The Corporate

One of the most fundamental and essential aspects of the christian life is the believer's participation in the 'corporate'. Throughout the history of both Israel and the Church, the corporate aspect of life has been set at the forefront. Every individual Jew was aware that his nation, as a collective people, had a unique destiny and that his individual destiny was entwined with it. Every Christian who has had a fuller revelation of God's purposes knows that the greatest and grandest of all God's workings will take place through His many-membered Church.

A very powerful and far-reaching statement came from the mouth of Jesus in Matthew 16:18, "...upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This shows that the ongoing conflict is between two collective entities, the Church (inherently corporate) and the gates of hell, composed of the devil and his subordinates. Without question, Christ and His Church will emerge victorious.

Let us consider 4 major pictures of the Church as they are presented to us in the New Testament scriptures. May every believer and seeker of truth seriously consider how he relates to and participates in each picture.

The Flock
The main scriptures giving us this picture of the Church are Psalm 23 and John 10. In this picture, Jesus is seen as the Good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep and faithfully provides and cares for them. In both these passages, promises are given to address every need of spirit, soul and body.

In Psalm 23, the Shepherd's provision is such that each member of the flock is left with 'no want'. Among the Lord's gracious blessings are peace and rest, comfort, guidance and protection from evil. The shepherd's presence is constant. As a member of the flock, the life is constantly graced by goodness and mercy. The abundant overflow of all God's blessings and provision is summed up in the words, "my cup runneth over."

In John 10, a similar picture unfolds, with the focus kept on Him (Jesus) who is the source of all good things which touch the life of each individual sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down His life for the sheep (salvation), guides them to find pasture (provision), calls His sheep by name (personal relationship), holds each in His hand (protection) and generally provides abundant life for all.

This first picture of the Church is vital and precious to every believer, young and old. None of us can continue in life without the constant oversight and care of our Good Shepherd.

The Building
It is sad to observe that a majority of Christians choose to live in the first picture without a conscious awareness of anything further in their calling. Their lives tend to remain self-centered and unfulfilled. The prevailing mentality of many is that Christianity starts and stops with blessings. Very little regard is given as to whether God's heart is satisfied or whether some responsibility may accompany salvation.

Our second picture, that of the Building, introduces a different focus and begins to challenge each of us with a dimension of responsibility. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, it is declared, "...ye are God's building." And again in verse 16, "Know ye not that ye (collectively) are the temple of God...?" In Ephesians 2:19-22, the picture of 'the Building' is further drawn, showing that believers are to be built together to become a (corporate) habitation for God.

Christians are not to live a life of self-centered isolation, but rather to interact with other believers until spiritual joining and unity are achieved. In our first picture, believers are seen as sheep in a flock, recipients of the manifold blessings of God. Here, they are seen as 'living stones', built together by a unique operation of the Spirit to become the very habitation of God.

Let us consider some steps of responsibility which now begin to fall on the true Christian believer:

1. We are called to come unto Him as 'living stones'. (See 1Peter 2:4,5)
2. We are placed by the Spirit into a local church. (1Corinthians 12:18)
3. We are molded and fashioned by the hands of God's appointed ministry. (1Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 4:11,12) (Some want to remain in the sovereign hands of God, but His way is that we be placed in the hands of responsible ministries in a local church.)
4. We are joined one with the other to become the habitation of God. (Ephesians 2:19-22) (Where joinings have been established over a period of many years, there is an increase both in the measure and quality of God's presence. This is not true of revolving crowds that gather just for blessings' sake. Reference: Psalm 133.)
5. If this picture is to become a reality, every believer must respond to his calling into a local church and interact effectively with all its members. Note some examples from scripture of interaction which should take place among believers: (receive one another; love one another; forgive one another; pray one for the other; edify one another; admonish one another; care one for the other; etc...)

The Body
The picture of the Body is one of ministry, i.e., the function of its many and diverse parts to produce a fullness of life. Whereas the picture of the Flock gives us a focus on receiving, the picture of the Body gives us a focus on giving.

Throughout the domain of God's creation, we see entities composed of both head and body. Although our head, the Lord Jesus, may be perfect in every way, He is incomplete without a body. In Ephesians 1:23, the church is declared to be, "...His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all."

