that destroys families!!!!!!!!

Sin not only has broken harmony with God but has continued to bring this world toward destruction!!!!!!

Only Jesus Christ can bring us near to our God, the only God.

We are made nigh to God "by the blood" of our Lord!

The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the blood of the everlasting covenant that can never be changed nor made to be void!

Jesus Christ came to this earth to give every human being an opportunity to draw nigh to God!

God loved each of us enough that He was willing to forgive us of all our sins.

God had already said that the wages of sin was death and this problem had to be overcome and only He had the power to do this!

Since we as individuals could not solve this problem without our own death and since there had never lived a perfect human being, then God had to do this thing Himself!

God had to provide the perfect and ideal man who was willing to die, so all mankind could get an opportunity to be saved that they never had.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for our sins. This was His mission. But while He was here He took the time necessary to see that all the world would have the knowledge of salvation, then named the "Gospel" which is the "Good News" of God's plan of salvation!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

God had to physically show us all just how much He loves us!

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has made a way for us to be at peace with a God who despises sin!

*****Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

The Lord Jesus Christ did not purchase our peace because the Lord Jesus Christ "is our peace" in His person, simply because Jesus Christ is the Peace-Maker!

Jesus Christ has broken down the wall that was between the Jews and Gentiles to form the Church, the Body of Christ.

What was the Apostle Peter's greatest lesson?

Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; "but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean".

The majority of our world still have not learned this lesson!

We are all in this thing together and together we can be a force for peace, that peace being in Jesus Christ.

There are no barriers in the Church caused by God, there are only those barriers we put up ourselves.

All those who come to Jesus Christ by faith, not only receive the free gift of salvation, but all receive a common love, a common purpose, and a common work.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

If we go back to the Tower of Babel we know that those who had forsaken the commands of God, the Heathen, were scattered all over this world and had wandered far from God.

Gen_11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

God then chose one people who became Israel to continue to bring forth the true Word of God not like the distorted writings of others.

In fact, it is the Jews who took so much care to preserve the Word of God!

Because Israel later forsook God, God then forsook these people for a time. Remember Israel was just one speck on the globe and God's plans included all people who would call upon His name in this entire world.

Rom_10:13 For "whosoever" shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (red and yellow, black and white, they are all precious in His sight)

1Ti_2:4 Who will have "all men" to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (all humanity)

The Jews not only had the Word of God, but they had the laws of Moses. There 613 laws that the Jews tried to keep just for one year and then they could be forgiven and then begin a new year, but it was impossible for any human being to keep all those laws.

Just to break one of those laws would mean they had failed and the wages of sin was death even at that time.

This is the thing that the Lord Jesus Christ abolished with His own death on the Cross at Mount Calvary, where He also spilled His life saving blood!

Mat_5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, "but to fulfil".

God would never destroy the Law because all the Word of God is perfect, but the ceremonial law was imperfect in that it was not the answer to salvation.

Heb_9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

It was only the Lord Jesus Christ who could do these things because He was also perfect.

No one has to ever approach God through laws and sacrifices or works or ceremonies of any kind.

The only way to approach God is "by faith" in the work of His Dear Son!

Those that still choose to try to reach God by some law need to realize that they must obey all the Law everyday of their lives, which is impossible.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

That word enmity is the opposite of friendship. Those who remain in opposition to the truth of God!

We do not have the right to choose what manner we will worship our God and He has established that we will worship Him by faith in the work of His Son!

There is no way to worship God beyond this truth!

It is Jesus Christ that has broken down the wall of partition between all mankind and God!

*****Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

What is it to be incorporated?

We must be united in one body. This is the Church. This is the Body of Christ

We must be incorporated with Jesus Christ before we can be reconciled to God!

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

That word reconcile means to change thoroughly, (from enemy to friend), to restore the relationship that Adam once had with God, before sin entered his life.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

In the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil of the Temple was rent into from the top to the bottom and a way was made into the throne room of God because this is the only way we can approach the throne of "Grace", it is by His Dear Son.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

There is just no way to realize all the things that Jesus Christ finished when He gave us His life to reconcile us to His Father and our God!

Joh_19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

As believers we are not only free from sin, but we are forever free from the punishment for sin.

God is the One who has done the reconciling, we had absolutely no part in this work. God is the One who reached out to humanity and not that mankind reached out to God!

