Ephesians 1;21-23
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. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
This “Module” includes three lessons that are planned according to the Bible.It is a three in one module:
1.What is the Church?
Many people understand the church as a building. The Biblical meaning of the word “church” is not a building.The hi word ” ekklesia “. The word ” ekklesia” is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of a church is not that of a building, but of people. We , as the Church, are ” an assembly” or are called – out ones.In our case the Church is a Body of believers who believe in Jesus Christ.We are the Church that will live with God forever.
The story of the Church of God began in the Old Testament.The Church began with Abraham being called by God to leave his country in Mesopotamia in the city of Ur. This country today is called Iraq, in the Middle East. In this country all kinds of gods were worshiped. In order for Abraham to worship one God, the God we worship told Abraham to leave his country and go “to the Promised Land, in Canaan.
Today’s Church began when all the people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ were called from all over the world. God called us and told us to come out of the bondage of sin by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal saviour.If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you are bound by sin forever. You will go to hell and start to serve the death sentence.You will experience torture and eternal torment.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are freed from sin. You listened when God called you and said, “Believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.” Your sin is forgiven. You will go to heaven and live with God forever
Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epænetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ
2. How is the church the Body of Christ?
The phrase “the Body of Christ” is a common New Testament metaphor for the Church (all those who are truly saved). The Church is called “one body in Christ” in
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
“one body” in
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
“the body of Christ” in
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
and
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
and “the body” in
Hebrews 13:1-3
Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
The Church is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ in
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
and
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
When Christ entered our world, He took on a physical body “prepared” for Him
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body hast thou prepared me:
but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Through His physical body, Jesus demonstrated the love of God clearly, tangibly, and boldly—especially through His sacrificial death on the cross
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
After His bodily ascension, Christ continues His work in the world through those He has redeemed—the Church now demonstrates the love of God clearly, tangibly, and boldly. In this way, the Church functions as “the Body of Christ.”
The Church may be called the Body of Christ because of these facts:
1) Members of the Body of Christ are joined to Christ in salvation
but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
2) Members of the Body of Christ follow Christ as their Head
and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
3) Members of the Body of Christ are the physical representation of Christ in this world. The Church is the organism through which Christ manifests His life to the world today.
4) Members of the Body of Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Christ
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
5) Members of the Body of Christ possess a diversity of gifts suited to particular functions
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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. 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. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 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? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 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. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 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. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” (verse 12).
6) Members of the Body of Christ share a common bond with all other Christians, regardless of background, race, or ministry. “There should be no division in the body, but . . . its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:25).
7) Members of the Body of Christ are secure in their salvation
and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
For a Christian to lose his salvation, God would have to perform an “amputation” on the Body of Christ!
8) Members of the Body of Christ partake of Christ’s death and resurrection
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.
9) Members of the Body of Christ share Christ’s inheritance
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.
10) Members of the Body of Christ receive the gift of Christ’s righteousness
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Paul says, “Greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers.
3.Why are there so many Christian Denominations in the world.
We must first be able to differentiate between the denominations within the Body of Christ and non-Christian cults and other religions. Presbyterians and Lutherans are examples of Christian denominations. Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are examples of cults (groups claiming to be Christian but denying one or more of the essentials of the Christian faith). Islam and Buddhism are entirely separate religions.
The rise of denominations within the Christian faith can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation, the movement to “reform” the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th century, out of which four major divisions or traditions of Protestantism would emerge: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican. From these four, other denominations grew over the centuries.
The Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers in the Church of God are all Shepherds of God’s sheep, The Church. None of us is the Head of the Church. Only Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church of God. All the members (parts) of the Church of God submit to Jesus Christ who is the Head.
Ephesians 4:11-13
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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:
We are all important and equal in the Body of Christ. We are servants. We need to serve all the children of God, regardless of where they attend for their services in the Local Church.We cannot discriminate against those who are born of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We all form One Body of Christ.We belong to One God,One Christ,One Spirit and One Kingdom.Satan and his demons want to keep us divided.There is no way we can remain divided for the Holy Spirit joins and seals us permanently into the Body of Christ.Nothing can separate us from the Love of God.
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Roman 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We function according to our different Spiritual Gifts. Christ loves us with one love. We need to love and respect one another as the children of One God.Jesus Christ gives us different Gifts with which to serve one another in the Body of Christ,The Church. Jesus Christ does not judge us.He loves and supports His children as the Head of the Church.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Here on earth, God intercedes for Himself using His Church. He has sent us as his Church to tell the people that this world will eventually come to an end. There will come a brand new earth where we will live with God forever. The Church of God includes every person who has been born again.Any person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is an ambassador of the Kingdom of God on earth.
We are the Church of God.We have been sent to tell people to be reconciled with God, because if people are not reconciled with God, they will die and perish forever. Jesus Christ did not know sin. God made Jesus Christ sin for us, so that in Jesus Christ we can be made the righteousness of God. We are the righteousness of God.
John 3:3,5,14-15
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
We should all speak “on behalf of our God”. Our God trusts us in our intercession. We intercede for our God.
Our God does not impute our sins to us.This means God no longer holds our sins against us because Jesus Christ paid for them through his death on the cross. Jesus Christ dealt with our sins accordingly.
