Spiritual Gifts part 260: The church is the fullness of Christ

Spiritual Gifts Part 260: The Church is the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God is at work producing mature daughters who can step in and take on the amazing calling and destiny He has waiting for those who love Him.

To love the Lord means two things:

(1) to keep His word, and (2) to love the brethren.

JOH 14:23-24; JOH 14:21; JOH 15:12-13.

These differences are spoken of in the Bible in terms of rank, rulership, reward, recognition, privilege, and intimacy.

3. Reward:
to each according to his deeds; crowns.
MAT 5:11-12; MAT 10:40-42; LUK 6:35-36; 1CO 3:8-15; COL 3:23-24; JAM 1:12; 2JO 1:8; REV 2:10; REV 22:10-14

Rewards are associated with work and faithful service.

The inheritance of the Church Age believer has two compartments:
the birthright (regeneration), and
the rewards (maturity).

Inheritance Chest

Heirs of God by birth - by means of the new birth - regeneration.

Fellow heirs with Christ by training - a life of overcoming and service.

The inheritance of the believer has two sides.
Austin-Sparks talks about these two aspects in terms of (1) nature, and (2) service.

2CO 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We are also in union with Christ to participate in His work of service.

Any time you want to understand something about the church you start with Christ.
You look to Him.

MAR 10:45

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The WORK of Christ-His SERVICE - is to minister God to the creation - to be the mediator between God and man.

Christ came to explain His Father.
He wanted the world to know that His Father is gracious and His Father is the truth.

Jesus Christ orients to His Father in everything.

The most amazing thing Christ did on the cross was to vindicate the character of His Father in propitiation; ROM 3:23-26.

Right now, in His humanity, where is He?

What will His service be about in the future ages?

Just as Christ is the fullness of the Father and explains Him…

The Church is to be the fullness of Christ and, by the work of the Holy Spirit, to explain Christ to the world and the angels.

When we communicate the truth of mystery doctrine, we participate in this mighty service of God making Himself known for who He really is.

JOH 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.