We are the flesh and bones of Christ

Sons to Glory! · 09-05-2019, 11:43 AM

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

Is it really true?

HERn · 09-05-2019, 08:31 PM

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

Nell · 09-05-2019, 08:40 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-05-2019, 09:44 PM

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! · 09-05-2019, 10:41 PM

Quote:

"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 · 09-05-2019, 10:56 PM

Quote:

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! · 09-05-2019, 11:13 PM

Quote:

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 · 09-05-2019, 11:27 PM

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 · 09-05-2019, 11:59 PM

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! · 09-06-2019, 08:33 AM

Quote:

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 · 09-06-2019, 10:01 AM

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)
-

Sons to Glory! · 09-06-2019, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Makes sense (but God doesn't always make sense to us). I think there's more; you think there's less. So be it.

Sons to Glory! · 09-07-2019, 06:09 AM

So is everyone now OK with this verse, which is obviously in the Bible?

(and hopefully none of you took your scissors and cut this verse out already . . .

)

UntoHim · 09-08-2019, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Makes sense (but God doesn't always make sense to us). I think there's more; you think there's less. So be it.

Not really sure what you mean by "doesn't always make sense to us". I guess this could be true for some, but what I would also say is that God and his Word can never be nonsensical, and this is what happens when we take a metaphor too far, or even worse, when we transpose something metaphorical into something literal.

You think there's more? More of what? You contend that I think there's less. Less of what? Sometimes we just have to let a metaphor be a metaphor. There is no need to embellish or try to get something "deeper" out of the plain words that God has given us - most of us aren't qualified or equipped to embellish or get something deeper anyway.

Quote:

So is everyone now OK with this verse, which is obviously in the Bible?

Well I'm not OK with considering this verse as anything more, or anything less than a metaphor. It cannot be taken literally in any way, shape or form. It cannot be taken literally, if for no other reason than the plain words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:39.
-

Sons to Glory! · 09-10-2019, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Not really sure what you mean by "doesn't always make sense to us". I guess this could be true for some, but what I would also say is that God and his Word can never be nonsensical, and this is what happens when we take a metaphor too far, or even worse, when we transpose something metaphorical into something literal.

You think there's more? More of what? You contend that I think there's less. Less of what? Sometimes we just have to let a metaphor be a metaphor. There is no need to embellish or try to get something "deeper" out of the plain words that God has given us - most of us aren't qualified or equipped to embellish or get something deeper anyway.

Well I'm not OK with considering this verse as anything more, or anything less than a metaphor. It cannot be taken literally in any way, shape or form. It cannot be taken literally, if for no other reason than the plain words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:39.
-

(OK, I retrieved my PW! Sorry about that Mr Moderator . . .)

You choose to hang everything, it seems, on Luke 24:39. I don't. Way too many other verses showing we are the body of Christ. Can we understand this? Can we understand that we are in Him in the heavenlies, yet still on earth?

So some may label me a Christian Mystic for such reasonings, and if so - so be it!

09-05-2019, 11:43 AM	#1
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,617	We are the flesh and bones of Christ Ran across this in Daily Light for today. I'm still chewing and considering . . . Is it really true? __________________ LC Berkeley 70s; LC Columbus OH 80s; An Ekklesia in Scottsdale 98-now Praise the Lord - HE'S GOT THIS!

09-05-2019, 08:31 PM	#2
HERn Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 968	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ I think we are the hands and feet of Christ bringing blessings to others. __________________ Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (KJV Version) Look to Jesus not The Ministry.

09-05-2019, 09:44 PM	#4
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,824	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ 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 __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

09-05-2019, 11:27 PM	#8
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,824	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ 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? __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

09-05-2019, 11:59 PM	#9
byHismercy Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 439	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ 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....

09-06-2019, 10:01 AM	#11
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,824	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ 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) - __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

09-07-2019, 06:09 AM	#13
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,617	Re: We are the flesh and bones of Christ So is everyone now OK with this verse, which is obviously in the Bible? (and hopefully none of you took your scissors and cut this verse out already . . . ) __________________ LC Berkeley 70s; LC Columbus OH 80s; An Ekklesia in Scottsdale 98-now Praise the Lord - HE'S GOT THIS!