The Body of Christ Part V: The Church Under attack by Satan

The Body of Christ is under incessant attack by Satan and his minions in this world.  It is difficult to apprehend this spiritual warfare, as it usually cannot be observed by our physical senses.  God gives a new nature to every believer.  This new nature has a new spirit—alive and sensitive to God.  The Holy Spirit communes directly with this new spirit.  Our new nature can apprehend great spiritual battles in the world around us.  Our eyes cannot see the spiritual forces of darkness.  They cannot perceive the strikes of demonic daggers as they hit their mark.  Our ears cannot hear angelic warfare.  The frequencies of these battles are not within human ears’ ability to monitor.  But the Holy Spirit enables each believer to sense the enemy’s presence.  Our flesh cannot battle the enemy.  Satan already owns our flesh, and he pushes it around at will.  Satan even uses our physical senses to blind us from more ominous spiritual battles.  He causes us to focus on physical events in our environment and in the world at large.  We rarely perceive the spiritual movements behind these physical events—especially those that make the news day after day. However, our Lord and General, Jesus Christ, has employed the Body of Christ as a battalion of God’s army to conquer dominions for Him in this world.  God provides us weapons of defense and offense to use for His glory.  The Apostle Paul instructs to wear our spiritual armor at all times and struggle to preserve the unity of the Body of Christ.  Satan’s focus is always to destroy that unity.  Divide and conquer is his usual mode of attack.  The book of Ephesians, chapter 6 vividly describes this spiritual warfare.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Eph 6: 10-18).

Paul paints the picture of spiritual warfare.  The Holy Spirit operates in our new nature to identify spiritual battles in our lives.  We cannot withstand the devil’s schemes without wearing the full armor of God.  We need not struggle with the fleshly battles of this world.  These are a waste of precious time in the life of a believer.  Satan encourages us to battle worldly issues and mocks us as we take his bait.  But God calls each believer to wage war against evil forces in the heavenlies.  Paul outlines the hierarchy of these demonic personalities.  The above Scriptures imply there is a chain of authority.  Rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness describe a demonic command and control structure.  Those demons highest in the chain of command wield power over generals, kings and nations.  Satan is at the helm, directing this vast power structure.  He has had all the time of human history to perfect his army, and he works it to his deadly desires.  God is omnipresent.  He can be everywhere at once.  Satan does not have this ability, so he must place his demonic powers at critical points throughout the world he currently rules (but not for long).  Humans rarely identify his military moves and scarcely pay attention to the death and destruction that inevitably follows.

The prophet Daniel describes one intriguing event that occurred after he had fasted and prayed to God for three weeks.  Daniel was focused on the Lord and constantly petitioned Him.  God heard his prayers and sent a high angelic messenger, Gabriel, with His answer:

Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.  He said to me, ‘O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.’  And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.  Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.  Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.’  (Dan. 10:10-14)

Gabriel explained God heard Daniel’s prayers as soon as they left his lips, but a great spiritual battle in the heavenlies prevented Gabriel from bringing the answer.  Gabriel described a three week battle he waged with the ‘prince of the kingdom of Persia,’ that finally ended when the archangel, Michael, came to free him.  The prince of Persia, obviously referred to a very high general in Satan’s army who spiritually ruled over the world empire of that day—the Medo-Persian empire.  This empire controlled God’s people, Israel, whose destiny was at the mercy of the King.  The angelic prince would obviously be pushing Satan’s agenda in that empire.  Such spiritual battles occur regularly—especially in these last days.  News events recorded in print and other media portray movements of world leaders and superpowers.  Spiritual forces of wickedness are likely behind these movements.  Humans remain unaware of the chess match that is occurring.

There are countless Biblical Scriptures describing Satan’s work in the spiritual war of the ages.  The Gospels and Book of Acts chronicle many examples of Satan’s point men (demons) as they carry out His dastardly deeds.  These same books also record the successful military campaign the Son of God and His apostles waged upon the spiritual forces of darkness.  Jesus delivered many human souls, hanging just above the flames of hell.  The Head of the Body of Christ has no problems identifying His enemies and He always wins the battles He chooses to enter, because He is God.  Members of the Body of Christ can have similar success if their General is in command.

Paul admonishes believers to stand firm against demonic forces in spiritual places.  He uses this term three times in the Ephesians passage cited above.  A Scriptural phrase of great importance is often used repeatedly.  The more times the phrase is used the more important it is. Sitting would imply resting. Standing connotes being vigilant and in a prepared state for battle.  A soldier for Christ must gird himself with truth, and wear the breastplate of righteousness.  Any deviation from God’s truth is an opportunity for Satan to attack.

