By Francis Frangipane
"For I would have you know, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to men. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal 1:11-12)
The Bible is not a how-to book. It is not a history book, a religious crystal ball, nor a philosophy book. The Bible is a revelation of Jesus Christ. Indeed, you will learn many things reading the Bible. But the life of the Bible is Jesus Christ, not mere knowledge.
The Biblical word, "revelation", meant, "to unveil". When the Holy Spirit directs you in the Scriptures, it is to unveil or reveal Jesus Christ to you. Remember, Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life: and it is these that bear witness to Me…". (Jn 5:39) The purpose of the written word is to "bear witness" to Jesus Christ.
Many books deal with end-time events. All of them, invariably, include the author's interpretation of the Book of Revelation. But the Revelation of John is not merely a revelation of end-time events. Its primary purpose is stated in the first verse, which clearly states that this book is the "…revelation of Jesus Christ". The Book of Revelation is reduced to a Book of Speculation by those who fail to see Jesus continually revealed victoriously throughout its pages. In every warning there are those who triumph over "the beast", "the false prophet", and "the dragon".
As for the opening of the seals and the events that followed, each judgement is like the blast of the mighty trumpet, heralding the return of Jesus Christ into the world! The final three chapters speak of the return of the Lord, the coming down out of heaven of the New Jerusalem where the unveiled glory of the Lord replaces every other form of light. You see, this book is "the revelation of Jesus Christ"!
The Purpose of the Church
"But when He who had set me apart even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…". (Gal 1:15-16).
Not only is the Bible a revelation of Jesus Christ, but the church, as Christ's body, is also called to reveal Him. Indeed, what body is there whose words and works do not reveal the thoughts and desires of the head? When a body does not function according to the will of the head, that body is sick or crippled. Christ's body is to be the revelation of Jesus – not programs, not doctrines, not rituals, but JESUS. Jesus' hands cannot help others if our hands are in our pockets. His love cannot reach others if our love has grown cold or bitter. His victory cannot be manifested if our prayers are silent. We are His body – the means He has chosen to express and reveal Himself to the world!
"Or do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" (1 Cor 6:15).
Because the Spirit of Christ actually dwells in our spirits, our bodies literally become the body of Christ. Even as the purpose of the Bible is to reveal Jesus, so the primary purpose of your body is to give Jesus arms and legs, lips and a heart to make His nature known.
There are two people in your body: you and Jesus. God's purpose in the church is to grow up into "…all aspects into Him, who is our Head, even Jesus." We're told that God's definition of spiritual maturity is nothing less than "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph 4-13). For that to happen, we must let Jesus live His life through us. Paul said, he was, "…crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me' and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me…". (Gal 2:20). Jesus and you both live in your body. In order for you to grow, your old nature must be crucified so that Jesus can live His life through you. Jesus will not and does not live only in Heaven. The Spirit of Christ in Heaven is the same Spirit of Christ in the church. Therefore, the goal of God for us is for Jesus to do His will in us, "as it is in Heaven"! Each of us must allow Jesus full access to every area of our lives, knowing that we are called to reveal Jesus Christ to this world.
Do you see this? The life of Jesus is to be manifested, revealed, shown forth in our mortal flesh! Paul wrote, "We are always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifest in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Cor 4:10-11). This is not some "deep teaching". This is basic to true Christianity! We are "epistles", known and read by all men, the revelation of Jesus Christ that the world sees! And for them to see Him, we must step out of the way.
Three Types of People
In every true church there are three types of people. The first group is, by far, also the largest. It is comprised of those who believe in Jesus, who worship God and, hopefully, are saved. Yet, the exercise of their faith is limited to their own individual needs. Rarely are they involved in helping others.
The next group is significantly smaller than the first, but it is usually larger than the third group. These are those who have come to church to seek relief from emotional or physical trauma. (You'll remember the most frequent place Jesus healed and delivered people was at the synagogues. This group is usually a "nomadic" group, going from church to church seeking help.
The last group is the smallest. These are indeed the "little flock "who are given to seeing Jesus revealed in the body. They continually seek to help the hurting and afflicted. They also seek to encourage the larger, first group toward more involvement in the Kingdom of God.
It is this group who are truly the revelation of Christ in the congregation. If you want to see Jesus, look here, among this last group. Rarely are these people publicly thanked; less often are they paid. Their reward is the opportunity to serve. As Jesus Himself said, "I am among you as One who serves." In any congregation, if you want to find Jesus, He is found "…taking the form of a bondservant." (Phil 2:7) It is upon these "…bondslaves, both men and women", that the Spirit is poured out (Acts 2:18). To them the Lord says,
"Have I not promised, ‘In that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you?'" (Jn14:20). "Know this as truth, that day of which I spoke is at hand. Even now through My Spirit and My Word, I am enlarging the expanse of your heart to receive My Word, My Love, My Presence and My Glory. For before I return, you will be as I am, even in this world." (1 Jn 4:17, Jn 17).
