The Body of Christ: A Curious Work

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Though all things encompass the Kingdom of God, it is the earth that is to be an everlasting Kingdom for the people of God. It is also to be the place of the eternal Throne of God. God had a plan. We know that the universe, galaxies and all things that have been made, are a part of the Kingdom of God. David said, “… if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8).

Yes, it is the Millennial Kingdom on the earth that begins the reign of the sons of God. If we abide in the spiritual kingdom of God, then we will surely reign in the physical kingdom in which Jesus is the ruling Monarch. This is the focus of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is also referred to as the Gospel of the Kingdom by various writers of the Old and New Testament.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This verse truly reveals the confidence of God in His power to create that which He desires. First of all, it sites His foreknowledge. This is an important factor which signifies that God knew beforehand those who would be His. Therefore, He is able to go down the list in His book of the members of the human race and make the selection of those who would believe in Christ and to also place their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

St. John 17:6

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word

And again the scriptures declare, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44).

In moving forward, we see the plan was for the believers to be conformed to the image of His Son. This means that they would be the same in form, type and agreement. John also commented on this point.

1 John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The message is clear and straightforward. If we are to have peace and confidence in the day of judgment, then we must walk this earth in perfect love, which is the only thing that proves Christ to be in you; your hope of glory. But God has not left this to chance; neither has He demanded that which is not attainable for His people. Paul said the excellency of the power is of God and not of us.

In Romans 8:29, Paul makes Jesus the prototype of the Church. God predetermined that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead would allow us to be as Christ; thus taking away His uniqueness in that He is now the first of many.

Below, I’ve taken an excerpt from a previous lesson where David becomes the scribe who writes the testimony of our Lord.

Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Isaiah was perplexed when he wrote; He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken (Isaiah 53:8). The prophet did not see the events that would take place after the death of Christ. He could not or rather was not allowed to see into and beyond the grave.

Psalm 139:15

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Wrought - Made colorful, variegated or embroidered. This phrase ‘curiously wrought’ refers to the integration of two different substances intertwined together to make one. The type of this intermingling of divinity with humanity is also illustrated in the High Priest garment wherein gold was beaten into fine threads and intertwined with linen threads to form the collar. This term ‘curious’ was also used to describe the curious girdle the High Priest wore while doing his work in the Tabernacle. The girdle was a variegation of red, blue, purple, gold and white.

• Blue: Point to humanity of the fleshy body we reside in.
• Red: The color red represents the blood of Jesus Christ as our sacrifice.
• Purple: The color purple, is a combination of the blue and the red which points to the Royal Priesthood and the ministry of reconciliation we have received of the Father.
• White: represents the perfection of Jesus Christ.
• Gold: The presence of God in the form of the Holy Spirit.

It was in the deep parts of the earth or the nether parts that the Body of Christ was formed. It was there that the souls of all who would accept Christ were made one with Him. It was an answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in the Garden, Father make them one, even as we are one.

Furthermore, this activity in the lower parts of the earth is also verified in Paul’s writing to the church at Rome.

Romans 6:3-8

3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

Psalm 139:16

Thine eyes did see my substance, (you saw my body) yet being unperfect; (before it was made perfect. (While they were yet in sin you chose them to be in me. They are the workmanship of your hand.) and in thy book all my members were written, (you wrote their names in the Book of Life.) which in continuance were fashioned, (in the process of time, or when the time came; the dispensation of grace and truth made manifest that they were perfect and complete in me) when as yet there was none of them.

When Christ was raised from the dead, the church was raised in His loins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me (Hebrews 10:5).

It must be received in your spirit that we are the literal Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14. For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:18-20

18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20. But now are they many members, yet but one body.

The Body of Christ is a Curious Work. Believe it, receive it and live it.