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Articles:

Adam and Eve

Baptism

Birth of Jesus Christ

Church, Temple, Body of Christ

Creation

Crucifixion of Jesus

Devil, satan, evil

Healing

Hope and Resurrection

Love in I Corinthians 13

Name of God

Name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Pentecost and the gift of holy spirit

Salvation and Behavior

Stars and Constellations

Suffering while Doing Good

Summary of the Book of Ruth

Who is the Bride?


The Church, the Temple, and the Body of Christ

Summary:

The Church

The word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which comes from two words meaning "out-from" and "called" - putting these words together it means "called out from." A church is an assembly of people called out from other people for any reason. It does not refer to a particular type of building or a house, even though the church may meet in a particular type of building or in a house.

Throughout the new covenant writings (Acts - Revelation) the word "church" is primarily used to refer to the people who have already believed regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and have become holy-people (children of the only true God, saints, Christians). The truth that all holy-people have received the gift of holy spirit is what distinguishes this church from any other group of people.

The Temple

The Greek word ieron is translated as "temple" and usually refers to the temple building in Jerusalem. This temple was the place where God was present for/with His people during the old covenant times (prior to Acts chapter 2).

The temple had an outer wall which divided...

Inside of the temple there was a middle wall (a partition), which bordered-off...

As well as this, over the years there were a certain number of people who were of the Gentile descent but who wanted to become part of God's people because they believed what He said. God gave permission for those people to go within the outer wall of the temple, but they could only go inside a certain distance. There was a second middle wall inside the temple between...

The Interior Temple

There is a different Greek word naos which is also translated "temple" by other translators. However, the True Bible Study word translation writes "interior-temple" to specify what part of the temple is being referred-to by this Greek word.

 Prior to the time when Jesus accomplished salvation, the interior-temple usually referred to the innermost-part, the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem, where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth during the old covenant times, called the "Holy of Holies."

Today God's interior-temple is not a stone or brick building or other destructible materials such as a physical temple in today's Jerusalem. God's interior-temple is made up of His people who have received the gift of holy spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation. It consists of all holy-people (true Christians) no matter what location we may live-in on the earth.

There will again be a temple including an interior-temple area in Jerusalem between Christ's coming to gather all holy-people together with him in the air and the descending of the new Jerusalem as written about in Ezekiel chapters 40-48 and Revelation 21:2. However, in the new Jerusalem the interior-temple will be as written in Revelation 21:22.

The Body of Christ

All holy-people (Christians) are limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ. This is similar to a physical foot and arm and eye, etc, being in a person's physical body - many limbs and all the limbs together constitute one body. We are the one spiritual body of Christ and Christ is the head, plus we all share-in-common the same holy spirit-life.

Scripture References and Details:

Ephesians chapter 1 refers to when and how the church was created:

Ephesians 1:20-23:
.20which He in-worked in Christ, having raised him up out-from dead-people and having caused (him) to-sit-down in His right-side in the heavenlies .21super-above all rulership and authority and ability and lordship and every name being named not only in this age but also in the (age) being about to (come) .22and "He subjected all-things under his feet," and He gave him (who is) head over all-things to the church .23which is his body (which is) the fullness of the (one) filling all-things in all-people.

Paul writes that God in-worked (produced effects by being in work, energized)...

...how?...

...super-above (up-above, on-top, up-over) all or every:

  1. rulership (first-placed, chief or dignified hierarchical position),
  2. and authority (authoritative power, permitted right),
  3. and ability (able power, capability),
  4. and lordship (mastership, dominion),
  5. and all/every name being given a name (a "name" incorporates the fullness of everything involved with the one named)
    1. not alone during the present age (duration of life),
    2. but also in the age that is on the point of taking place (in the process of arriving),
  6. and "He subjected all-things under his feet" (God arranged all things in the position of being underneath, legally in complete submission or subjection to Christ's feet; refer to Psalm 8:6),
  7. and He gave Christ who is head over all-things to the church
    1. which is his body
    2. and Christ's body is
      1. the fullness (the filling, full contents, fulfillment)
      2. of the one, Christ,
      3. who is causing himself to fill (to make full with himself, fulfilling)
      4. all things
      5. within all holy-people.

God willingly presented Christ, who is head over all-things, to/for the church. The word "head" figuratively refers to his being the chief or principal part. God placed Christ in the position or function of being the head over all-things to/for the church - and this church is Christ's body. Christ is the head and all holy-people are limbs (members) of his one spiritual body because Christ fills us with his own fullness – we have the spirit of Christ in us (refer to Colossians 1:27).

Acts chapter 9 refers to the church:

Acts 9:31:
.31Therefore indeed the church, according to the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, had peace, being edified and journeying with the fear of the Lord and with the encouragement of the holy spirit it was multiplied.