Satan uses the world system to present multiple philosophies that sound good.  Evolution, the homosexual agenda, abortion are but a few that appeal to millions.  However, these teachings are built on lies and deceit.  The enemy uses them to cause unsuspected Christians to veer off the narrow path.

Every member of the Body of Christ must have footwear designed for transporting the gospel of peace.  This is an offensive weapon.  With it the believer can freely move into Satan’s territory and allow the Holy Spirit to take souls the enemy has designated for hell.  The gospel of peace is better known as the gospel of grace to Christians.  This gospel is the only good news able to move a soul from enmity with God to peace with Him.  The grace gospel, delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit, can soften a stony heart and plant a seed of salvation.

The shield of faith is a gift from God.  When the enemy attacks with trials and tribulations, the shield of faith is a wondrous defensive weapon. It dispels fears of the unknown and strengthens one’s relationship with the Head of the Body of Christ.

The helmet of salvation surrounds the most important battleground of the believer—the brain.  That is where Satan prefers to wage war, and he often succeeds there.  The ever-present reminder of one’s salvation coupled with a living hope of eternal glorification with Christ ward off enemy attacks on the mind of a believer.

The sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—is a true offensive weapon.  A good soldier in the Body of Christ is prepared to use this sword at a moments notice.  This requires diligent Biblical study, which requires time and effort.  But the result can reap great rewards in the kingdom of heaven.  It can also unify the Body of Christ in times of crisis.  Satan and his surrogates know the Scriptures, and they have been known to skew them to deceive their human audience.  Satan notoriously deceived Eve when he ever so subtly altered God’s command to avoid eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  A believer who studies God’s Word diligently is less likely to be deceived by the enemy.  This believer is more likely to be used by the Holy Spirit to conquer enemy territory.

Finally, a believer’s connection to the Head is achieved mainly through prayer and petition.  An open connection is critical to hearing commands from on high.  It is crucial to carrying out His desires in the Body of Christ.  Constant prayer and communion with the Master achieve unity in the Body of Christ.

The Body of Christ Part IV: The Marriage Relationship Mystery Revealed

The Book of Ephesians devotes every chapter to describe the Body of Christ.  Paul develops other themes in this Epistle, but this is the overlying theme.  The first several chapters present the mystery of the Body of Christ.  God held this secret in His mind from before the foundation of the world.  Chapter 5 is very exciting because it presents another mystery Jesus gave to the Apostle Paul.  This mystery was also hidden from the foundations of the world in the mind of God the Father.  God revealed it to Paul because it provides a more complete picture of the Body of Christ and how it must function in unity.  The mystery is that human marriage between one man and his wife is to represent the magnificent union between Christ and His church—His body in this world.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it; just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.  Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband (Eph. 5:22-33).

What a powerful message!  What a wonderful revelation!  If God’s people could only grasp and apply this in their own lives, the world would be a much better place and the Body of Christ would have much greater influence in this world.  But alas!  Marriage is in dissolution in this world.  The divorce rate among Christian marriages is the same as non-believers—at least 50%.  Recent studies show this rate continues to creep higher.  Evil forces controlling this world have successfully pushed for more liberal definitions of marriage.  Satan knows the Scripture—including the ‘mysteries’ God has now revealed to His followers.  If marriage is meant to reflect the union of Christ with His church—His body in this world—why not promote divorce and blur the definition of marriage?  Satan clearly understands such a debacle would tarnish the testimony of the Body of Christ—especially if the divorce rate among Christian marriages is no different than marriages between non-believers.  When we pull back the curtain and examine the worldly evidence, it becomes painfully apparent Satan has already accomplished this very thing.  Who can undo this mess?  The Body of Christ is currently on very shaky ground.

First of all, it is important to note that God is in control and will ultimately have the victory.  Secondly, it is crucial that every believer—every member of the Body of Christ—have a clear understanding of this wondrous mystery.  The remainder of the article will be devoted to this goal.

God introduced marriage into the world shortly after He created it.  God spoke His intentions at that time, and there was no apparent mystery.

The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.  The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:22-24).

God established marriage as the first human institution.  God’s command seems somewhat awkward, considering Adam and Eve had no parents to leave.  However, creating the institution of marriage was foremost in God’s mind at that point.  This command established the pattern for future marriages.  The words ‘joined’ and ‘one flesh’ imply permanence in this relationship.  God intended every marriage to last until death.  Divorce was never meant to be an option.  Furthermore, God emphasized two persons becoming one flesh to drive home a very important concept to His children.  Two members become one organism—the sum becomes greater than its parts.  This is a picture of the Godhead—the Trinity.  The sum of its parts is more glorious than the individual components.

