"WHERE IS THE CHURCH?" by J W LUMAN " 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... and have been made to drink into one Spirit." ( 1 Corinthians 12:12) The scripture teaches three important truths concerning the Body of Christ. First, the Body is Christ. When we were born again something wonderful, and beyond human understanding happened to us. 2 Corinthians 5:14-19 gives light on this truth. In verse fourteen and fifteen we see that when Christ died, all died with Him because all were dead, and He died the death of the cross for all, as all. If you read Romans 5 you will soon discover that all are dead in Adam, in sin. In Adam all died and are dead. (1 Corinthians 15:45) At the Cross, Christ became the last of Adam. There the dead died. God had said; "Thou shalt surely die", and at the Cross, in the body of Christ, it happened. (Romans 6:10) Therefore, when we are baptized into the Body of Christ, we are baptized into His death to sin which is the end of, or the last of our life and our death. (Romans 6:3) We are swallowed up of His death that we may walk in the newness of His life. (Romans 6:4) This is what Paul is saying in verses 14 and 15 of 2 Corinthians 5. When we are placed in Christ we are NO MORE. Verse 17 says, "Old things (all that is Adamic) are passed away. Behold there remaineth only the new (Christ)." In Christ there is only His Life, a New Creation, a New and Living Way. All things in Him are of God; and all things are become, by Christ, the New Spirit of Life - NEW! At the new birth we receive the New Spirit, which is Christ, and are placed in Christ, and are made a part of His own Body. In Him, we have no life of our own. (2 Corinthians 5:15; Romans 6:4,11; Colossians 3:1-3; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:12) Joined to Him, we are made sons of God (Galatians 3:26; 4:6). The Body is not us, we are the Body, and the Body is CHRIST! The second truth we see is that the Body is not one member (you or I), but many; you and I plus as many as it pleases the Father. Therefore, in Christ you cannot live unto yourself, but unto the Body. The plan of God does not center around you, your family, your business, or your personal ministry, but centers around the Body which is Christ. Why is the Body many? Consider Ephesians 1:3-6. Here we read that in Christ dwells all spiritual fulness, and in Him we are chosen, adopted and accepted of God. Yet, it is very clear that we, as ourselves, are not chosen, but only because we are in Christ. Verse 6, "We are accepted in the Beloved." Remember, in Christ it is not I who lives, but Christ! Do you see the truth here? The Father desires many sons after the image of one kind - CHRIST! Not just one, but many who are one. (Romans 8:29) We who are called for the Father's purpose are in Christ for only one reason - that we might be conformed to His own image, and that He might be manifest in many brethren. We are not concerned here with many manifestations, but the manifestation of ONE-in-many. The Father desires many (an untold number) sons who will as One shine forth One Life, and One Image - Sons with whom He may fellowship. Let us then consider the third truth; The many are ONE! God is pleased with only One Son. (Matthew 3:17) That is why each son is in Christ and is made one with Him, so that each son is Christ. Now, no one individual son is Christ, but each being joined together in Christ make up that One Son who is Christ. Here is the mystery: No one believer is Christ; but Christ dwells, in all of His completeness, in each believer. We have no life, but His Life. And we are being conformed (made) into His very image. Paul says, "For me to live is Christ..." (Philippians 1:21) He is both the Head of His Body and the fulness of it. (Ephesians 1:22-23) In 1 Corinthians 12:27 we read, "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular." Because the many are one, no individual member can say that he does not need another: No member can stand alone, no one member can fully manifest Christ. Each member is dependent upon the others in matters pertaining to living the life of Christ on this earth. A member separated from the Body will soon die. No member can of himself bear fruit. All of these statements are found in the scriptures and are true because the Body, though many, is actually one, and the ONE IS CHRIST. When you violate that Body in any one place, you violate it every place it is found. You and I will either live as one unto Him as His Body, or we live unto ourselves using His Name in our folly. Many talk of the Cross, and of dying there, but to die indeed unto one's self is to live as the Body of another, even Christ! As His Body, we are made to understand that our life is really not our own. We are, if you please, debtors one to another, for we are joined in Christ one to the other even as, and to the very same measure that we are joined to Him. It is plain to see therefore, if we leave or