At that time the church was not being persecuted and so it was peaceful...

...and the holy-people who were in this church were going about daily life...

...and the church was filled into fullness with holy-people.

I Corinthians chapter 1 refers to the members of the church:

I Corinthians 1:1-3:
1:1Paul, called, an apostle of Christ Jesus by means of (the) intention of God, and Sosthenes, the brother - .2to the church of God, the (church) being in Corinth, (consisting of people) having been made-holy2 in Christ Jesus, called, holy, together with all the (people) calling-upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to-themselves in every place, theirs and ours; .3grace to you and peace from God our Father and (our) Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse 2 Paul addresses this letter to...

...together (jointly, in conjunction) with all the holy-people who are...

It is the holy spirit-life within every holy-person, which is the spirit of Christ, that made everyone in this church in Corinth holy in Christ Jesus. Paul did not write that it was because of the particular type of clothes or shoes they wore, nor the type of hairstyles they had, nor whether they drank coffee or not, etc. This church in Corinth belonged to God and consisted of people who had already been made holy in Christ Jesus - they were called and holy, and they were calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to themselves.

I Corinthians chapter 14 refers to our behavior in the church:

I Corinthians 14:12:
.12Thus also you, since you are zealots of spirits you must seek-after in order that you may exceed towards the edification of the church,

Since you are people who are zealous pertaining to the many ways by-which the holy spirit within us contributes to each one of us...

In verse 33 Paul writes:

Verse 33:
.33for God is not of instability but of peace, as in all the churches of the holy-people.

God is not consisting-of and characterized-by instability (of not standing down firm or fixed on what He says, of not having the quality or state of being stable, of being unsteady)...

Peace is tranquil harmony, tranquility, peaceful wholeness, without any strife or disagreement. We may think of peace as the opposite of war, the opposite of conflict, the opposite of being at odds with the other party. All of God's children are at peace with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ because it is given to us from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore all Christians should behave peaceably with one-another also.

Romans chapter 16 refers to local churches: 

Romans 16:1 and 2:
16:1But I commend to you Phebe your sister being also a minister of the church, the (church) in Cenchrea, .2in order that you may accept her towards-yourselves in (the) Lord worthily of the holy-people and you may stand-beside her in what-ever matter she may have need of you, for she also was caused-to-become a patroness both of many other-people and of me myself.

As Paul approaches the end of his letter (epistle) to the holy and Godly-loved people in Rome, he includes commendations and greetings. He writes: I commend Phebe to you...

...for the purpose and result that...

...in truth, emphatically she also became...

Verses 3-5:
.3You must greet Prisca and Aquila - workers-together with me in Christ Jesus, .4the-people-who put the neck of themselves under(-risk) on behalf of my soul, to whom not only I thank but also all the churches of the Gentiles - .5and the church according to their house. You must greet Epaenetus, my loved-person1, who is from (the) beginning of Asia into Christ.

You must greet Prisca and Aquila (salute them, draw this wife and husband to yourselves), who are...

...and also you must greet the church of holy-people who gather together in their house periodically (to learn God's Word, pray, etc).

Colossians chapter 4 refers to another local church:

Colossians 4:15:
.15You must greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church according to her house. 

You must greet the brothers (all those who have received the gift of holy spirit, holy-people) in Laodicea, also Nymphas and the church that is in her house.

This woman Nymphas gathered an assembly of holy-people in her house from time to time so that they could sing and pray and hear manifestation of holy spirit (refer to I Corinthians 12-14) and share and teach God's Word, and have meals together, etc.

Philemon chapter 1 also refers to a local church:

Philemon 1:1 and 2:
1:1Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy the brother – to Philemon the loved-person1 and worker-together with us, .2and Apphia the sister, and Archippus the soldier-together with us, and the church according to your house;

Paul addressed this letter to...

This man Philemon also used to gather an assembly of holy-people in his house from time to time.

I Timothy chapter 3 refers to the behavior of those who oversee a local church:

I Timothy 3:1(b)-7:
3:1(b)If someone reaches-for overseership he intensely-yearns a beautiful work, .2therefore it is necessary (for) the overseer to be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, sound-thinking, orderly-arranged, loving-strangers, apt-to-teach, .3not wine-oriented, not quick-to-strike but considerate, without-fighting, without-loving-silver, .4beautifully standing-before (his) own house having (his) children in subjection with all reverential(-behavior) .5(but if someone did not know2 to stand-before (his) own house, how will he be-concerned-for God’s church!), .6not newly-planted in order that having been conceited he may not fall-in into judgment of the devil, .7but it is necessary also to have a beautiful witness from the (people) from-outside in order that he may not fall-in into reproach and trap of the devil.