The marriage institution is very important to God, because He has repeated these same instructions elsewhere in Scripture, over the course of human history.  His design has never changed—nor will it change until human history is consummated.

The Pharisees often challenged Jesus during His earthly ministry.  One such interaction is described in Matthew 19:3-6:

Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?”  And He answered them and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate (Mt 19:5-6; Mark 10:8).

Jesus emphasized the importance of two becoming one flesh.  He further noted that God joined them together.  Woe to the man who would separate that union!  God the Son has also stressed the importance of the marriageunion.  But why?  Because marriage reflects the union between the Son and His Father.  Jesus repeatedly told His followers and those who rejected Him: “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30.  Jesus also held the secret of the mysterious union between Himself and his Body—later to be revealed.

The Corinthian believers were influenced greatly by pagan culture around them.  Prostitution, idol worship, drunkenness were the norm in that culture.  The Apostle Paul established that church.  He wrote several letters exhorting them to shun worldly influences and strive for purity and holiness in their fellowship.  He encouraged the members of Christ’s body to align their behavior with that reality.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?  May it never be!  Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her?  For He says, ‘the two shall become one flesh.’  But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him(1 Cor. 6:15-17).

 Partaking with the world system is analogous to becoming one flesh with a prostitute.  Adultery presents a terrible witness for a believer.  Likewise, a worldly believer damages the testimony of Christ’s body to unbelievers.  Christians who partake of fleshly desires appear no different than children of the devil.  The presentation of a holy union between a man and his wife is a reflection of the oneness of Christ with His church. “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” ( Heb. 13:4).

This article’s initial passage in Ephesians chapter 5 reveals the mystery of marriage as the reflection of a magnificent union between Christ and His church (vs. 32).  The holy union of the marriage relationship presents a picture of the Body of Christ to the world.  If the marriage is broken it cannot reflect the oneness of Christ with His body.  This is the secret God held from the foundation of the world.  Wives are subject to husbands, like church is subject to the Head of the Christ’s Body of Christ (vs 22-24).  Believers willingly submit to their Master and operate within His will.  This allows Jesus to do His work in a wicked world.  Satan continues to corrupt this picture.  He has pushed women to rise up and overthrow the bondage of marriage, usurping authority over their husbands.  We have witnessed the results of this spiritual warfare.  Marriages are broken—even among believers.  The once cherished definition of the marriage union has been altered. Marriage no longer reflects the oneness of Christ with His church.

Alas, what can be done?  Who will repair this damage?  The permanence of marriage and the ‘oneness’ of Jesus with His Body on this earth seems a distant mirage.

We know the end of the story and it is glorious, indeed.  God has revealed this mystery to the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation.

 ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.’  It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints (Rev. 19:9). 

Somehow, someday, there will be a glorious eternal union between the Lamb and His bride—the Body of Christ.  The above Scripture describes the bride clothed in fine, bright linen depicting the righteous acts of the believers.  Jesus will consummate that union.  God will make it happen, because He is omnipotent.  The current path Christians walk until that time is unclear.  But we now know God’s intention.  God has established the marriage union between each man and his wife.  This union reflects the permanent union between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.  The mystery reveals it also pictures the union between Jesus and His followers in this world—the Body of Christ.  Marriage is a permanent covenant meant to last till death.  This should admonish every Christian to consider the seriousness of entering that covenant and the need to keep it ‘until death do us part.’  Likewise, we, as members of Christ’s body, have been united with our Head at salvation.  We are slaves to our Master.  We are to submit to His will and obey His commands.  Our obedience reflects our oneness with Him—a union that will last for eternity.

The Body of Christ Part III: Jesus and the Church

Ephesians Chapter 4 and the rest of this book delineate how the Body of Christ lives, moves and functions in this world.

Therefore, I the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Eph 4:1-6).

Jesus was a very humble, gentle, and patient man and He exercised God’s love in dealing with lost souls.  The Head of the Body of Christ sets the example how the rest of the Body should function.  Love, humility and patience must be character traits of every Christian.  God, most effectively touches hopeless souls when these traits are manifest.  Paul implores us to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one Holy Spirit.  He is God and He has unified the Body of Christ, placing each new believer into his rightful place in the Body.  The bond of peace is the glue connecting all the members into one body.  Peace speaks of a relationship with God only believers can attain through faith in the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.  Jesus is Lord of one Body comprised of born again believers in this world.  The one hope of our calling is the ‘blessed hope,’ which many New Testament authors have described (Titus 2: 13; 1 Peter 1: 3; 1 John 2: 28-3: 3, etc…).  I have explained this in an earlier article.  The ‘one baptism’ noted in this Scripture, is not water baptism, as some have taught.  This is the baptism of every believer into the Body of Christ—an act of God the Spirit, not performed with human hands.  “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12: 13).

