How the Body of Christ Is Formed

KEY VERSE: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” —Ephesians 2:8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:3-10; 2:8-16

IN THOUGHT similar to that expressed in these words of Paul, the Apostle Peter writes that we have been begotten “unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you [Margin, “for us”] who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations [or testings]: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”—I Pet. 1:3-9

Thus we are reminded that the ultimate reward of our faith will be the salvation of our lives. And then Peter explains that the salvation to which he refers is the one foretold by the prophets when they prophesied concerning “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (vss. 10,11) The salvation of those who share in the foretold suffering of Christ is that “great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”—Heb. 2:3

And how great indeed is this salvation! It is a salvation expressed to us in what are scripturally termed exceeding great and precious promises. (II Pet. 1:4. It is exaltation to the divine nature, to immortality, to the glory of God as heirs of God; an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, and is reserved in heaven for us. But first we must prove worthy of so great salvation—prove worthy by being faithful even unto death. (Rev. 2:10) This can be done only through the grace and power of God. And if through faith we continue to lean upon his promises, and humbly follow the instructions of his Word in laying down our lives in his service, we will receive the promised divine help.

But meanwhile we rejoice in the blessings which the Lord daily showers upon us, although at times, as Peter says, we are in “heaviness through manifold temptations,” or testings. But these testings are essential. They constitute the trial of our faith which is “much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire.” It is only a faith that is strengthened by trials that will continue to give us the victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Only such a faith will keep us faithful until the end of the way, when we will hear the coveted, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”—Matt. 25:21,23

One of the rewards of faith, then, is the joy we receive in looking at the unseen things which God has promised, those precious, eternal glories which can be seen and appreciated only by the eye of faith. We cannot, of course, see the heavenly rewards in all their glorious details. But, through the promises of God, we are assured that we will be like him and will see him as he is. (I John 3:1-3) If we are faithful unto death we will be partakers of the divine nature.—II Pet. 1:4

We also see, by the eye of faith, that promised worldwide government on the shoulder of The Prince of Peace. And we see ourselves with Jesus in that kingdom, living and reigning a thousand years for the blessing of all the families of the earth. (Isa. 9:6,7; Rev. 20:6; Luke 12:32) The seeing of all these things brings joy to our hearts. And with us, even as it was with Jesus, this joy which is set before us by the promises of God enables us to endure the cross, and to continue on in the narrow way of sacrifice, knowing that if we are faithful even unto death we will receive the crown of life.—Rev. 2:10

Paul explains the basis upon which this is possible, is through our Lord Jesus Christ, “by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”—Rom. 5:2

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