Category: The Church the Body of Christ

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #10

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Following centuries of the Kingdom of Judah violating the Law of Moses, the LORD finally deported its citizens to Babylon for 70 years’ captivity (see 2 Chronicles 36:14-21). Among them were four young men, probably in their early to mid-teens. They were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (the latter three better known by their Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Daniel was their leader in that foreign land. As a Law-keeping Jew, he recognized he should keep himself pure from Babylon’s heathen culture: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8; cf. Exodus 34:10-17). Later, even facing the death penalty in a burning fiery furnace (!), Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah remained loyal to JEHOVAH God by refusing to worship idols (read Daniel 3:1-30).

Both Timothy and Titus were young men, grace believers in Jesus Christ, and pastors of local churches. Three of our Bible Books—1 Timothy and 2 Timothy and Titus—are actually epistles (formal doctrinal letters) the Apostle Paul wrote to them. Observe! “That they [the aged/older women] may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet [of sound mind, self-controlled], chaste [pure], keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity [dignity, solemnity], sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 2:4-8). “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Whether young or old, prophecy or mystery, Israel or Body of Christ, God’s people should “be separate” from Satan’s evil world system (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1)….

Continue #6

Monday, May 11, 2026

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16 KJV).

A single word can mean the difference between victorious Christian living and notorious Christian dying….

For a moment, think of the prophetic program of Acts 3:21. Overall, Israel did not continue in the Divine revelation given them through their Old Testament Prophets or Hebrew Bible, the Books of Genesis to Malachi (refer to Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 4:1-10). However, regarding Israel’s believing remnant, the Little Flock of Luke 12:32, the Messianic Church of Matthew 16:18, the “church” (“called-out group belonging to the Lord”) in Acts 2:47, the Bible reports in Acts 2:42: “And they continued stedfastly [firmly/resolutely, were unwavering] in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Though national Israel was under Satan’s influence and thus apostate (standing away from the truths of JEHOVAH God, the LORD God—chiefly, committing the sin of refusing Jesus as their Messiah), a believing remnant within it was following Christ’s 12 Apostles’ teachings.

As touching our mystery program of Romans 16:25,26, Satan’s present evil world still convinces individuals to abandon the right side of issues and go over to the wrong side. Sometimes it is inadvertently or mistakenly, people just being so utterly clueless that they have no spiritual stability and therefore believe practically anything they hear from religious leaders. The graver situation, the more serious matter, is how certain others have made a conscious choice to believe and teach lies. Paul advised the elders of Ephesus: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse [distorted, corrupted] things, to draw away disciples after them [to gain a following, to start a cult!]” (Acts 20:28-30).

False teachers will not continue in sound doctrine, and, unless we continue in sound doctrine, we have no option but to become their victims….

Continue #5

Saturday, May 9, 2026

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16 KJV).

A single word can mean the difference between victorious Christian living and notorious Christian dying….

Notice: the key term distinguishing between victorious Christian living and notorious Christian dying is “continue,” persisting in teaching and believing sound Bible doctrine or grace doctrine. The opposite is “revert,” as in “turn back” or “regress” or “relapse.” Ephesians 4:17-19 exhorts, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

What happens to those whose Christian life dies (fails to function properly) is they increasingly rely on their own understanding, turning to the Bible less and less, eventually throwing it away altogether—or, they keep the Bible, but do not “rightly divide” it (2 Timothy 2:15).

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9). These Galatians did not continue in “grace,” but went back to the Law: they were swiftly “removed” from Pauline influence. These too did not “continue” in, or “endure,” “sound doctrine:” “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4).

To ensure victorious Christian living, we must progress in grace edification instead of returning to our former (heathen) thoughts and ways….

NOTE: In order to bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

Continue #4

Friday, May 8, 2026

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16 KJV).

A single word can mean the difference between victorious Christian living and notorious Christian dying….

