Jesus and the Body of Christ

 

Paul says in Ephesians 1:22-23, “And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

 

Paul says that we, the church, are the body of Christ. In fact, in Ephesians Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ seven times.

 

We see examples of that in the Gospels.

 

When Jesus enters Jerusalem the beginning of the last week of His earth existence, He has two of His disciples go and get the colt He will ride on. They put their cloaks on the colt. The crowd put their cloaks on the road and others cut branches and put them on the road.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is honoring Jesus by praising Him daily.

 

An example is when Jesus brings Lazarus from the dead and he comes out of the tomb. Jesus tells some people in the crowd to go and remove the grave clothes from him. Jesus does what only He can do restore life. We obey Jesus and help those who have experienced new life from Him to remove some old ways and habits from their lives.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is obeying Jesus and joining Him in freeing people from things that are part of their old nature.

 

So, what does it mean that we the church are the body of Christ?

 

It means we are the hands of Jesus.

 

The hands of Jesus:

Healed

Fed

Blessed

Comforted

 

We as the church of Jesus are to:

Heal, not curse them

Feed, not turn our back to

Bless, not judge

Comfort, not condemn

 

Raise the Roof an Remove the Walls is the church healing, feeding, blessing, and comforting.

 

It means being the feet of Jesus.

 

Jesus went where the people where and hung out with them.

 

Jesus went to and hung out with:

Fishermen

Tax Collectors

People with Bad Reputations

Powerless People

 

We as the church are to go to and hang out with:

Ordinary People

Outcasts

Sinners

People Who the Culture Has Dispose of

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is reaching out to people who others have rejected.

 

It means being the voice of Jesus.

 

Mark 1:14 and 15 tells us that after John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and began to proclaim the gospel. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and repentance and faith.

 

We as the church are to proclaim the gospel. The gospel is the good news that Jesus is God in the flesh and that He died for the sins of all humanity.

 

It is not proclaiming:

Our Opinion

Our Preferences

Our Political Views

Our Rights

 

Raise the Roof and Removing the Walls is proclaiming the gospel of grace.

 

It is being the heart of Jesus.

 

In Luke 19:10 Jesus says that He came to seek and save the lost.

 

In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says that He came not to call the righteous but sinners.

 

Jesus’ heart was to save the lost and redeem the sinner.

 

The church’s heart is to be God’s instrument to bring the truth of God and the grace of God to those who are lost and separated from Him.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is having a heart like Jesus had for the those who have not experienced God’s love.

 

The chorus to “If We Are the Body” by Casting Crowns asks some questions.

 

It asks if we are the body:

Why aren’t His feet going?

Why aren’t His hands healing?

Why aren’t His words teaching?

 

Let’s be the church of Jesus.

 

Being Jesus’ Church Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                             Joe