Scripture Reading: Eph. 5:30; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:18-27; Heb. 3:14; Rev. 17:12-14
Ⅰ
The believers are slaves of Christ (1 Cor. 7:22), priests of Christ (Rev. 1:6; 5:10), co-kings of Christ (20:6; 2:26-27), partakers of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 6:4), and heavenly citizens (Phil. 3:20a).
Ⅱ
The believers are members of Christ as the Head of the Body—1 Cor. 6:15, 17; Eph. 5:30; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:18-27:
A
Because we are organically united with Christ and because Christ dwells in our spirit and makes His home in our heart, our entire being, including our purified body, becomes a member of Him—6:15, 17; 2 Tim. 4:22a; Eph. 3:17a:
１
To be one spirit with the Lord is to enter into an organic union with Him; this organic union makes it possible for our bodies to be the members of Christ—1 Cor. 6:15-17.
２
Christ is spreading from our spirit to our soul and from our soul to our body; in this way our bodies become His members—Rom. 8:6, 10-11.
B
As members of Christ, we are produced out of Him to be His parts—Eph. 5:30; Gen. 2:22-23; John 19:20, 34:
１
In the Body there is no room for our natural life and fallen human nature.
２
In order to be members of Christ as the Head of the Body, we need to be one with Christ in life and nature—3:15; 2 Pet. 1:4.
３
It is the element of Christ in us that makes us His members—Col. 1:27; 3:4, 10-11:
ａ
A member of Christ is a person produced with the element of Christ, who is the life-giving Spirit in our spirit—1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Tim. 4:22a.
ｂ
Only that which comes out of Christ can be recognized by Christ; only that which is produced out of Christ can be a part of Him—Gen. 2:22-23; Eph. 3:17a; 5:30.
C
As members of Christ, we have been produced out of Him, and we are being composed and blended together by God to be the Body—1 Cor. 12:18-27; Rom. 12:4-5:
１
Blending is the secret of the Body life—1 Cor. 12:24.
２
We need to be blended so that we may have the actuality and practicality of the Body, seen in the functioning of all the members—vv. 18, 27.
３
The divine life within us has the inclination to be joined with other members of the Body and to be blended together with them—Rom. 12:4-5:
ａ
This life, the life of Christ, which is the divine life, is the life of the Body of Christ—John 3:15; Col. 3:4, 15.
ｂ
This life connects us to all the believers and causes us to love them— Rom. 12:9a, 19a.
４
We are many members, not separate units; as members, we need to coordi-nate with one another so that we may be a living, functioning Body—vv. 4-8.
D
In the Body of Christ everyone is a member and nothing more than a member— v. 5; 1 Cor. 12:18, 27:
１
Those who see that they are members will treasure the Body and honor the other members—vv. 25-26; Phil. 2:4.
２
Every member has a particular portion with which he serves the Body of Christ—Eph. 4:7, 16; Rom. 12:4-8.
３
The activities of the members of the Body must have the Body in view; every-thing that the members do should be for the Body—Eph. 4:16.
４
The Body of Christ is a limitation to all the members; every member must accept the limitation of the Body—2 Cor. 10:13.
５
Every member affects other members; this is why we should not live in ourselves but should hold the Head and seek the fellowship—Col. 2:19; Philem. 8-9, 14.
Ⅲ
The believers are partners of Christ as God's Anointed—Heb. 3:14:
A
We are partners of Christ as God's Anointed in God's anointing with the oil of exultant joy—1:9:
１
As partners of Christ, we are partners in His anointing—2 Cor. 1:21; Psa. 133:2.
２
In God's economy Christ is God's appointed and anointed One to accom-plish God's plan, and we are Christ's partners in the divine interest.
３
We are partners of Christ, sharing with Him the spiritual anointing as the members share with the Head the Spirit—2 Cor. 1:21; Psa. 133:2.
B
As Christ's partners, we participate with Him in carrying out God's commis-sion—Heb. 3:14:
１
Christ was anointed by God, and we share with Him in this anointing for the fulfillment of God's purpose—Luke 4:18; Psa. 133:2.
２
God has a great "corporation," and this corporation is a partnership:
ａ
God's operation in His corporation is to work out a glorious expression of Himself—Heb. 2:10; John 17:22.
ｂ
Christ has been appointed to head God's "corporation of glory," and as partners of Christ, we have the same interest and concern.
C
Joshua was the leader, and Caleb was his partner, comrade, companion, in possessing the good land; today Christ is the real Joshua, and we are His Calebs in God's ultimate move—Num. 13:30; 14:6-8; Rev. 17:12-14; 19:11-16.