February 18, 2011 Newsletter

Newsletter from  Stewart Topping February 18, 2011

For a long time people have thought of themselves as a Completed Jew or that God has taken the covenant that was made with Israel and given it to the Church because of there disbelief.  Today a special people have been called out to be separate and they are called the Body of Christ. They are not labeled Jew or Gentile. In the days of old, God called another special group out from the world; the nation of Israel.  Now God has called the Body of Christ out of the world to be separate and with the foundation of Jesus, not the foundation of the law. .... read on. The Body Of Christ Paul says we are the Body of Christ; it is a very special group of believers.  When you are born again you become a member in the Body of Christ; because you are filled and indwelled with the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV)  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  The body of Christ doesn't live by the law but by the spirit (Gal 5:18).  It is not the Church you go to. It is who you are.  What is the Body of Christ? Why don’t we hear more about it?   Is it important for a Christian to understand? Where in scripture do we find reference to it?             1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (KJV) 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. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bebond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. The key is the one spirit; because with that spirit, Gods Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the body.  What is nice when this happens is that God doesn't call us Jew or Gentile anymore, only his Body of which he is the head.  It was the shed Blood of the perfect Lamb of God that set us free.  There was always the understanding that there is no forgiveness or redemption without the shedding of Blood from the beginning of time (after Adam sinned).  Jesus did shed his blood at the cross for you and I.  Colossians 1:18 (KJV)18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  Some would think that the sacrifice began with the Mosaic Law; but actually the Sacrifice may have begun with Adam and eve;   Genesis 3:21 (KJV) 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.   But most would not disagree with it beginning with Abel and Cain;  Genesis 4:3-5 (KJV) 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  Now we see that the shedding of Blood continued into the Law Period.  They had daily sacrifices.  Colossians 1:14 (KJV) 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Why have blood sacrifices in the Old Testament ; because it is a type and shadow of the Death of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  Sometimes we humans take a long time to understanding what God wants from us.  Sometimes we want to believe that it takes more than believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to be redeemed.  Remember the verses in 1 cor. 15:1-5, it explains how simple it is be redeemed by God.  His only purpose God has is to reconcile us to Him.  He wants us to believe in Him, have a relationship with Him and trust Him.    Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; andwithout shedding of blood is no remission. The Body of Christ is a called out group having the same nature of God.  We have been saved by the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.  If that power can raise a dead person than why can’t it restore one from spiritual death.  Of course it can you say!!!  We do have to believe that the shed blood of the perfect lamb has set us free from spiritual death. Mark 14:24 (KJV) 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. We have communion in Church to recognize the Body of Christ; but do we see it as part of the shed blood that God required.  Do we do it in remembrance; that there was a need and requirement for a blood sacrifice? 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (KJV) 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. The common bond we have is the Body of Christ; we don’t use definitions of Jew or Gentle because we are new creatures in Christ and members of the Body of Christ.  It is a very exclusive club of believers filled with the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. The purpose is to create the unity of the body, the same spirit and the one baptism (Holy Spirit).  One faith is the same belief in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. Ephesians 4:3-6 (KJV) 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  One Lord – Jesus our Lord One Faith – The body of Christ  One baptism – The filling of the Holy Spirit Anything else will be confusing.  Today we have so many beliefs that it is confusing to people that call themselves Christians.  Praise God we are the Body of Christ!!!!