The Body of Christ

NIV Matthew 26:26

26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

1. The body of Christ frees us from the burden of the law of the flesh! NIV Romans 7:4
4. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

2. The body of Christ binds together! NIV 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
16. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
17. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

3. The body of Christ calls us to examine ourselves. NIV 1 Corinthians 11:26-29
26. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

4. The body of Christ calls us to build each other up! NIV Ephesians 4:11-12
11. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12. to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

5. The body of Christ reconciles us to God!
"reconcile" - to make friendly again, to win over, to settle a quarrel, to bring into harmony, to make content. NIV Colossians 1:21-22
21. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
22. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--

6. The body of Christ make us holy! NIV Hebrews 10:10
10. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

7. The body of Christ healed us from the disease of sin. NIV 1 Peter 2:24
24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by his wounds you have been healed.

8. The body of Christ calls us to suffer like Jesus! NIV 1 Peter 4:1-2
1. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Conclusion: We are told to "eat", to consume, be one with everything Jesus is.
We are united with Him in:

Mind - 1 Corinthians 2:16
"we have the mind of Christ."

Body - 1 Corinthians 6:15
"your bodies are members of Christ"

Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:17
"he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit."