The Church is the Body of Christ (1) Personal Act 17 th October Durham

What are we going to cover? ① What is the Orthodox Life? ② What is Recapitulation? ③ Restored Fellowship ④ Becoming by Grace what Christ is by Nature ⑤ What do I have in him as a living member

What is the Orthodox Life? Martyria Kenonia Diakonia Liturgia

What is Recapitulation?

Disconnected Disconnected from the source of Life

Scattered !!!

Ἀ νακεφαλαι ό ω anakephalaio ō G346 To sum up Again That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Eph 1:10

Restored fellowship

Kenonia  1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 Jn 1:1-3

Kenonia  14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Cor 13:14

The Holy Trinity FatherSon Holy Spirit

Father Holy Spirit Son

God’s Household  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, Eph 2:19

Becoming by Grace what Christ is by Nature

His Power toward US  19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:19-23

St. John Chrysostom  “This is an amazing matter! Where is the church raised too? It is as if He raised her with an instrument and put her at the top of all works, and put her on the throne. Where the Head is, there is the body too. There is no separation between the Head and the body. He prepared every human being to follow Him, cleave to Him and accompany Him "in His body". Hearing about the Head, one should not think of who should be the boss, but one's main concern should be to abide in Him and aspire Him, not only as an honorable Leader, but as the Head to the body.”

Will draw all  32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. Jn 12:32

St John Chrysostom  This means that the Lord attracts those who believe even if they are of the Gentiles. He says that He will ‘draw all peoples.’ It is as though these were being arrested by a tyrant and were unable to come to the Lord on their own. These peoples seem unable to escape from the hands of the tyrant who holds them.

Different translations  Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Cor 12:27 NKJV  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. NIV  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. KJV

(The scholar Origen) Commentary on Matthew, 14: 17.,  The body of Christ is not different from the church which is His body, and members individually. God attached those two together, to become, not two, but one body; commanding men not to separate the church from the Lord.

What is Mine  14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. Jn 16:14,15

Enjoy the Richness Of His Godhead  He Who gives riches becomes poor, for He assumes the poverty of my flesh, that I may assume the riches of His Godhead (the Son). St Gregory the theologian Homliy 38 on the Epiphany

What do I have in him as a living member 1)His life is mine: who for me and for my salvation..  His incarnation, His Baptism  His Transfiguration, His death, His resurrection  His ascension, His second coming …Etc 2)His gifts are mine:  His forgiveness, his power over darkness and sin  His victory over temptation, His full obedience to the father, His power to preach, His authority over the Devil.. Etc

St Augustine  "I (Christ) am the food of full- grown men. Grow and you shall feed on me. But you shall not change me into your own substance, as you do with the food of your body, instead you shall be changed into me “. Confessions, VII 10 (PL 32, 742) ed & trs. R.S. Pine-Coffin, Penguin 1971, p. 147.