The Liberty in Christ’s Body

The Liberty in Christ’s Body

“But we, being faithful to the truth in love, are to grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

From the above words we can see that all things happen through the Head. “And He Himself gave some . . . .” Here again we can see that the only thing that matters as far as the individual in the church is concerned is that he grows up to the Head in all aspects. No one can take that liberty from us. Only when the leaders of the various assemblies start to organize and have people voted into the various ministries is this liberty taken away; but then it is not the body of Christ either.

Growing up into Him in all things! What are these “things” in which we are to grow up? They are the virtues of Him who has called us. 1 Pet. 2:9. We have opportunity to proclaim them by word and deed. Our way of speaking, and the way in which we react in situations will demonstrate the fullness we have of the virtues of Christ, and our influence in the church and among people will be in relationship to this fullness.

We are to grow up into Him, “faithful to the truth in love.” That is the hidden life with Christ in God. Everyone who has this hope of seeing Him as He is “purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3. We proclaim ourselves as servants through the virtues. 2 Cor. 4:5. Paul proved himself to be a servant of Christ by much patience, in afflictions, in needs, in distresses, by kindness, by the Holy Sprit, by sincere love, etc. 2 Cor. 6:4-10.

Who can hinder us in this growth and from conducting ourselves in this way? All of us have an equally great liberty in the body of Christ with the Head apportioning the ministries. What reason do I then have for complaining or for being dissatisfied? The important thing is that I am faithful to the truth so I can purify myself from everything that belongs to my human nature. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart . . . .” 1 Pet. 1:22.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Cor. 3:17-18. What do we have liberty for where the Spirit of the Lord is? We have the liberty to look into the glory of the Lord and be transformed into that same glory—from glory to glory. The Spirit of the Lord has given us great liberty. Everyone is allowed to serve according to the gift he has received and with the ability which God supplies. 1 Pet. 4:10-11. We are the only ones who can hinder ourselves in this liberty in the body of Christ.