The Body of Christ

I. Introduction
   A. The power of the blood
      1. blood is the foundation of life- Genesis 9
      2. all covenants made in blood
   B. the blood needs a receptacle
      1. 2 gallons of it in each human
      2. nothing without the body
   C. Hence, if blood is necessary for a covenant, and a body is necessary for 
      blood…
      1. a body must be sacrificed for blood to be shed
      2. hence, a body must be sacrificed for our sins

II. The Body of Christ- Literal
   A. Jesus was the sacrifice made for our sins
   B. Mediator of a new covenant because of His death- Hebrews 9:15
   C. The sacrifice of Jesus was most horrific
      1. easily the most gruesome of deaths invented by humanity
   D. The Scourging
      1. Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 22:63; John 19:1
      2. Medical report of scourging [from http://www.kgnet.com/jesus/]
   E. Crown of Thorns placed upon His head
      1. Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2
      2. Imagine 100 needles entering your scalp and being pressed upon
   F. The Crucifixion
      1. Mathew 27:33-50; Mark 15:22-37; Luke 23:33-46; John 19:17-30
      2. Medical account [from http://www.kgnet.com/jesus/]
      3. Wine mixed with myrrh/gall- disgusting mixture
         a. gall is generally disgusting, myrrh is a fragrance and is pungent
      4. sour wine also very nasty
      5. He did this all because He loved us.  

III. Body of Christ- Symbolic
   A. Jesus went through innumerable sufferings and pain for us
   B. Thanks to His sufferings, we may have eternal life
   C. Romans 6:3- baptized into His death
      1. what is gained through His death?
      2. propitiation for sin
      3. hence, we are cleansed in baptism since we are baptized into His sacrifice
   D. Baptism=entrance into the Body of Christ
      1. that body was scourged and hung on the cross, yet resurrected
      2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
         a. we are all members of the Body of Christ
         b. we all serve different functions in it
      3. Jesus is its head (Ephesians 5:24)
      4. there is no sin in the body of Christ
         a. hence, all in it are continuously cleansed (1 John 1:7) through 
         repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10)
   E. Romans 6:6- crucifixion of our old self
      1. we must get out of sin
      2. bodies in sin
      3. hence, we put it to death through Jesus and His death (1 Peter 2:21-25)
   F. Sufferings of those in Christ
      1. everyone God receives He scourges (Hebrews 12:6)
         a. we must all be tested and afflicted
      2. Matthew 10:16-23
         a. believers will be delivered up
         b. persecuted
         c. mocked
      3. Luke 21:16-17
         a. believers delivered up by parents
         b. all will be hated on account of Jesus
      4. Matthew 10:38; Luke 9:23
         a. to follow, must take up cross daily
         b. remember what the cross did to Jesus?
      5. Luke 9:24
         1. the essence of suffering
      6. Hence, in the body of Christ there is always temporal suffering that 
         will end at death with the promise of eternity
      7. We must make ourselves like Jesus and His life

IV. Conclusion
   A. The Need for Sacrifice
      1. blood must be shed to cover sins
      2. blood of animals not good enough
      3. blood of the Lamb is
         a. blood is not a separate entity
         b. body must be sacrificed for the blood to be shed
   B. The Literal Body of Christ
      1. Scourged
      2. mocked
      3. spat upon
      4. crucified
      5. resurrected
   C. The Symbolic Body of Christ  
      1. entered upon baptism
      2. baptized into His death
         a. hence, baptized into His sacrifice, the new covenant in His blood
      3. must crucify the body in sin
      4. must suffer for Him
   D. There is no other way to salvation but through the sacrifice Jesus made 
      for us
   E. In order to be a part of this salvation, we must be baptized into Jesus'
      death
   F. If you have not, please allow us to help you