Just how do we get into this Body of Christ? Next verse -
I Corinthians 12:13a
"For by one Spirit (Holy Spirit, this is to say the fulness of the Godhead) are we all baptized into one body,..."
Here is the only true baptism for us. This is the true baptism that everybody better have or they're not going to be in glory. Now that's it! If we have this baptism then our name remains written in the Lamb's Book of Life, how by the required path, the ancient path, the reversal of falling into sin and death. Now we'll come into Newness of Life through what many will not believe or be able to conceive or understand, Death. And for those who do we're going to see each other in glory there's no doubt about it. What most don't get is this that with God all things are possible and He alone. The proof of this is Jesus Himself, He is the risen reality because He was crucified as the "Son of man" and raised and then declared the "Son of God".
Paul says that by the one Holy Spirit we're all baptized into One Body. Not just some, but all believers are baptized into the One Body of Christ. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, NOT mans doing the baptism in water as we've covered elsewhere, that at the moment of salvation He places us into the Body of Christ. Thus is the mystery or secret of our being identified IN Christ on the tree or cross. We're always using the analogy of the baby in the mother's womb. For 9 months what does that mother's body do? Adding cells to that little body or embryo which is known as the rudimental stage in her womb. Starting from invisible, and for every day for 9 months cells are being added until the last cells are in place, and what happens? Delivery! A full term baby delivered, now it's like that for the Body of Christ. When He starts our salvation process and the perfecting of the image, character of God or the birth of the day star within us, Christ. For the last 1965 + years now God has been adding believers into this Body. He does that one at a time, and He knows every one of them from around the world. Now reading the rest of verse 13.
I Corinthians 12:13b
"...whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink (or partake of) into one Spirit."
That's the Body of Christ that has been forming ever since it began back there in Acts chapter 9 with the conversion of the Apostle Paul. At least that's what we gather from the Scriptures. When is this Body going to be complete and departure out of here? Let's go back to Romans chapter 11. And while we're in Romans we might as well show another verse that is so appropriate, and very few people know it's in their Bible, and that's verse 13.
Romans 11:13
"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
In other words Paul takes a back seat to no one. Now now come on over to verse 25. This is why we had you turn here, as we wanted to see when the Body of Christ was going to be departure out of the way. This doesn't show a day or hour, or a month or year, but when that last cell, or person, is brought into the Body of Christ.
Romans 11:25
"For I would not brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, (or secret) lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; (and here's what we're supposed to know) that blindness in part (for a certain period of time, not forever, in part because they were already given a familiar spirit who has his way with them) is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."
Now like the other areas where the term completion or fulness is used it is used as an action, the common word is imbue. We're getting close to that time, and it will happen when the fullness or completion of the Gentiles is brought in. Just as when the end of times or the last days of Israels disobedience were full when Jesus came. Now what does that tell you? Israel is out in the world tonight in a spiritual blindness, and has been for almost 4000 [2000BC-2000AD] years. But the day is coming when once again their spiritual eyes will be flipped open and they're going to see and recognize their Messiah. At least this is implied by scripture and prophecy but here again it is all in God's regulation of Prophecy not ours. Israel, as we've said, they'll be born in a day, but before that happens the Church, the Body of Christ, has to be brought to the full when that last person is brought in, and then the Church is taken out of the way for the seven years of Tribulation. Well let us show you our heavenly connection in the Book of Colossians. These are heavenly promises, we know Israel was never told something like this.
Colossians 1:13
"Who hath delivered us (speaking of God the Father) from the power of darkness, and hath (has already) translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
Well where is the kingdom of His Son right now? Well it's in Heaven, or is it? You see that is natural mans thinking and NOT God's and so we have this heavenly connection, with our heavenly promises.
Ephesians 1:10
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven, (heavenly, those after Christ) and which are on earth; (earthly, those before Jesus) even in him:
Everything is going to be brought together under His headship. Now if we could just, for a moment, recap the earthly and heavenly aspect of that verse. From the call of Abraham especially now, everything concerning the Nation of Israel, including the Prophets and Psalms, were all written for the benefit of Israel. And for our learning. In fact let us show you a verse to prove that so you don't think we're just making this up. In Romans chapter 3 is the Scripture we want to look at.
Romans 3:1-2
"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."
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