The Body of Christ functions efficiently when each of its members walks in the gift God has granted him.  These gifts minister to the members in Christ’s body and even reach out and touch lost souls in this wicked world.  They enable the body to mature and reach the fullness of Christ.

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ ( Eph 4:11-13).

Jesus Christ, the Head, fits together and equips each part of the body and directs its function, building it into a mature growing organism.

…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Eph 4:15-16).

God achieves unity in the Body of Christ by allowing each individual member to shed the old nature (lies, anger, bitterness, gossip, immorality, envy, selfishness) and embrace the garment of the regenerated nature.

That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph 4:22-24)

What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  May it never be!  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again, death no longer is master over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:1-11).

This rather long passage explains that as the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ at salvation, He buries our old nature of sin, and permits the new resurrected nature in Christ to arise in our lives.  We are exhorted to walk in that new nature, as we are now united with our Head in the Body of Christ, who died to sin once and for all.  Jesus lives eternally in the resurrection power of God—His life fully dedicated to God’s plan.  We also must consider ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom 12:1-2).

The word transformed is derived from the Greek work, metamorpheo, which implies a total transformation to a new entity.  The equivalent English word, metamorphosis, describes the process of a complete changeover that occurs to a caterpillar in his cocoon.  Its body liquefies, then molecules reassemble into a new organism—a butterfly.  Metamorphosis is the proper term that also describes the transformation that occurs when God replaces our carnal nature with a ‘new man.’  Unfortunately, the body of flesh continuously tries to reassert itself in our earthly life, but it will completely pass away when our glorious eternal bodies are obtained.  God commands us to walk in that new body by faith, thus bringing glory and honor to His Body of Christ and its work in this wicked world.

The Body of Christ Part II: The Church – Holy Spirit Baptized Believers – Jews & Gentiles

The first article of this series explains the mystery of the Body of Christ and how God hid this secret throughout the history of the world.  He then revealed His secret to one person, the Apostle Paul, after God’s chosen nation, Israel, had rejected Jesus as their Messiah.  This article will delineate the anatomy of this wonderful creation and explain its function in a wicked world currently ruled by Satan.

The Body of Christ is comprised of Jewish and Gentile believers who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  The Holy Spirit baptizes each new believer into the Body of Christ. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).

Paul explains in Ephesians 1:13-14 the Holy Spirit seals and secures each believer in the Body of Christ with a future view of God redeeming His possession in full as the Body of Christ is one day glorified.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

All humans are born into sin and, therefore, enemies of a holy God, who knows no sin.  Sin separates all humans from God.  God’s law makes evident the sin of every man.  Ephesians 2: 13-16 describes how God broke down this dividing wall by the blood of Christ—the eternal payment for human sin.  This gift is only good for believers who embrace it.  The blood of Jesus draws each believer near to God, abolishing the enmity with Him.  The Law could never make peace between God and sinful man.  It only made obvious the stain of sin in the life of each person.  But the blood of an unblemished, sinless Lamb—God’s Son—became the satisfactory payment for sin in the heart of each believer.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death the enmity.

God created the human body to function as a unit.  It functions as one entity.  All its parts serve the whole.  The human body is actually a type—a picture—of God’s greater creation, Christ’s body.  All humans are afflicted with sin.  Their bodies are corrupt—physically and morally imperfect.  They are mortal and will ultimately die of a disease.  The world is currently under the control of Satan, so the Body of Christ will not function perfectly on this earth—similar to a human body.  The Body of Christ is empowered by the Head, Jesus, who directs activities from His throne at God’s right hand.  There is only one Body and God intends that it function with all its parts working in harmony.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute  (1 Cor. 6:15)?

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many (1 Cor. 12:12-14).

 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues (1 Cor. 12:27-28).

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith, if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom. 12:4-8).

The above Scriptures reveal that God provides gifts to the individual members of Christ’s Body.  The gifts vary, but God intends they all serve the Body.  God’s gifts are the functions of each body part.  Some of these gifts are delineated above—apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helpers, administrators, etc.  Each function serves the greater Body in a unique fashion.  This article will not discuss all God’s gifts—nor the details of their function.  That will be left for a future discussion.  However, it is important to emphasize that each gift serves the Body, not itself.  That is God’s intent.

