1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:5 "[agape love] Doth not behave itself unseemly" Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us." Hope is actually a vision of how things really are. It is seeing reality as it is. Discerning the Body of Christ is hope. John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that wisdom in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our wisdom. And wisdom is righteous, holiness, and redemption (freedom from sin). Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." So, righteousness is love and love is righteousness. This may be quite different from what you were taught if you were taught worldly definitions of hope, love, wisdom, and righteousness.

1 Corinthians 12:12 "For as the [human] body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." So Christ the Body is just as much Christ as Christ the Head is Christ. Christ the Body and Christ the Head cannot be seen as separate. Do discern the Body of Christ is to see Jesus face to face. There is an authority associated with the Body of Christ. This authority is the very authority of Christ.

Ephesians 3:10 "To the intent that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" Not the make-believe church but the church that God is building according to the pattern.

1 John 3:2 "we are God's young children now, and what we will be is not yet visible; but we know that when He is visible we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is." 2 Corinthians 3:18 "we all, with unveiled face, beholding [seeing] the glory of the Lord as in a glass [mirror], are being transfigured into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Spirit of the Lord." You are born again into the Church (and out of the world) so that you can grow. You grow as the Holy Spirit conforms you to the image of Christ, your Ministry in the Body of Christ. This is a process that goes from glory to glory. When everything is in complete unity with God's will and built according to God's Pattern as He gave it in Scripture, the Body and the Head (Jesus) will be joined as one totally complete man. This is the manifestation or the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

This walk is a personal experience, although it is more than just that as you will see. James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass [mirror]: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Every Christian must realize who they are in Christ. They must realize how they fit into the Body of Christ. They look into that perfect law of liberty, and it's like looking into a mirror. Their eyes are opened to see the Kingdom of God. Then they forget. How could they after seeing the very Kingdom of God? Yet, they do. And they forget what they saw in that mirror when they looked at their brother and sister in Christ and what they saw when they looked into that mirror and saw the unbelievers and the un-born-again. They forget and do not do or try to do by self-effort, which is double-minded.

We need to see reality. We need to see that each member of the Body of Christ including our own being has a fleshly nature, a sinful nature, but they ARE the ministry, which is Christ in us the hope of Glory. 1 Corinthians 13:9 "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass [mirror], darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" Know what or whom? Know Him, Jesus, the Christ. Knowing Him is what it is all about, and we have this treasure in earthen vessels.

Discerning Christ in His Body is the very mechanism by which we are transfigured into His likeness. When we see Him in our brother and sister, the image of God as in a mirror, and respect Him with a Holy Awe, then we are changed by degrees from glory to glory. The fear [respect and holy awe] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and God has made Jesus our wisdom, which is righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10, & 1 Corinthians 1:30

God so loved the world, that is the cosmos, the universe and its order, that He gave His unique Son so that whoever believes into Him should not die but should have the life of the coming age, an uncreated life that does not end. And how do we believe into Him? It is "into" in the original language.

Well, who is Christ? Christ is the Head of the Body in Heaven, yes. Christ is also a many-membered Body here on Earth. When we serve each other, we do serve Him. When we build up each other, as you are doing, we build Him up. Corinthians 12:12 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. Paul is comparing the physical body to the Church, the members of the physical body and the members of the Church. Then he calls the Church, Christ. And it is Christ. It is the Body of Christ in a very real sense.

To believe into Christ, a person must first be born again. From that point, this person begins to believe Christ rather than believing all the teachings of men and evil spirits. As the Holy Spirit unfolds His revelation, the orders that are so clearly shown in the Bible become real and understandable to the believer. God speaks to every person all the time. We were created to be directed, as God utters His Word to us, and powered by the Holy Spirit from moment to moment. Most people don't listen at all. A remnant, a small company of believers, are beginning to learn to listen and respond in God's faith. Click here to learn more." href="http://www.SeekFind.net/Bible_Dictionary__Define_Faith__Definition_of_Faith.html">faith which comes as God utters His Word to us. (some caveats about hearing God's Voice)

Believing into Christ is a process of:

1. discerning what is and what is not the Body of Christ,
2. and discerning what is and what is not your own particular place of service within this Body of Christ,
3. and finally to become what God created you to become in the Body of Christ.

