Mystery – The Church as a Body

We have surveyed some of the ninety-eight Biblical symbols used to portray the nature of the church.  We have gleaned understandings which have hopefully intensified our sense of mystery concerning the church as Christ intended it to be.  The imagery revealing the sacred secrets to which the church may be compared poses many personal and collective challenges in developing that nature.  What kind of job have we done in developing Jesus’ church?   Has our focus on rules of fact, demoralized the pictures of function?  Are we becoming more and more like the church of Jesus’ design?

In this lesson we begin to examine our final simile – the church as a body.

We find this portrait being limited to the Apostle Paul.  We also watch as he develops and matures the meaning connected to this symbol.  His early writings show an application to the physical body.  Next, he will make application to the church by using the term to illustrate the fellowship and connectivity of those making up the church.  His later writings will go beyond fellowship and cooperation.  He will create a more detailed painting with two very precise images.   First, the body as it specifically relates to the Head (Jesus) and  secondly, the body as it relates to itself (each other).  This lesson expounds upon the first:  the relationship of the body to its Head.

Click on the play arrow to begin this lesson.

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