Satan cannot destroy God’s creation.  His goal is to divide it, by attempting to coerce each member to serve himself—not the Body, of which he is but a small part.  When the individual serves himself, a disease takes root in the Body of Christ.  It becomes sick and cannot effectively minister God’s will in a wicked world.  A single cell in the human body may become cancerous and spread to involve the entire organism, ultimately killing it.  Doctors may use surgery and chemotherapy to slow its growth.  But often cancer claims the victory.  The body dies.  The Body of Christ has a disease in its members.  The disease is sin.  If this cancer could prevail, Satan, would push it to destroy the Body of Christ.  However, God will not allow this.  The Body of Christ and its Head, Jesus, are one and will ultimately be glorified and made spotless, without any blemish.  God’s surgery and chemotherapy are curative.  The scalpel is the Blood of His only Son.  God has designed the Body of Christ to be a doctor in a wicked world—identifying sin and Satan’s work, exposing it, and applying the cure—the blood of Jesus.

Jesus once told Peter at Caesarea Philippi: “upon this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” – Matt 16:18.  God will have the victory and He will use the Body of Christ to accomplish it.

The Body of Christ Part 1: The Mystery of the Church Revealed

The last article on the house of God brought into focus many Old and New Testament Scriptures that paint a picture of this entity.  The book of Ephesians explains the house of God contains many rooms—representing God’s work with His followers in the ages of human history.  The cornerstone of God’s house is Jesus Christ, and He is the ultimate focal point for all who live in the house of God.

The Old Testament Scripture does not discuss the Body of Christ.  The New Testament Gospels do not describe the Body of Christ either.  Only the Pauline epistles provide an understanding of one of God’s most amazing creations. God revealed to Paul an understanding of the Body of Christ soon after his salvation experience on the road to Damascus.  Paul received his sight at the house of Ananias (Acts 9:17-18), then proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus.  After many days, the unbelieving Jews in the city stirred up resistance and plotted to kill Paul.  His followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall surrounding the city. (Acts 9: 19-25).  He escaped the city, and God led him into the deserts of Arabia, where Jesus taught him for a period of 3 years.  Paul explains this experience in the book of Galatians 1:11-12,15-18:

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ…. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia and returned once more to Damascus.  Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 

The Body of Christ was one of many revelations Jesus gave to him while dwelling in the wilderness.  Paul explains additional mysteries and revelations in other epistles.  These will not be discussed in this article.  However, Paul states he did not consult with flesh and blood—nor even with the Apostles in Jerusalem.  God alone taught him these things.  Why was that?  It is because the revelations given by God to Paul were uniquely suited for the Body of Christ and the church age.  These mysteries were designed for a new program superseding God’s program with Israel.  Paul was instructed to transmit the messages and mysteries of God’s grace—not the prophesies of the coming Messianic age.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians portrays the most detailed description of the Body of Christ.  Paul explains this as a mystery God concealed in His mind from eternity past throughout human history—from Adam through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  God thereafter chose to reveal His secret uniquely to the Apostle Paul and gave him instructions to reveal it to the world:

If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.  To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord… (Eph. 3:2-11).

God hid this mystery through the ages until He revealed it to Paul.  God unlocked the secret of the Body of Christ, comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles in the age of grace—the church age.  Jesus Christ is the head of the Body, overseeing and empowering its function.

God did not even share His mystery with heavenly angelic beings prior to revealing it to Paul (vs. 10).  Why did God wait to reveal the Body of Christ?  The answer is actually quite simple.  The Body of Christ could only be accomplished by the crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.  God knew in His infinite wisdom that revealing this mystery to anyone – especially angelic beings—would compromise the fulfillment of His plan.  Had Satan known the complete victory Jesus would achieve through His crucifixion and resurrection, he would have never allowed himself to be duped into that battle.  Jesus completely defeated His bitter foe.  Jesus multiplied Himself millions of times over when He rose from the dead and ascended to rule at the right hand of God the Father.  He became the Head—the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent ruler of the Body of Christ on this earth.  His presence in the heart of every believer extending across the face of the earth over time must have brought holy terror into the hearts of Satan and all his demonic followers.

Jesus came into this world lonely, poor, humble and inconspicuous. The Apostle Paul describes this in Philippians 2:5-11:

Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Satan recognized Jesus coming and possessed King Herod to cut His life short.  Satan failed that attempt.  Father God announced He was well pleased with His Son when Jesus was baptized and anointed for His earthly ministry.  The Gospels reveal the spiritual and physical assault Satan made on Jesus for 40 days in the wilderness, shortly thereafter.  Satan and his minions hounded Jesus throughout His 3 year earthly ministry.  Finally at Calvary Satan thought he had succeeded.  God’s Son was crucified, dead and buried.  Surely, the Messiah was cut off—there was now no hope for God’s kingdom on earth.  Satan was free to expand his dominion.

However, Jesus rose from the dead, utterly defeating His enemy, Satan. God’s Lamb dramatically expanded the battle front. After His resurrection and ascension, Christ rules at the right hand of God the Father over all created things, including heavenly and earthly beings.  He is Head of the Church—the Body of Christ. “And He put all things in subjection 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”  (Eph. 1:22-23).