See, sayeth He, that you build all things according to the pattern. God is speaking to us about the pattern that He has given in Scripture. The foundation of the Church must be laid first. First Christ, then the apostles built on Christ as foundation of the Church. These apostles were restored to the Church in the late 1940s. God has been restoring His Church to its original glory and purpose since it left God's pattern in the early centuries after Jesus ascended and gave gifts to men. May God bless you in this work.

John 3:16 commented: For God so loved the cosmos[2889 kosmos], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes into [1519 eis] Him should not perish, but have eonian [166 aionios] life.

1 Corinthians 14:3... speaketh to men to edification [building up], and exhortation, and comfort." 4 "... edifieth [builds up] himself... edifieth [builds up] the church." 5 "... that the church may receive edifying [building up]." 12... seek that ye may excel to the edifying [building up] of the church." 26 "... Let all things be done to edifying [building up]." 33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 40 "Let all things be done decently and in order." Colossians 2:5 "... joying and beholding your order..." 1 Corinthians 8:1 "Now as touching things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity [agape love] edifies [builds up]." Here, we see how closely love is connected to the ability to build up Christ the Body, which is linked to following God's order and pattern.

Ephesians 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him [Christ] in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom [Christ] the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

Hebrews 8:5 "Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." The pattern is important. We see Jesus in every true gift, ministry, operation, and order in the Church. As God pulls back the veil of our flesh to see this, we have entered into the manifestation of the sons of God to a degree. And this unveiling goes from glory to glory and from faith to faith. The word, manifestation, is translated from the Greek, apocalypse, which means, "the removal of the veil."

To be an independent Christian is as useless as to have an independent finger or toe or eye. Such an entity would soon die and would be useless if it could continue to live outside of the human body. So it is with Christ the Body. Pride makes a division in the Body. Humility is simply seeing reality. Humility is seeing our total dependence on God and on fitting into the Body in the place that God designed according to the order of Scripture. The programs, corporations, and other efforts of good Christian men and women in contrast to the Body of Christ, though they may do many good things, will always lack the true power of the real Body of Christ. There is a difference between a program and the Church. There is a difference between a corporation that is called a "ministry" and a true ministry, which is the unveiling, manifestation, of Jesus Christ in a member of His Church (His called out people).

You have authority in Christ to the extent that you fit into your place in the Body of Christ. You fit in through submission. The apostles derive their authority by submission to Christ the Head in Heaven, Christ the Body in their fellow apostles who have direct governmental authority concerning them, and Christ in every ministry of the Body of Christ. As one apostle stated, when an 8-year-old child prophesies, I am in submission. The local elders and deacons derive their authority by submission to Christ the Head in Heaven, Christ the Body in the apostles who have governmental authority concerning them, Christ the Body in their fellow elders who also have governmental authority concerning them, and Christ in every ministry. The fathers and mothers in the home derive their authority by submission to Christ the Head in Heaven, Christ the Body in the apostles who have governmental authority concerning them, Christ the Body in their elders who also have governmental authority concerning them, Christ the Body in each other, and Christ in every ministry.

Some have said that they will submit to Christ but not to those who have been set by Christ. That is the same as saying, "I will love God but not my brother and my sister. Impossible!

Matthew 5:22 "But I say to you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (empty head), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

God describes the Church as a Body. A body cannot be put together any way we like. There is a design and a pattern that must be followed for things to work. If the Church were a club, then it could be made any way we like. It is not a club. It is really the Body of Christ. There is an order to the Body of Christ just as there is an order to the physical body. The Body of Christ can survive a certain amount of disorder, but is not well if it has disorder. Fulfillment is bringing the Body of Christ into order. Ultimately, fulfillment is bringing the Body of Christ into unity with the Head, Jesus, and with itself. That will require that everything be resored and that everything be according to the pattern.