When Jesus was on earth as a man, the fullness of God dwelt in Him and was manifest. No other single human being can ever hope to be indwelt by that fullness, for the fullness of God is meant to reside in a many-membered body. Each believer is gifted and graced in a certain manner to give expression to a portion of that fullness. The scripture basis for this concept is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

Let us consider several concise summarizing statements related to this picture of the Church:

1. We are saved to become a specific part of Christ's body. (1Co.12:13,18)
2. Each member of the Body not only receives from the Body, but has a responsibility of ministering to the Body. (1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:14-16)
3. God has placed special ministry gifts in the church to equip the saints for the work of their ministry. The saints should consult their pastors and leaders with regard to their ministries and giftings and have them confirmed with the laying on of hands. (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Tim.4:14)
4. God's objective is a fully functioning, mature, corporate man (Christ and His Church), through which God's work will be accomplished and His purpose be established in the earth. (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 3:10)

While the concept of 'the building' implies a dwelling place for God's presence, the concept of 'the body' implies a full expression of the life of Christ. Both these aspects of the church require a serious conscious commitment on the part of the believer. Thus, our commitment to the Lord should include a commitment to a local Body for the fulfillment of God's purpose in a certain geographical area.

The Bride
The concept of the Bride is the fourth major picture of the Church given in scripture. If we are awakened to and truly serious about this concept, it will require a depth of commitment previously unknown. The picture of the Bride calls for intimacy of relationship with Jesus, the Bridegroom, and preparation for participation with Him in both the end of this age and the coming Kingdom. The popular and shallow teaching of a rapture followed by some type of 'honeymoon' in heaven falls far short of God's intended purpose for His Church.

Let us note some very profound and important aspects of the Church as the Bride of Christ:

1. Espousal In 2 Corinthians 11:2, the Apostle Paul considers the Church 'betrothed' to Christ, even as a woman might pledge herself to marry a certain man. The yearning of the Apostle is that she, the Church, might remain a pure virgin, fit for her pure and holy Bridegroom. In this passage, it is significant to note that her defilement could come not only from the world, but from 'another gospel', 'another Jesus' or 'another spirit'. It is sad to note that, from our vantage point, a large portion of the church has already been defiled and has become disqualified to be the Bride of Christ. ( For further comment or discussion on this topic, the reader is encouraged to contact our e-mail address appearing on our facing page.)
2. Preparation. If we become gripped by the profound implications of our calling as the Bride of Christ, we shall acknowledge that a salvation experience followed by careless living will disqualify us. Instead of a 'saved and going to heaven' mentality, we shall walk softly before Him and expect a process of preparation for the 'marriage supper of the Lamb'. Revelation 19:7 indeed indicates that "his wife hath made herself ready." Let us further consider the preparation process:
1. Ephesians 5:26 indicates that the Lord will "sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the word." This is an on-going process performed by the anointed ministry of the Word of God. Those who are serious about participating in the marriage of the Lamb will not follow the multitudes to be simply blessed or entertained. They will seek out a ministry characterized by a sanctifying and cleansing word.
2. I John 3:1-3 indicates that when our Lord appears, there will be those who will be like Him at His appearing. Many conclude that this is an impossibility and dismiss it from their theology, but if we stay with what this text is saying, we see in verse 3 that there will be those who will hold to the hope of being like Him and will purify themselves. (We know we cannot do this in our own strength, but as God speaks and deals with us, those who yield and respond in obedience, will indeed experience transformation into Christ-likeness. (For other confirming texts see: 1 Peter 1:22; Titus 2:14; 2Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1.)
3. Presentation. Several times, the Apostle Paul alludes to the picture of the Church being presented to Christ as a proper Bride. Whereas the majority in Christendom simply think 'rapture' without regard to their condition, the Bible clearly indicates that the Bride will be a company of people who will be "holy and without blemish". (See Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22; 1Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 24) Again we refer to Revelation 19:7 to show that the Bride is composed of saints who are diligent in preparing themselves for a marriage with Christ the Bridegroom.
4. Participation. Whereas shallow Christianity establishes a mentality of going to heaven to enjoy eternity, the scriptures do not confirm such theology. The complete song of the redeemed is given in Revelation 5:9,10: "...Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred , and tongue and people and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." Thus, the Bride will be co-regent with Christ in His literal kingdom on the earth.

Another passage which points to the Bride's participation with Christ in His coming Kingdom is found in Revelation 19:11-21. A careful study of this passage, which follows the marriage supper of the Lamb, shows that the Bride is the army which follows the Lamb and which shares in the smiting of the nations and ruling them with a rod of iron. (Supportive scripture: Rev.2:26,27)

In conclusion, we appeal for open minds and honesty. Like the Bereans of the early church, may we become diligent to search the scriptures to see if these things be so.