Text: Hebrews 10:5
God prepared a body for Jesus so that He could fulfill His mission. Yet this is not the only body which God has prepared. While each is different, there are several things which they have in common.
God Prepared Man’s Physical Body (Genesis 2:7)
- Man had no part in the preparation of this body – done by God (Psalm 139:14)
- This body was made for a purpose – to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
- Natural desire to care for the body (Ephesians 5:29)
- Yet the body is often abused, misused, and destroyed
- Those who destroy the body are worthy of punishment (Genesis 9:6)
God Prepared a Physical Body for Jesus (Hebrews 10:5)
- Man had no part in the preparation of this body (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-20)
- This body was made for a purpose – that we might be sanctified (Hebrews 10:5,10)
- Natural desire to care for the body – Peter sought to defend him from death (John 18:10-11); Joseph of Arimathea cared for His body after His death (Matthew 27:57-60)
- Yet the body is often abused, misused, and destroyed (Acts 2:23)
- Those who destroy the body are worthy of punishment – Jesus asked forgiveness on their behalf (Luke 23:34), implying that their actions were worthy of punishment
God Prepared a Spiritual Body for Jesus (Ephesians 1:22-23)
- Man had no part in the preparation of this body – built by Christ (Matthew 16:18)
- This body was made for a purpose – to house the saved (Ephesians 5:23), proclaim & defend the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), build up the members (Ephesians 4:16)
- Natural desire to care for the body – keep it pure (1 Corinthians 5:1-2,7); help it grow (Hebrews 3:12-13)
- Yet the body is often abused, misused, and destroyed – by sin (1 Corinthians 5:1,6); by error (Acts 20:30); by strife (1 Corinthians 3:3-4)
- Those who destroy the body are worthy of punishment – sin (Romans 6:23); error (2 Peter 2:1); strife (Proverbs 6:16,19)
Conclusion
- All that God has made must be respected & used for the purpose He intended
- Our bodies must be used to serve & glorify Him
- The church must be used to serve & glorify Him as well – but we cannot deviate from the pattern
(This outline is based upon another one by A.W. Dicus.)