From the very moment the Lord Jesus was born upon this earth, His actions were there to teach us peace.

Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Virgin birth.

The Manger.

The swaddling clothes.

The shepherds.

Many other things.

The Lord Jesus had to wait until the age of 30 according to Jewish law to be a relevant preacher and during His short time of 3 and 1/2 years, He preached not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles.

We certainly must understand that by the Holy Spirit, The Lord Jesus Christ is still preaching every day to all those who call on Him through "Faith".

Joh_14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jesus Christ will preach to those who love Him until we meet Him face to face!

*****Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Those who reject the power and the truth of the Triune God certainly do not understand the truth of God, because only the believer can understand the riches of God's Word.

Through Jesus Christ all mankind can have access by the Holy Spirit to our Father in Heaven.

There is nothing confusing about these words!

The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is at the center of all Christian Doctrines!

This is a thing we know of our God, but it is only part of His Wonderful Character. Three natures but One God!

It can be called the mystery of mysteries to those who are lost but also the absolute understandable truth to the true Christian!

He is also Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier in three persons but One God!

The source of all things is One God, whose name is Jehovah!

Exo_6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ, all those who believed, have "Faith", can one day come face to face to Jehovah God!

Jesus Christ is the only One who can open the door into God's presence!

Jesus Christ is the only One who can cause us to be citizens in Heaven!

*****Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

The household of God begins as the Church here on Earth and ends in the New Heaven throughout eternity.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

How did we all begin before we met the Lord Jesus Christ? we must remember verse 12.

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

How did these things change?

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If we be Christ's, it is because we have the "faith" of Abraham!

1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We are not angels, we are not Jews, "we become Christians" if we follow the example that Christ has given us but more important we become Saints.

There is no other way to become a Saint of God!

As Saints we are set aside for God's use as He sees fit!

We speak of people and we speak of nations but as saints we are citizens of the New Nation that God is creating!

A nation that consist only of one family, the family of God.

We are adopted children who will be before the Lord continuously throughout eternity!

To understand adoption, we should understand we have a new relationship with God forever.

Our relationship is as a Father to His newly born child, "a baby".

We will always, even throughout eternity, have moment by moment contact with our Father.

We will have a special relationship, a family relationship, with all the other of God's children.

We are no longer under the authority of the powers of this world but are now under the authority of our heavenly Father!

We have already been adopted and we are waiting our Lord Jesus to pick us up and take us home to be presented to our Father!

Our big Brother, who is our God, will soon come to take us home.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And we will be just like Him!

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

All because we have faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the words He gave to those 12 Apostles and by understanding that God had said these things could happen all along.

*****Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Notice how God builds His Church to house His Saints.

Every building needs a solid foundation!

The greatest of buildings also have a Chief Cornerstone!

Each "Born Again" child of God are then the building material to construct the greatest of buildings which is the Church.

Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Remember that word dispensation actually means "house-management", God personally manages the building up of His house.

Remember the Tower of Babel how those people tried to build a building that would reach into Heaven, but this could never be done because it did not have the proper foundation.

God also builds His army by making the Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation.

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

God has written the Words of salvation by His Personal Author.

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The Church that God builds will be "fitly" framed together!

*****Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

To have a perfect understanding here, we must remember the Temple that King Solomon built how the stones were so perfectly cut that when they were put together they did not require any mortar because there were no gaps.

Mortar would represent sin in this example.

Those who reject the Old Testament, reject some precious examples that God used to explain the "Gospel" to the Jewish People.

Those that reject the Old Testament reject that salvation came by "faith" such that Abraham had, just as it does today. A faith such as Abraham had in the truth of God!

We cannot reject any part of the Word of God and "yes all denominations", we must understand "a literal translation" of the Word of God!

Just had to throw that in.

The whole structure of God's Church rises like a great pile of "everlasting living" materials into an Holy Temple of the Lord!

This structure is dedicated to Jesus Christ and will be inhabited by Him in New Jerusalem!

The Church is alive today and the Church will always be alive because it cannot die!

Every living member of this Church will always have a function and a purpose.

Every believer from every "Age" since the time of Adam, will have a part in this Holy Temple of God!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ and only the Lord Jesus Christ who places every believer in their required position! (He decides this not us)

With every believer being filled with the Holy Spirit, what a magnificent building it will be! Glory, Glory, Glory

*****Eph 2:22 In whom "ye" (you) also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

This "you" represents each believer, each Christian, in the church in Ephesus.

This "you" also represents the Church itself.

Each and every Church that is built with these same guidelines is a building structured for God's purpose!

Each member is an essential, living, stone, placed into this building.

The stability of the Church lies in each stone placed by the hand of God into the exact place, so this building can carry the load, each stone carrying its own load therefore fulfilling the purpose of the Church!

The Holy Spirit of God will dwell within each believer to conform this glorious work of the Lord to an image of God's will in this evil world!

A church is not a church if the Holy Spirit is not in control of its members!

Psa 68:16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

The place that the Lord has chosen is the same place we need to be!

Amen

The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit

The Problem Of Dysfunctional Members

1 Corinthians 12


To function in the Church is to perform the duty that God has called us to do!

God has given us all a ministry!

Our ministry is the ministry of reconciliation!

The true meaning of "reconcile" is to exchange a sinful life for new relationship with God.

In fact there are two parts of reconciliation.

1) All mankind was reconciled to God prior to faith and all mankind was then rendered savable.

Rom 5:10  For if, "when we were enemies", we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

2) Each individual can then can be reconciled to God, once he believes!

2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, "who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ", and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The emphasis of reconciliation is that of making peace with God!

The sin of Adam created a barrier between man and God and rendered man hostile toward God!

The truth is that God removed that barrier, by the Lord Jesus Christ, and produced peace, enabling mankind to be saved!

It is God who initiated this change as He moved to reconcile sinful man to Himself!

That's why it is called "Grace"!

Man then is the object of God's reconciliation!

It was man who moved out of fellowship with God, therefore man needed to be restored to that fellowship!

God made reconciliation available to the whole world but is is only effective when it is received by personal faith!

God has never moved away from His creation!

Man moved because of sin and man must move back without sin!

Since that was impossible God came to us as our Savior!

*****1Co 12:1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Co 12:2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
1Co 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

The Apostle Paul teaches that God has given spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church, the Body of Christ.

A spiritual gift is a "God-given" ability for service in the work of the Church!

In this chapter we will learn that it is the Holy Ghost who is building the "Body of Christ" while the Lord Jesus remains as the Head of that Body!

In the growth of the Church, God calls, Jesus adds, The Holy Ghost builds!

It is Jesus Christ who is the source of nourishment of the Church:

Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, "even as the Lord the church":
Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Jesus Christ is the source of all Spiritual gifts but the Holy Spirit administers them!

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

It is the Holy Spirit that monitors these gifts and no one who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, can then curse Him or His gifts!

There may be great diversities of gifts but only One Holy Spirit to administer them all!

*****1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

It is a fact that different individuals perform different services in the Church.

But we would be foolish if we refuse to accept the Trinity of God in the path of the Church!

1) Some can have the same gift but apply it in a different way but we have only One Lord who directs all ministries and assigns all functions!

2) Some gifts have different effects on different people but it is the One Same God who is the source of all things!

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

3) Though the Lord directs the ministries, and God is the source, it is the Holy Spirit within each believer that works to bring profit to the Body of Christ.

It is the fruit of the Spirit that that the world sees when we walk in the way of Christ Jesus!

*****1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

There are at least 20 or more different gifts mentioned in the New Testament that can be given by the Holy Spirit for the work of the Church.

No individual would have all the gifts nor would any church.

Many of these gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles!

Some of these gifts have ceased with time and others could be added as needed.

These gifts are gifts of the Holy Spirit, "as He will", never "as we wish"!

Most gifts are a gift of God's "Grace" and are not naturally developed abilities or talents!

**This gift of wisdom involved the direct revelation from God and is then the whole system of revealed truth.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

This gift as revealed by Paul has ceased since we now have the complete Word of Truth, the Old and the New Testaments!

**The gift of knowledge is closely related to wisdom and is the ability to properly understand the truths that were revealed to the Apostles and the Prophets.

This gift of knowledge would also have involved communication of God's direct revelation and had also ceased with the completion of the Scriptures.

There will be no new knowledge because God has given us all we need to know on how to get to Heaven, where we will then have the mind of Christ!

*****1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

**All believers have saving faith or they could not be saved "But" all believers must exhibit faith in order to walk with God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This gift of  "faith" as described by Paul is a gift only possessed by a few believers.

This is faith that is required to step out in complete trust that God will provide that need!