God also describes the Church as His holy Temple. When Solomon's temple (a type of the Church) was built, God repeated said, "Be sure that you build everything according to the pattern." When the temple was complete and built according to the pattern, that was when God's glory filled the temple (a type of the manifestation of the sons of God). The foundation of the Church is Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 The apostles become part of that foundation through submission to Christ. Ephesians 2:20, Matthew 16:18 From there, the whole Church must be built according to the pattern, using the correct materials, and on that foundation.

2 Timothy "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully."

If something is built that does not follow the pattern, the work will be lost. The pattern is the pattern that is clearly laid out in Scripture. If something does not use the correct materials, that work will be lost. Only that which God originates and does through us will survive into the eternities. There will be many religious activities and "good works" that will be burned up by God's consuming fire in His great quality control program. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 If something is built off of that foundation, the work will be lost. Some people build their entire house on sand. Jesus taught a parable about this. "These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain"

The battle is now for the mind. God leads, you believe God instead of your own fleshly mind, God's faith (a supernatural belief) comes to you, faith gives you access to God's grace (God's love/righteousness, which flows through you at that point), and grace does God's work through you, which results in two things: holiness and redemption (being set free from slavery). Righteousness is in the moment. Holiness and redemption are permanent changes in what you are and your condition respectively. Holiness and redemption go from glory to glory. Each time you yield to the Spirit of God (the love of God--God is Love) and allow Him to do His work through you, you are a little more like Christ and a bit more free from slavery to Satan. This is the "by grace through faith" experience. In other words, salvation is by grace and grace is through faith if you follow the process just described. I hope that makes sense. It is simple, Scriptural, and logical once you understand it.

This is a walk from glory to glory, from faith to faith, and from light to light. The path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more until that perfect day.

This walk from glory to glory is not just a personal experience. It is an experience that must take place in the context of the entire Body of Christ. In this experience, each member of the Body of Christ is building every other member by the same "grace through faith" process.

They must build on the foundation, according to the pattern, and using the correct materials.

All of this work must be done by the Holy Spirit. It is by grace, which is through faith. The Holy Spirit always follows God's order in this work. He will always lead the believer to that which is orderly. The Holy Spirit will always lead you in an orderly way--God's order.

Many times, the believer may have some sort of a theology of idea of how things should be that makes the believer resistant to the leading of the Holy Spirit. These are strongholds that keep the believers from entering into what God has for them.

God has a pattern for everything he does. That pattern is plainly written in God's Word. Many have gotten spiritually stuck when they ran into God's pattern and decided that they could not obey. Then, the rationalizing started. Then, the theologies were developed. Then, they made excuses before the King of kings why they could not go into the Kingdom of God.

The Church is the very method by which God is bringing about the fulfillment, the manifestation of the Sons of God. The Church is also the fulfillment itself. It is to come into unity as one totally complete man. That Man is a Head (Jesus) and a Body (the church) in total unity and order. This is the message of Ephesians 4. Pray that God give you eyes to see this, because this is basic to discerning the Body of Christ.

Disorders are perversions of the Body of Christ. They are akin to perversions of marriage. Changing God's orders constitutes perversion. You must be born again to see the Kingdom, so many people cannot discern the perversion of the Church. However, the perversion of the home is a level where even the unsaved can often tell that there is a perversion. If you are building, you must build with the right materials, in the right way, on the right foundation.

To fail to discern the Body of Christ is antichrist. To not see the anointing (Christ) on a member of the Body of Christ is antichrist. All division is antichrist. To not see the order of the Body of Christ or to walk disorderly is antichrist. For one spouse to have a critical or contemptuous opinion toward the other spouse is antichrist--the same is true of any member having such an attitude toward any other member. To not have compassion to share the Gospel, without regard to possible persecution, with an unbeliever is antichrist. Every person's carnal mind is antichrist. God has called many out from that which is along side of Christ (as a competitor for His space--antichrist) to move in unity into the fullness of His plan for the Body of Christ.