We are the flesh and bones of Christ

[Sons to Glory!]

Ran across this in Daily Light for today. I'm still chewing and considering . . .

Is it really true?

[HERn]

I think we are the hands and feet of Christ bringing blessings to others.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Ran across this in Daily Light for today. I'm still chewing and considering . . .

Is it really true?

Is it a verse in the Bible...word by word? Where? Who said it? Why was it said? Is it something written by somebody’s “ministry”...? What does it mean...? What is the context? What do you do with such a statement? Why would someone say such a thing? Is this supposed to be an interpretation of scripture? Is is supposed to be literal?

How much explaining does it take to make it not creep you (me) out?

Nell

[UntoHim]

Is it true? Well, let's just look for answers from Christ himself:
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (Luke 24:39)

Case closed. We are not the flesh and bones of Christ. Why? Because the post-resurrected Christ still has his flesh and bones! So I guess he still needs them. And according to the apostle Paul is 1 Corinthians 15, we too will eventually be bodily resurrected. We will put on a resurrected body, and then our sorry, lowly flesh and bones will be "Transformed to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:21)

Oh, it's a metaphor you say? Good! Now yur getting it.

This song by Casting Crowns probably represents this notion better than any other contemporary Christian song I have run across:
If We Are The Body

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way, there is a way

[Sons to Glory!]

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." Ephesians 5:30

(FYI: This was one of several verses presented today in Daily Light, a daily devotional first put together by Samuel Bagster in 1794, with modern editing done by Ann Graham Lotz.)

Some translations leave out "of His flesh and of His bones," but the Greek text I've looked at includes it.

[byHismercy]

Originally Posted by Nell

Is it a verse in the Bible...word by word? Where? Who said it? Why was it said? Is it something written by somebody’s “ministry”...? What does it mean...? What is the context? What do you do with such a statement? Why would someone say such a thing? Is this supposed to be an interpretation of scripture? Is is supposed to be literal?

How much explaining does it take to make it not creep you (me) out?

Nell

Lol. I like the way you think, Nell.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Nell

Is it a verse in the Bible...word by word? Where? Who said it? Why was it said? Is it something written by somebody’s “ministry”...? What does it mean...? What is the context? What do you do with such a statement? Why would someone say such a thing? Is this supposed to be an interpretation of scripture? Is is supposed to be literal?

How much explaining does it take to make it not creep you (me) out?

Nell

As mentioned in below post, see Ephesians 5:30. My Greek text renders this verse as: "for members we are of the body of him of the flesh of him and of the bones of him"

[UntoHim]

Sons to Glory! Could you please try to address my post? Could you please address Luke 24:39? How can we be "the flesh and bones of Christ" when he is clearly in heaven at the right hand of the Father? Am I Right?

[byHismercy]

Eph 5 32 this is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church

Maybe we cannot articulate this mystery, but it seems like the passage is speaking about Christs love for us, the members of his body....and of course how a man ought to love his spouse....

For no man ever hateth his own flesh.

At any rate, had to repent for my lack of reverence for my spouse....

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Sons to Glory! Could you please try to address my post? Could you please address Luke 24:39? How can we be "the flesh and bones of Christ" when he is clearly in heaven at the right hand of the Father? Am I Right?

Oh my brother, it is a great mystery! Are you being rhetorical in your question? I suspect that is the case, as this is one of the key mysteries of godliness, that God was manifested in the flesh - He is not bound by our sensibilities, is He!?

"as He is, so also are we in this world" 1 John 4:17

[UntoHim]

Actually there is absolutely no mystery surrounding Luke 24:39 It is not metaphorical. What part of "For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" could we not understand?

Just as the "one flesh" in the following verse (v31) is highly metaphorical, so to is the "of his flesh and of his bones" in the verse in question (v30) You see, there is a reason why a Christian marriage ceremony does not end with "I now pronounce you one flesh!" Well, why not...it's written right there in the Bible! Am I right? Aside from the fact that most people would consider the officiating person to be a little on the wacky side, he would also be taking something highly metaphorical, and making it seem literal.

Witness Lee was not the only "teacher" to make the mistake of taking a biblical word or phrase from the metaphorical to the literal, but he sure got it down to an art form like nobody else I ever heard. This kind of gross error let Lee to teach such absurdities as "there is now the 4 in 1 God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and now the church" (paraphrase)
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