This the faith that is required for God to do the impossible!

**The gift of healing involved the ability of a person to cure other persons of all forms of sicknesses!

The healings of Christ Jesus and the Apostles were instantaneous, complete, permanent, unconditional, and had purpose, were subordinate to preaching, significant to confirm the Lord and the Apostles, and included the raising of the dead.

There is a difference between the gift of healing and healing itself!

The gift of healing ceased with the death of the Apostles and the completion of Scripture!

Healing still occurs as God responds to the prayers of His children and the supreme healing is to be taken on into Heaven where there is no sickness at all!

We should also realize that there are times when God chooses not to heal for His on reasons but we can be sure of this one thing.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

*****1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

**The study of the miracles in the Bible is great subject.

Miracles were never random occurrences in the Scriptures.

Miracles are recorded in the days of Moses and Joshua.

Miracles are recorded in the days of Elijah and Elisha.

Miracles are recorded in the days of Jesus and the Apostles.

Not many miracles occurred outside these times!

God enabled those He called to perform miracles to substantiate a new message they were giving!

The New Testament miracles were used to validate the New Message of Jesus and the Apostles!

We now have the complete New Testament and miracles are no longer needed to validate it's message because it is by "faith" in the Word of God that we should live.

The gift of miracles and miracles are separate actions. God still performs miracle at His will!

The gift of miracles ceased upon the completion of the Scriptures but miracles can occur today by the action of answered prayer.

God may heal a terminally ill person in answer to a prayer but God does not do this any longer through any other person!

There are no healing preachers!

**Prophecy. The Prophets of God received their information through direct revelation from God! These were things that a man could not other wise know!

Since this revelation came from God it was always true, therefore the words of the prophet of God were always true!

The gift of prophecy is also related to the foundation of the Church and because the foundation of the Church has been laid and the Scriptures complete, there is no more need for the prophet.

The Word of God is now our written prophecy of the past, the present, and the future of the Church!

**Tongues. The gift of tongues were a part of the era of Christ Jesus and the Apostles and was necessary along with the gift of miracles as an authenticating sign of the Apostles.

Again because we have the complete Scriptures the gift of tongues is no longer necessary.

The gift of tongues was more for the Jews than for the Gentiles in fulfilling the Word of God.

1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

When an unbelieving Jew would enter the assembly of the Church and hear a language foreign to their ears, it was a sign to them that God was working.

Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

**Interpretation of tongues was the supernatural ability of someone to interpret a foreign language spoken by one who had the gift of tongues.

That language would then be interpreted "into the language of the people present"!

All these gifts have only one source!

*****1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is necessary because it is essential for us to mature in Christ Jesus, for our sanctification!

The filling of the Holy Spirit is necessary because it is essential for us to carry on the work of the Lord!

Since it is the Holy Spirit that decides the gifts for each believer then there should be no boastful comparison of gifts.

No gift of the Holy Spirit is more important than any other gift in the work of the Church!

If we will all walk in the Holy Spirit we will all be unified in the work of the Church!

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Holy Spirit will only lead us in the ways of Jesus Christ! If you are moving away from Christ you are not being led by the Holy Spirit!

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Now Paul describes the importance of know all these things. Paul will explain these things by comparing the "Body Of Christ" to our own physical bodies.

*****1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

The truth is the Jesus Christ and the Church form one body and Christ is the Head!

Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches".

Jesus said "I am the Rock, you are the living stones".

We know that the human body is only one body so is the Church with Christ the Head to be one body!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit includes all believers from the Church Age that began at Pentecost and is unique to the Church Age!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings all believers into union with all other believers in the "Body of Christ"!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings all believers into union with Christ!

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

This Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens immediately at the point of salvation and not later as some believe!

Since the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is done by the Holy Spirit and it happens at the point of salvation it does not come from our own thoughts or our own experiences!

The Word of God says it happens, so then it happens, because the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is performed by the Holy Spirit but only to a believer!

The Holy Spirit comes to stay:

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Since all these things are true, then the Church is just "one Body of Christ" with many members just as the human body is one body with many members!

*****1Co 12:15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

The one thing we all know for sure is, we know how important each and every part of our body is to us.

When our feet get tired and need rest then the whole body will stop.

When our hands can no longer hold to things then our whole body will stop until they can.

Just because one part of our body gets weak it does not mean we can do without that part of our body!