forsake one another, we leave or forsake Christ! TO INJURE HIS BODY IS TO INJURE HIM! He is not just in you, you are in Him. This is the mystery that very few have ever seen. There are many carnal Christians today who seem to think that the Body is one member. They go about living their own life, or building up their own ministry, or trying to find their own calling. Someone told me the other day that he and his group had "not found their expression"; as if there were more than one expression. You see, that brother (as many others) is looking for something to do that they think looks like Jesus; rather than looking for one Life to live. Most people "see" Jesus with their natural eyes, regardless of what they call it. The only true expression of Christ is found in Galatians 4:6,"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." All ministries of the Body will come as automatics of that knowledge. So, in Christ there are many members, but one Body. Remember: Christ is not one member, but all members are Christ. To this point, I speak regarding our in Christ position. This is a position belonging to each believer who is seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 3:1- 2). As it is in Christ in heavenly places, it must also be on the earth. Because on earth is where we live that Life which is Christ. (Galatians 2:20) The life and ministry of the Body, which is Christ, must be manifested on the earth. Just as Christ had to have an earthly body to carry out the eternal plan of God on the earth, so must His Body have an earthly vessel. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:21) Just so, on earth His Body shall be called THE CHURCH (Ephesians 1:22-23). There is no difference in His Body and the True Church except one refers to position, and the other to ministry. One is the reflection, or manifestation on earth of the other. In Christ, in heavenly places, we learn Christ. And in Christ on this earth, THE CHURCH, we live and minister His Life to others. In the heavenly we come to knowledge; in the earthly we declare Him who is our Life! The Church is to be the local reflection of the Eternal Body. The only true expression of that Body is the Church - they are one. (Ephesians 1:22-23) The Church is the fellowship on earth of the heavenly Body. The desire of every son of God with knowledge is fellowship. (1 John 1:3) The Body of Christ, in which every born again believer dwells, is constituted by baptism into Christ as salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13). The local Church is constituted by knowledge. (Ephesians 4:13-16) Believers who come to knowledge (faith) in Christ are drawn together by that same faith; and in that place THE CHURCH, which is the Body of Christ on earth, is seen. The Body then is universal, made up of all truly born again believers. The Church is the local manifestation of that Body and is made up wherever believers are joined together by knowledge. (Luke 17:37) Not every group of believers constitute the Church; therefore, they do not reflect the Body of Christ. In such a group, the ministry of Christ cannot be found. Also, not every so-called "Church" is a true reflection of the Body, and does not constitute Christ on the earth. Nonetheless, the only valid witness of the Body of Christ on this earth is the true Church. In the Body each believer is, by position a son of God and joint-heir with Christ. (Galatians 3:26-29) In the New Testament Church there are no positions to be given, but rather sons of God are set in offices of service, each having the same care one for the other knowing that as it is in Christ, so must it be on earth; knowing that each is one member of One Body. The offices therefore are for services, not for exultation. Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 speak of these offices and ministries which are set by God in the New Testament Church. If for some reason these ministries are not in operation, then there is no New Testament Church, and thus no manifestation of Christ in that place. Every New Testament Church must have a shepherd if it is to be a true reflection of the Body of Christ on this earth. (1 Peter 5:1-4) The Church on earth is likened to a sheepfold; and the ministry of Christ, the shepherd, must be present. Thus a group in constant meetings, such as a prayer group or group fellowships, run by laymen (sheep) can never become a substitute for the true Body ministry because definite offices, necessary to constitute the fulness of the ministry of Christ, are not set in order. Every New Testament Church must have a God-ordained shepherd. When this ministry begins to function, then the Spirit will be able to operate all other spiritual ministries as well. God is a God of order and pattern. That pattern is Christ. If a believer has Christ, then he possesses all things in Christ; all that Christ is. If the believer has heard (he that hath ears to hear...Galatians 1) the true