The Christ

Devotional #9

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2: 1-2

“For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many are one body, so also is the Christ (R.V)” 1 Cor 12:12.

On the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit incorporated believers into one body upon which resurrected Lord is the Head. The members of that body which is the heavenly entity where the Head is seated on the right hand of God (Acts 2:33, Rom 8:34, Heb 1:3, 1Pet 3:22) and members are here on earth. The union between the Head and the members, though they both are in different spheres, is done by the Holy Spirit. This is one more unique work of the Holy Spirit which began on the day of Pentecost and continues to incorporate all those members who are chosen before the foundation of this world.

“And believers the more added to the Lord” (Acts 5:14). The Lord is seated on the right hand of God in heaven and the added believers were here. “And he (Saul) fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest:“ (Acts 9: 4-5). When Saul was threatening the disciples in Jerusalem, the Lord who is in heaven spoke to Saul who is here as if he was persecuted because the Lord is the head of the church. “But Saul increased more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ” (Acts 9: 22 R.V).

Almost immediately after his conversion Saul started preaching about this great mystery “The Christ” that is, Head in heaven and Body on earth. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Cor 12:27.

Paul explains to the Corinthian church how they need to function under the authority of Christ in the assembly, being conscious of this union with the Lord and members to cause edification while using different gifts.

“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” (Eph 1: 22-23). God the father has put all things under the feet of the Lord and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Paul explains the authority bestowed on the Head and body together. Our Lord was highly exalted by the Father because of the work He has completed. That exalted Lord shares both positions and places with his body the church, which can be experienced now here and realized in the coming dispensation.

Believers need to function consciously under the authority of the Lord who is our Head, individually and also in the corporate body of the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. Then we will enjoy His power in our daily lives and cause edification in building the body of Christ.

Those who enjoy this experience now will be honored in the coming dispensation with glory and authority to rule in His millennial kingdom.