Psalms 49:7-9
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, And it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, And not see corruption.
Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we , the Church of God, will not die. We will live forever. We were dead . By the death of Jesus Christ at the cross we are saved. Jesus Christ died in our place. We were imprisoned in our sins . Jesus Christ freed us from the slavery of sin.
Jesus Christ won the battle on our behalfs.He freed us from the bondage of sin. We just walk freed by Jesus Christ from the slavery of sin. Please, read what Jesus Christ said to Peter :We cannot discriminate against those who are born of the blood of Jesus Christ. Even those who have not yet repented, we cannot abandon them. Christ has not abandoned us. Those who have not been saved are the sheep of this fold. They are lost .We must bring them back to the body of Christ. Please,learn what Jesus Christ said to Peter::
John 21:17-18
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
The Church belongs to Jesus Christ.Once you have that mentality of becoming the owner of the Church,you will try to run away with the Church of God.Once again, God forgives you for the sin of selfish ambition.You are failing to allow the children of God to freely worship God with other members of the Body of Christ.
The Church is the Body of Christ, of which Christ is the head.We,the Five Fold Ministry,are not the head of the Church.We are the servants.We are the Sherpards of the Flock.We service the Church.The Head of the Church is Jesus Christ. God put Jesus Christ to be the Head of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ .The body of Christ is made up of all believers who believe in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until the return of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, there are only two Churches,namely the Church that live all over the world, the International Church and the Church that live in the locality,the Local Church.The Local Church is organised and provided leadership in the organisations called Christian Denominations.The Christian Denominations have done one good thing on earth,that is, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to save the lives of many people.However,there is one bad thing the denominations are doing:This ist holding firmly to the doctrines of the denominations at the peril of the Body of Christ..Their doctrines divide the Body of Christ.It is therefore,the responsibility of the Five Fold Ministry to teach the Church to hold firmly in the teachings of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ said to Peter: ” Upon this rock I will build my Church,and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 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.”
The sects have done something good in the world, by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to save many people. However, there is a bad thing done by the sects”,that is, telling people to adhere to the teachings created by their leaders.They have abandoned the teaching of the Word of God. For example,it is not Biblical to say enter heaven by works.If you do not tithe you are going to hell. This teaching undermines the great work done by the Blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross, His Blood was shed, our sins are forgiven so that we enter eternal life.
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Matthew 16: 16-19
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 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. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 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.”
The Universal Church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a genuine personal relationship with Jesus Christ.Not every Tom,Dick and Henry is a member of the Church.One must have a genuine and strong relationship with Jesus Christ in order to become a member of the Church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”
We do not see ourselves as a big Christian denomination, but we enjoy being part of the Body of Christ. We enjoy being in the Local Church and being part of the Universal Church. The people we call ” Branches ” are Local Churches. They are not Branches “.They are The Church.The Local Churches have been given a complete anointing by God. They have brains. They have eyes. They have all the power to make decisions that affect their Local Church.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church
We are identified with the Church by our faith in Jesus Christ.We are the Church,as long as we believe in Jesus Christ.We are part of the Body of Christ.It does not matter which Christian denomination we go for Church services and worship,we are brothers and sisters in the Lord.We must love and respect one another.Identifying with the Church means having confidence in who you are as a believer in Jesus Christ. The Church means the worldwide body of Christians.
We are seen to be the Church of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. We are indeed the Church of God. As long as we believe in Jesus Christ, we are part of the Body of Christ. It does not matter which denomination we take refuge. We are one in the Lord. Let us not allow the names of our denominations to divide us.The denominations are for a while.But the Church will live forever. We belong to the eternal Kingdom,the Kingdom of God. We need to love and respect one another. Let us not disdain one another. Joining the Church of God means being sure of who you are by believing and trusting Jesus Christ. The Church means the body of Christ on earth in the whole world. Jesus Christ is the Head of the body.
All those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ in the world are the Universal Church.The denominations and congregations are not the Church,but they help the platforms upon which the Church get the teachings about Jesus Christ.The Church buildings are not the Church.The Church is one and comprises all the people who believe in Jesus Christ.There are many denominations now, God wants to see the Church working in one accord as the Body of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body.
The local church is described in
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches—they had a localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local churches. A Baptist church, a Lutheran church, an E-Free church, etc., is not the church, as in the universal church; rather, it is a local church, a local body of believers. The universal Church is comprised of everyone who belongs to Christ. Members of the Universal Church should seek fellowship and edification in a local church.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.The Local Churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Jesus Christ Members of a Local Church may or may not be members of the universal Church depending on the genuineness of their faith.
The Local Church is where believers can fully apply the body principles of encouraging, teaching,and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ .
We will end up having a number of Apostles, Pastors , Evangelists, Prophets and Teachers who are willing to work in close collaboration as a response to a prayer made by Jesus Christ in
John 17.
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 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. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 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; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
The roles and responsibilities of the Five – Fold Ministry are to unite the Church that will be taught up to Heaven very soon.The roles and responsibilities of the Five – Fold Ministry are not to divide the Church of the Living God.Please,read what Jesus Christ is saying in
Matthew 12:30
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
and in
Luke 11:23
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
The Church International Body of Christ 
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