gospel and then begins to associate himself with a local body of people who advocate and practice the truths of the Christ Life, immediately he will share in all of the glorious ministries of Christ. Ignorance of the principles of the true ministry of Christ, through His Church, has kept many believers as babes who might otherwise have advanced into maturity. Actually every believer placed in Christ has this glorious heritage with Christ, but long ago the carnal man began to teach works in place of faith. Carnality seems to outlaw the blessed gift of the Holy Spirit subsequent to the new birth; thus, many are deprived of the Teacher of these truths in Christ. Too long the Church has weakened itself by teaching these gifts and offices as belonging to individual members. Each ministry of the Spirit is no less than a manifestation of Christ. No member receives Life separately, each member receives his Life from Christ. No member has a gift of his own, it is a part of that Life which he receives from Christ. In the properly taught Church each Spirit- filled believer, with the knowledge of Christ, will automatically demonstrate Christ by whatever gift or office the Spirit wills, whenever the need arises. The Scriptures teach us that a local body (Church) full of the truth of the Body ministry, will never lack in divine offices being operated or gifts manifested. Knowledge is the Key! Until many are taught, by divine revelation, the truths of the hidden gospel, we will see weakness and carnality in the Church. (Ephesians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10) We will see groups searching for their individual expression, rather than a True Church operating according to divine scriptural pattern. There is no difference in the Body and the Church, but there is a difference in the carnal church and the Spiritual Church. That difference is knowledge. One group of believers may come together and constitute a church program in which many of the gifts and ministries operate, but Christ is not taught in Truth. Believers in this place seek to know God by their senses, not by the revealed Word. Therefore, they have no understanding of the Body ministry. Here, individual members may claim the gifts as their own. Personalities are built up, church programs may be substituted for the ministry of Christ, members may be involved in doing things, rather than the laying down of their lives. There is no ministry of the Living Word, and knowledge is absent. This church is carnal, and it does not reflect the Body of Christ. What is the answer here? Many will say, as did the untaught disciples of Christ, "let's call down the fire of God and destroy this bunch of carnal people!" This is not the true Spirit of Christ. Did He die just for you? Were you found worthy of His blood? Were you born with knowledge? To whom should we lay down our lives? Just to those that we think are worthy, or to one weaker brother also? Will we seek to divide or do harm to that part of the Lord's Body, or will we minister to it in knowledge, understanding that this too is the Lord's Body? Many will use their "liberty" as a cloak of self righteousness and with it destroy Christ's Body, the Church. Let us not forget the spirit of Caleb and Joshua and their reward. There is no excuse for injuring the Body. The New Testament Church is built on knowledge and is a manifestation of the Body of Christ. "Upon this rock I will build my church." Upon this knowledge, which is taught of the Spirit will Christ build that which is a true manifestation of Himself. This is what Christ is saying to Peter concerning the formation and the kind of Church. If the local Body is not built upon spiritual knowledge, and does not reflect the Body of Christ, then it should not be called the Church. In this article, it has been my purpose to clarify the reality and the necessity of the Church. I have not meant to separate the Body of Christ from the Church - this can not be so. But let me make it clear what has been said. There can be no true work of Christ, or true manifestation of the Body of Christ; and there can be no true Body ministry except it be by the Church. Where there is not knowledge, there is no Church! Where there are not gifts and offices of Christ in operation, there is no Church! People alone do not constitute a Church. Jesus never said He would destroy the Church, but rather wash her by the washing of water by the Word. By bringing sons to knowledge, He will cause the Church to be clean, that it may reflect Him! There are now many hungry believers sitting in some group or carnal church program who desire to come to knowledge, and who desire to find their place in a New Testament Church where Christ is revealed and where the Body ministry is carried on in meeting human need. We have received the grace of God, that these brethren may be brought into the fellowship of the Father's House, and have meat to eat. (Ephesians 3:8-9)