Only God can expect people to be like Him. He created man in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26-28) The fallen creation has the potential to be restored to what God has originally created us to be. That is why Jesus came to the earth, was crucified and raised from the dead to make a way for us to be freed from sin and the effects of sin to make the way for that restoration.
All of God’s creation is so amazing. Such beauty! Such diversity and yet unity of
function! God created each human body
with such intricately designed diverse parts and yet these parts have a unity
of function. The different parts or
systems need each of the other parts to function appropriately, so that the
body is healthy and can perform at peak capacity.
In the same way the church, the body of Christ, is composed
of many different parts. There is a
great diversity. If each part is allowed
to function as it is supposed to there is a great unity of function resulting
in the shining forth of the beauty of the character of Christ and the
furthering of His kingdom on the earth.
The church, the body of Christ is headed toward the fullness of this
becoming a reality.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From
whom 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 unto the edifying of itself in love.
The five fold ministry is given until the mature body comes
forth manifesting the fullness of Christ.
In order for this to come about we must learn to function appropriately
allowing and encouraging each member to find its place of function to bring
forth an effective, healthy, and mature body. Each part must be allowed to be who they were created to be and do what we were created to do. (Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.) Then a mature body can come forth. God is looking for a mature body that willshow forth the fullness of Christ.