Jesus Christ, by means of His crucifixion and the power of His resurrection, broke down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, making the two peoples into one Body of Christ.  Prior to this work of Christ, the Jews were God’s chosen people.  But no more—they had rejected God’s Son, whom He sent to be their Messiah.  God would thereafter extend His hand to the Jews and Gentiles alike to create His Body of Christ in this world.

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death the enmity (Eph. 2:14-15).

 He was and is the ‘Light of the world.’  He multiplied Himself into a myriad of sparks, illuminating a dark world controlled by the Prince of the air.  Christ’s body will one day rise to meet its head, Jesus, in the heavenly realm.  It will one day explode into a new creation – a new glorified and eternal body.  This fireball will then return with its King.  He will speak a word and deliver the mortal blow—ending the rule of the antichrist, Satan, and all his followers.  The Body of Christ and the Head, Jesus, are eternally united.

HEAVEN: OUR BLESSED HOPE

It is important all believers have a practical understanding of a Christian’s “blessed hope.”  The “blessed hope” is an invaluable tool for living in a world where Christians are being increasingly persecuted and even killed for their faith.  It is the perfect antidote for fear and a necessary ointment for everyday doubts in the minds of believers. Before I discuss how the “blessed hope” can be incorporated into the life of every believer, I prefer to elaborate how this theme is taught in the Bible.

Several Biblical authors have written on this theme.  It is worthwhile to examine their teaching on this important topic.  I will present the New Testament Scriptures, as they will paint an adequate picture for us to grasp.  There are also Old Testament writers, who have addressed this topic, but time and space will not permit discussion of these scriptures in this article.

The book of Hebrews is a good place to begin this teaching.  Hebrews 6:17-19 reads as follows:

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The author of Hebrews describes it is impossible for God to lie and His plans do not change over time.  The scriptures preceding the above quotation outline the covenant God made with Abraham.  Abraham lived a very long life and never realized the promises of that covenant, yet he lived in the hope God’s promises would someday come to pass.  That hope never died in his life.  God extolled Abraham for his faith in these covenant promises.  When Abraham’s life came under fire from trials and tribulations, he maintained his faith.  The author of Hebrews explains the hope God has set before us is an ‘anchor of the soul….sure and steadfast.’  This hope is certain and unchangeable – made possible only through the sacrifice Jesus made for all sinners as an eternal high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  He laid down his unblemished, sinless life and poured out His precious blood on Calvary’s cross to make real and certain the ‘blessed hope’ God has given to each of His children.  This hope is not wishful thinking, like the hope the world offers.  One may wish to win a lottery or become a millionaire, but the world’s hope is elusive and seldom realized.  The hope God provides is certain.  One can take it to the bank.  It will come to pass.  Nothing a believer does can void that hope.  But, like Abraham, it is a promise that can only be apprehended when a believer leaves this world and obtains his glorified body and inheritance.  It takes faith, like Abraham, to make this hope real in a believer’s present life – because he has not yet seen it.  The author of Hebrews describes hope as ‘an anchor of our soul,’ which enables the believer to weather the storms of life, which will inevitably buffet him.  This hope has produced the power to face torture and execution even by decapitation by many Christians in recent times.

The Apostle Peter has written about this “blessed hope.”  He has described it as a ‘living hope in 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter explains this living hope is obtained when one is “born again“ – saved through faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He describes the hope as an imperishable inheritance that will be obtained in the “last time.”  This refers to the end of our earthly life – at the coming of Jesus to redeem His children from this wicked world.  Additional scriptures will paint the rest of the picture shortly.  Peter, once again, has described this hope as certain and already secured by Jesus Christ, who has caused us to be born again.  When Peter wrote this letter, the believing church was under tremendous persecution and many were being martyred for their faith.  He encouraged them with the ‘living hope’ that made it possible for these believers to suffer and give their own lives, if necessary.  Their inheritance was imperishable, undefiled and awaited their arrival to glory.

The Apostle to the gentile church, Paul, has written of this “blessed hope” in several of his last letters.  Titus 2:12-13 reads as follows:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Paul has personified the grace of God as Jesus Christ, who came to bring salvation to all men.  He points out that Jesus has instructed us to deny worldly desires and live righteously.  He implies this is possible by apprehending by faith the “blessed hope,” which will occur at the glorious appearing of Christ Jesus.  Worldly riches pale in comparison to the eternal inheritance a believer can now only apprehend by the “blessed hope.”  The important lesson from this scripture is that the ‘blessed hope’ can only be fully apprehended at the rapture of believers by Jesus Christ.

