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If we put together all these seven aspects of the church, we see a
wonderful picture of the church as the Body to express Christ, as
the new man taking Christ as the person, as the kingdom with
rights and responsibilities, as the family with life and enjoyment, as
God’s dwelling place for God to live in, as the bride for Christ’s
satisfaction, and as the warrior for fighting the battle and defeating
the enemy so that God can accomplish His eternal purpose. This is
the church.
The subject of the book of Ephesians is the church. Ephesians
covers seven aspects of the church, the first of which is the church
as the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. In order
for a living person to be complete, he must have a body as his
expression. The Body of Christ is the fullness of Him who fills all in
all.
The riches of Christ may be likened to all the rich foodstuffs
produced in America. These riches are not for exhibition; they are
for eating. As we eat of the rich American foodstuffs, these riches
seem to disappear into us. When these riches are digested and
assimilated by us, they become part of us. As a result, they are no
longer the riches, but the fullness. Thus, the husky young American
men, who assimilate so much of the rich American foodstuffs, are
the fullness of America. By means of this illustration we can
differentiate between the riches and the fullness. The riches are the
food which has not yet been taken into us. But when the food is
eaten, digested, and assimilated, it becomes the fullness. The riches
of Christ are all the items of what Christ is. When we digest and
assimilate into our being the riches of Christ, these riches become
part of us, and we become the fullness of Christ.
What the church does is not as important as what the church is.
The church is the Body, the new man, the kingdom, the family, the
dwelling place, the wife, and the warrior. What we do does not mean
very much, but what we are means a great deal. In such a church as
described in Ephesians Christ is expressed. Through such a church
Christ, the Person, is lived out. In such a church there is the
kingdom of God with rights and responsibilities and the family of
God with life and enjoyment. This church is also God’s dwelling
place, Christ’s satisfaction, and God’s warrior fighting the battle for
His eternal purpose. What a church this is! (Life-Study of Ephesians
pp. 1-2, 5-6) |