Our feet travel in the mire of this world but without them then the ear could not get close enough to hear the important things in life.

The eyes direct our path to keep the whole body safe but even the eyes must be covered from time to time!

The most humble part of our bodies are just as important the more noble parts of our body.

The foot and the hand could represent the "hands on" workers of the Church.

The ear and the eye could represent "those that study and teach the Word of God".

As superior as the eye is to many other parts of the body, the eye still could not properly function without the other parts of the body!

The parts of the body are all not equal in strength or delicacy but each part of our body is happy doing what God designed it to do!

This is the same image that God would have His Church, the entire "Body of Christ"!

*****1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19  And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.

We are a designed people!

Forget what the "evolutionists" say, the human body was designed by God, formed by Christ, and all those that believe are filled with the Holy Spirit!

It is Jesus that made us all:

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It is Jesus that said "I will build My Church".

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock "I will build my church"; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The "Body of Christ", The Church, did not exist when Jesus made this statement!

It is the work of the Holy Spirit in baptizing each and every believer into one "Body of Christ", each having his own purpose in the Church but to function as "One Body" just as the human body!

When Jesus said "I will build My Church", He was not talking about just the local Church but the Universal Church, the entire "Body of Christ"!

We are many members but we are still to be only "ONE" body!

*****1Co 12:21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

The unity of Christians is vital, even more vital in these last days, yet there are still so many denominations, all pulling against one another.

Even the local church is becoming more and more divided because the Church has forgotten that the Church is built by the Holy Spirit with Jesus Christ the Head!

Just as the life of the human body maintains all the various members and nourishes them in harmony, so it is to be in the "Body of Christ"!

It is a fact that the heart, the brain and the lungs, are more important than the hands and the feet but the loss of these things still cripple the human being,

The Church is no different! The contempt of just one member can cause harm to the church!

In today's world, the garments that are worn are man's honor and glory.

So the feet and the torso are covered to bestow more abundant honor.

So the poor of the church are many times considered less honorable.

Since God will not allow these things, God has chosen the poor to be more rich in faith!

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

*****1Co 12:24  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

That word "comely" means the well-formed or the decorative parts.

The face, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the lips etc. have no need of covering or outward ornament but with "Grace" and holiness, they are exposed to the world and there is no need to conceal them!

God has composed the body in such a form, and in such an order and each part of the body are beneficial to each other and this is what God expects of the "Body of Christ"!

God says there should be no divisions in the "Body of Christ" because there are no divisions in the way He tempered the human body. Every part of the human body works in unison with all the other parts!

Each member should have the same care for one another!

There should be "one heart" in all the  "Body of Christ"!

There should be "one soul" in all the "Body of Christ!

Every member of the Church belong to the "Body of Christ" and each has a particular service to perform and each helping each other as the need arises. When one member suffers then all suffer!

But when one member can rejoice then we all can rejoice over the joy of that one!

*****1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Each individual house of God is to be a miniature of what the whole world wide Church is to be collectively!

This does not mean there should be one world wide church but is does mean that each Christian is to be a member of the Church!

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The Church is not the natural body of Christ, "for God prepared that body for the cross" but the Church is the "spiritual body of Christ" that was resurrected to new life and an eternal life!

How did God begin His Church?

*****1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The New Testament Church was built upon the foundation of the Apostles!

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The last living Apostle was John.

This is the Church that God has built and all others are impostors!

The Church is fitted and framed together by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Church is to be a living organism growing as new "believers" are added to it!

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The prophets in this verse mean the wise spiritual preachers.

All preachers were to also be teachers!

There were also teachers who were not preachers and would not ever be.

Those that were helps, would be those to had the gift of sympathy and compassion but would also include the office of Deacon.

Those with the gift of governments would be those good at organizing but also spiritual leaders.

Diversities of tongues would be those who who could converse the Gospel in many languages and could emotionally comfort most all others.

All these things were to bring the "Body Of Christ" into UNITY OF THE FAITH AND THE FULLNESS OF JESUS CHRIST!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

It was God in His providence which has set the order of the Church and nowhere does it say we have the authority to change what God has done!

In fact we need to go back to the things that built God's Church to begin with!

If we are sincere in our asking God will provide the things needed to build His Church!

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

BUT, we should never forget the absolute best trait of the Christian is to be LOVE!

In fact Charitable Love!

Questions?

Let's Pray!