Paul approached the end of his life shackled in an underground dungeon.  He was cold, depressed and the world system could offer him nothing but martyrdom.  Days before his beheading he penned these amazing verses in 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

What fitting words to be placed on a tombstone! Paul knew his death was imminent.  His thoughts were fixed on the “blessed hope” – the crown of righteousness the Lord was about to reward him with.  He proclaimed he had fought the good fight and finished the race – keeping the faith.  He implied he did so by keeping his mind fixed on the “blessed hope” during all his trials.  Paul explains he will attain to his reward at Christ’s appearing – the rapture.  He further notes that all who long for that appearing (faith in the blessed hope) will acquire that reward also. 

Finally, the youngest of the 12 Apostles, John, touched upon the theme of our “blessed hope” in the latter part of his own life.  He wrote in 1 John 2:28 – “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”   John describes here and in adjacent verses that holiness and righteous living in this world is directly related to a believer’s daily apprehension of the “blessed hope.”  The spiritual confidence of a believer is tied inextricably to the fact that all these promises are to be realized when Jesus Christ returns for His church.  Spiritual inheritance is only then tangible.  Until that time it is a blessed hope – apprehended by faith alone.  God is so pleased by the faith of His children, acted out in their worldly lives.  Several verses later John pens the final verses for our study (John 3:1-3):

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

John explains, the full picture of one’s glorified state cannot be realized in this life.  But the faith and imagination of a child pleases God.  Is must be sufficient now to realize when the rapture of the Body of Christ occurs, a believer will receive a glorified body like that of Jesus Christ, and will see Jesus is the fullness of His deity.  This hope should empower a believer to be pure and holy in this life.

In conclusion, at least 3 Apostles seem to be in agreement about apprehending the “blessed hope” in the life of every believer.  A believer grasps that hope by faith, and the process enables the seed of righteousness to sprout forth and grow into a living picture of the Creator and Redeemer for all the world to see.  This process of sanctification is perfected at the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  A new body, unblemished by the sin of this world, coupled with an eternal inheritance will then be realized in the fullness God has planned for every believer.  Oh, what a glorious “blessed hope“ to ponder and fix one’s faith upon!

What the Bible says about Orphans and Widows

There have always been poor people in the world.  Jesus told his followers that in Mark 14:7.  Orphans and widows are a special class of the poor.  The Bible gives believers guidance in looking after these unfortunate souls.  A multitude of Scriptures in the New and Old Testaments paint a clear picture of God’s intentions for these people.  This article will present and explain several of these Scriptures.

Before discussing God’s commands for caring for these souls, it is important to ask the question, “Why is it so important for God’s people to care for the downtrodden in this world?”  God will provide the answer to the reader who completes this article.

Jesus instructed His followers in His Sermon on the Mount and quoted in the book of Mt. 5:3-4: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Jesus reached out to the poor and disenfranchised of this world with a wonderful message of hope.  The poor and those who mourn will one day be comforted.  God sees their plight and He will provide from His heavenly riches.  But in this world, He has provided the Body of Christ, His representative, to reach out and apply soothing ointment to the wounds of the poor, orphans and widows.

The brother of Jesus, James, instructed the believing church in Chapter 1:27: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Religions of this world are defiled in God’s eyes.  Many are simply false teachings that do not promote or glorify the One God of creation.  But the piercing gaze of our God even exposes the nakedness and darkness of Judaism and the Christian religion.  These religions abound with rules, regulations, dress codes, idol worship and a drive to impress the world.  Jesus repeatedly castigated the Pharisees for their religious practices.  Jesus implored them to examine their hearts and remove the filth of their ways.  James subsequently defined what simple, pure and undefiled religion is in the mind of God.  He explained that God desires His followers to remain unstained from the worldly religious system and simply visit the orphans and widows—ministering to their needs.  Why strive for complex laws and regulations?  That is the worldly system.

Early in the history of mankind—even before God gave the law to Moses and His people—God instructed His followers to give special attention to the orphans and widows.  The Book of Job was written before Moses lived and possibly even before Abraham was called by God.  Several Scriptures recorded there suggest God was very interested in providing for the poor orphans and widows. “You have sent widows away empty, and the strength of the orphans has been crushed.  Therefore snares surround you, and sudden dread terrifies you…. (Job 22:9)” Job asserts his integrity and pleads his case:

If I have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from infancy I guided her); If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering; If his loins have not thanked me, and if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had support in the gate, let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow.  For calamity from God is a terror to me….(Job 31:16-23)

The Bible explains Job attempted to please God by extending his hand to orphans and widows.