Remembering they who teach “other doctrine,… fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions… having swerved [from faith unfeigned, a good conscience, charity out of a pure heart] have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law” (1 Timothy 1:4-7), bearing in mind the younger Christian widows “wax[ing] wanton against Christ… having damnation, cast[ing] off their first faith… already turned aside unto Satan” (1 Timothy 5:11-15—re-marriage, to unbelievers), having in view those who “teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Timothy 6:3-5), but (especially in the context) considering those who will “depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy” (1 Timothy 4:1,2), Paul in today’s Scripture alerts Timothy to remember that God’s (and, our) chief enemy Satan diligently labors to destroy the Church the Body of Christ and prevent the work of the ministry in the local church!

Observe how the Devil attacks sound doctrine, for sound doctrine is what God uses to work in believers. The adjective “sound” in “sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1) has the sense of “healthy” or “wholesome” (so rendered in 1 Timothy 6:3). In Greek, it is “hygiaino,” from whence “hygiene” is derived. If there is a removal of sound doctrine—or none to begin with—spiritual insanity and spiritual filthiness result. Pastor Timothy therefore must watch himself and his doctrine, for lack of discretion will lead to his spiritual downfall… and his congregation will perish with him!

Today’s Scripture and the previous verse: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” For Timothy and his audience to be “saved” (delivered, healed, rescued) from false doctrine and its attendant spiritual illness, he must “continue” in what he has learned from the Holy Spirit through our Apostle Paul….

The Fulness of Him That Filleth All in All #5

Sunday, May 3, 2026

“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:23 KJV).

What is the definition of this obscure expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all?”

“Fulness” can be defined as “that which has been filled.” Once filled, the fulness can then become the complement or completion of whatever or whoever filled it. Here is our function as the members of the Church the Body of Christ. Filling us with His life, Christ can serve as our Head/Leader/Director. We are thereby rendered fit to achieve Father God’s eternal purpose—exalting His Son, Jesus Christ, in the heavenly places in the ages to come!

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:…” (Ephesians 4:15). “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Colossians 2:19).

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). Father God has assigned Christ to be the Head of Heaven’s governments positionally (cf. Colossians 2:10). This is for our benefit (Ephesians 1:20-23), for He as our Head can now link us to an heavenly inheritance. He profits as well. Our participation in those heavenly realms make Him the Head of Heaven’s governments practically.

“Him that filleth all in all” is this. Christ fills “all” (first “all”) members of His Body with His life. Then, He fills the offices of Heaven’s government with those members. Finally, they (“in all” those heavenly places) fill Heaven with Christ’s life!

The Fulness of Him That Filleth All in All #4

Saturday, May 2, 2026

“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:23 KJV).

What is the definition of this obscure expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all?”

The Church the Body of Christ is Christ’s “fulness,” for He needs us to accomplish Father God’s will in the heavenly places. After He fills us with His life, we individual believers fill the heavenly places with that very life.

“In all” of today’s Scripture is a prepositional phrase highlighting our occupation of all heavenly governmental offices (“all things”). “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:…. And [Father] hath put all things under his [Son’s] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things [governmental offices in the heavens—all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named; verses 20,21] to the [advantage of the] church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:1,22,23).

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:20,21). “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things [all governmental offices].)” (Ephesians 4:10).

“For by him [God the Son, Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:16-20).

Let us summarize….

The Fulness of Him That Filleth All in All #3

Friday, May 1, 2026

“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:23 KJV).

What is the definition of this obscure expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all?”

Read carefully the wording of Ephesians 1:22,23, today’s Scripture with the prior verse: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Obviously, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all” is a title of the Church the Body of Christ.

“Fulness” (a variant spelling of “fullness”), of course, is the state of being full or complete. The Church the Body of Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ’s “fulness,” or what completes Him, as in a complement. Some Bible readers needlessly struggle to understand this (“How could Jesus be ‘incomplete’ without us?!”), but, as long as we are mature saints, it really is not complicated. In order to facilitate His exaltation in the heavenly places, He needs the Church which is His Body. That group is an extension of His own influence as the God-Man, we as individuals being vessels of His life. As we govern the heavenly places in eternity future, so He reigns in and through us.

The “filleth all” links to Father God’s plan to fill us with Christ’s life, Father God’s very life, which the indwelling Holy Spirit makes real in our life. “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation [dwellingplace] of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22). “…[T]o be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;… that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:16,17,19). “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:…” (Ephesians 4:13). “…[B]ut be filled with the Spirit;…” (Ephesians 5:18). “When Christ, who is our life,…” (Colossians 3:4).

Let us now break down “in all….”

The Fulness of Him That Filleth All in All #2

Thursday, April 30, 2026

“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:23 KJV).

What is the definition of this obscure expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all?”

Ephesians is advanced doctrine, far more complex than (basic, fundamental, elementary) Romans: Ephesians truth builds and expands upon Romans truth. The theme of Ephesians is the Church the Body of Christ, an entity or group formed via the Gospel of Grace presented in the first five chapters of Romans and whose conduct or lifestyle operates according to Romans chapters 6–8 and chapters 12–16. Ephesians amplifies Romans’ individual issues and renders them into corporate issues: Ephesians underscores how Father God is creating and maintaining a people whom He has designed to serve Him in the heavenly places in the ages to come.

We reiterate. Ephesians has the Church the Body of Christ as its primary theme. Today’s Scripture and the verse before it read, “…the church, which is his body” (Ephesians 1:22,23). Here is the “one body” of Ephesians 2:16 and Ephesians 4:4, “the church” of Ephesians 3:10,21. Such is “the body of Christ” of Ephesians 4:12, “the body” of Ephesians 4:16, as well as “the church… the body… the church… the church… a church… his body… the church” of Ephesians 5:23-27,30,32. This “body” is a group of believers God is “calling out” from the people of the world using Paul’s Gospel of Grace. (“Ekklesia,” here translated “church,” is defined as “called-out assembly;” “church” means “belonging to the Lord.”)

The church of this present dispensation is Christ’s “body” because all its members (individual Christians) work together under one Head (Christ; see Ephesians 4:15), just as our physical body has many members (body parts) managed by one brain. See 1 Corinthians 12:12-14: “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. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

We are closer to deciphering the enigmatic vocabulary of today’s Scripture….

The Fulness of Him That Filleth All in All #1

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all…” (Ephesians 1:23 KJV).

What is the definition of this obscure expression, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all?”

There are actually two terms within this phrase that must be deciphered before we can appreciate its overall effect, and we are unable to comprehend that terminology until we start with the context (immediate [surrounding words/verses] and remoter [neighboring chapters and Books]). Bible students should ever be mindful of identifying the setting and letting it govern the direction of their thoughts, for this greatly reduces the risk of misinterpretation.

We begin reading at verse 15 and go to the end of the chapter (one long sentence!): “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

This is the first of two model Pauline prayers in Ephesians (the other ends chapter 3). Paul prays for his Christian brethren in Ephesus, the capital of Asia Minor (western Turkey), to whom he had preached in Acts chapters 18 and 19 during his second and third apostolic journeys. Some years later, at the close of Acts, he writes to them….

Not Thy Righteousness, But Their Wickedness #10

Sunday, April 19, 2026

“Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Deuteronomy 9:5 KJV).

May we have the proper perspective of wickedness versus righteousness….

On the one hand, there is “righteousness” or “right standing before God, the condition of justification.” On the other hand, there is “wickedness,” or “the condition of being evil or morally wrong” (interestingly, the root “wicked” is derived from “witch!”). Every human, except the God-Man Jesus Christ, is born in wickedness rather than righteousness.

Ephesians chapter 2 reviews this individual history of believers in Christ: “[1] And you hath he [Father God] quickened [given life to], who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit [attitude/mentality] that now worketh in the children of disobedience [unbelievers, lost people]: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation [manner of living] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

“God’s Grace Factory”—as it has been so aptly titled—removed us from such a wretched, wicked position in Adam and placed us into a glorious, righteous position in Christ: “[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This is not our righteousness, but God’s righteousness….