Hundreds of years later God delivered His people, Israel, from a wicked worldly oppressor, Egypt.  He gave them the Law through his servant, Moses.  He instructed His children that His ways were different and distinct from those of Egypt and the world.  He commanded them:

You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless  (Ex. 22:22-24).

The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do (Deut. 14:29).

The blessings of God follow the obedience of His children—especially when the orphans, widows, and aliens are cared for.  It is noteworthy that God defines aliens as those who dwell in a foreign land without hope, without promises, of which the world is not worthy.  (Eph. 2:19, 1 Peter 2:11; Heb. 11: 9, 37-38)  All Christian believers are aliens in a foreign land – previously without hope and without promises.

You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge … When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands (Deut. 24:17,19).

He (God) executes justice for the orphans and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing (Deut. 10:18).

God clearly intends that His people care for the orphans and widows, or His justice and consequences will prevail.

One thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ, King David wrote about the orphans and widows:

God is “helper of the orphans.” (Ps. 10:14)… a father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows is God in His holy habitation. (Ps. 68:5)… Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.  They do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness. (Ps. 82:3)…The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow. (Ps. 146:9)

King Solomon wrote: “Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.” (Pr. 23:10)

Once again, the Scripture implies consequences and God’s judgment for His people who do not minister to the orphans in their midst.

God later used the prophets as His mouthpiece to castigate Israel for not reaching out to the orphans and widows living among them.  They heaped God’s judgment upon their heads.  Ultimately, God made them orphans and widows.  He banished them from their own land.

Jer. 5:28, 29 reads:

“They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness; they do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor.  Shall I not punish these people?” Declares the Lord, “on a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?”

Is. 1:17 reads:  Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Jeremiah goes on to say:

“If you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” (Jer. 7:6)… “Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in Me.” (Jer. 49:11)

Then God poured out His judgment upon His people.  He allowed other nations to destroy their homes, ravage their wives and children and kill many.  They were carried off into foreign lands.  Then they cried and mourned like the orphans and widows they had previous ignored.

Lam. 5:3 reads:

“Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach!  Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.  We have become orphans without a father, our mothers are like widows.

Generations later, God allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple and the walls around Jerusalem.  Once again, God used His prophets to command them to look after the poor:

Zech. 7:9-12 reads:

Thus has the Lord of hosts said, “Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.”  But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing….therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.

Mal. 3:5 reads:

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me, says the Lord of hosts.”

God’s people did not hearken to His commands.  Over and over again they disobeyed Him.  His judgment fell and they were nearly destroyed by their enemies.  God dispersed the remaining Jews far from their homeland into the wicked nations of the world.  Their “promised land” lay uninhabitable in ruins, malaria infested swamps, and controlled by their enemies.

Human nature is selfish and sinful – as before.  Today, we are God’s people – the Body of Christ in this world.  God’s command to care for the poor and orphans is no different.  God does not change.  He is immutable—unchangeable.  Yet the poor are ignored, and the orphans remain homeless.  They have little hope in this wicked world.

When Jesus came into this world, He was born to a poor couple from Nazareth.  They had no home, no hospital, and no help to birth their infant son.  People of the world paid no attention.  The Son of God was born in a cow’s feed trough and clothed in burial cloths—in abject poverty.  Jesus had the riches of the universe at His fingertips prior to His incarnation, yet He chose to come into this world through a poor, insignificant family with virtually no material possessions.  He lived His entire life as a poor person and died without possessions.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.”

Every human soul born into this wicked world is born with a sinful nature and in spiritual poverty – an orphan, without a Father God.  The child’s spiritual father is Satan, God’s enemy.  Given to his natural inclination, the child will grow and embrace the worldly system of his father.  Then someday he will die and his spiritual father will drag him into an eternal abode—hell.  Father God intervened in this hopeless situation.  He sent His only Son into this world as a poor helpless human infant—at the mercy of a wicked, worldly system.  Jesus, as God’s human extension, reached out to all the fatherless children who have lived since the beginning of time.  He ministered hope to them.  He redeemed them from the crooked fingers of His enemy, Satan.  We are those orphan children.

The Apostle Paul, once again, exhorts believers to look to Jesus as their role model in Phil. 2:4-11:

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God’s adopted children, believers in the Body of Christ on this earth, must continue living the example of Jesus.  This is God’s command.  Christ’s followers must reach beyond their personal interests and grasp the needs of the widows, orphans and poor of this world to provide food, clothing and spiritual hope.  As this calling is heeded, the poor of this world will become spiritually rich in Christ.

All believers were once poor, downtrodden, and without hope—without a Father in Heaven.  But, thanks be to God, He has adopted them as His children!  Jesus became poor that we might become rich.  We must reach out to the poor in like manner.