Paul writes regarding the walk (behavior, conduct) of any holy-person who reaches for overseership...

Verse 4 says that a holy-person who reaches for an overseer function in the church should be standing in-front-of those living in his own house, all the household, as the leader presiding over them in a manner that has a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness. This includes his children being in submission to him and behaving in a manner having deference to God and all the things of God, the kind of behavior which is deserving of reverence and respect from their father and others towards his children.

However, if that holy-person does not perceive to preside over those within his own household - how will he be concerned for God’s church; how will he have an object of thought for/to God’s assembly of holy-people; how will he have care-for and take-care-of the church of God! 

In verses 14 and 15 Paul writes:

Verses 14 and 15:
.14These-things I write to you, hoping to go towards you in quickness .15but if-ever I may be-slow, in order that you may know how it is necessary to behave in (the) house of God which is (the) church of (the) living God, (the) pillar and seat of the truth, 

Paul explains to Timothy that he is writing these things to him expecting at a future time to go towards him with speed. But even if it should happen that he would have a delay in going, what Paul writes in this letter is for the purpose and result that Timothy would know how it is necessary to behave…

We (holy-people) have the spirit of Christ in us and all that he has accomplished we have accomplished in the spirit category. Presently we can believe as Christ Jesus believes, and we can behave in reverence as he behaves in reverence of/towards God Who is his Father and our Father.

All of us are in God's house, we are the church of the living God, and we are waiting to be taken-up in glory by our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes to gather us all together with him in the air.

I Corinthians chapter 9 refers to the livelihood of those who work with/for God:

I Corinthians 9:13-15(a):
.13You knew2 that the (people) working the sacred-things eat from the temple, the (people) attending to the sacrificial-altar distribute-together with the sacrificial-altar, don't you? – (yes) – .14thus also the Lord throughly-arranged for the (people) messaging the good-message to live from the good-message; .15(a)but I did not use2 not-one of these-things.

The word translated as “sacred-things” in verse 13 comes from the same Greek root word that gives us the words: temple, priest, Jerusalem, temple utensils and services and areas and all belonging to God.

Paul was reminding the Corinthian church of how during the old covenant times God made provision for His servants in the temple to be given food to eat, shelter, etc, because their lives were dedicated to ministering to God's people. They were doing what God wanted them to do, and the people who worked in the fields with the animals, or planted, or reaped their own harvest were doing what God wanted them to do also. Then all of them were to partake of each other's work and help each other as they all carried-out God's will.

In the manner in which God had made provision for all of His people during the old covenant times...

Paul and every person who messages the good-message of Christ should be taken care of by the other holy-people.

However, Paul makes it clear to the Corinthian holy-people that...

Verse 15(b):
.15(b)But I did not write these-things in order that thus it may become in me... 

Even though Paul writes these things pertaining to how the men/women who are carrying-out God's will messaging the good-message ought to be taken care of by other holy-people, he writes:

He is making sure that they do not think that he is writing this suggesting that they begin giving him all kinds of provisions now, or so that they would feel obliged to give him things, or that they would feel guilty for not having given him sustenance before this time. They were not to base their giving and receiving, their whole living, on guilt or feeling obligated to any man or because it would "look good" - that would only be lying, using a disguise and it may result in corruption, bribery, egotism, boasting, etc, among themselves.

In verse 18 Paul writes:

Verse 18:
.18Therefore what is the compensation to me? In order that good-messaging I may put the good-message without-expense with-a-view not to abuse my authority in the good-message;

What is the compensation to/for me (what wage do I receive)? It is for the purpose and result that while I am preaching the gospel of God's Word I may put (I would place, set) this good-message without expense (free of charge, without cost to the people to whom I speak).

Paul was so thankful for the privilege of being allowed to good-message that he considered being able to put the good-message without expense to others to be his compensation. Paul did not charge other people for him to carry-out his apostleship towards them – he was not doing it for the money!

They did not have to spend anything in order to hear the good-message which Paul made-known. Why would Paul do this? He writes: for the purpose of not abusing (over-using) my authoritative power in the good-message. Paul's purpose was not to abuse the rights and/or privileges which he had authority to exercise within (inside the sphere of action of) the good-message with-which he was trusted.

Verse 23 reads:

Verse 23:
.23but I do all-things because-of the good-message in order that I may become a sharer-in-common-together of it.

Paul writes: I do all these things on account of the good-message for the purpose and result that I would cause myself to become...

He wanted to share in common together with others of everything that the good-message makes available to mankind. He was not being deceptive towards these people, but he was teaching them from their level of thinking and understanding so that he could raise them up to the level of the good-message, raise them up in their thinking and understanding giving them the opportunity to believe what God says and receive all the blessing that is now available from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts chapter 20 refers to the watchful care by the overseers of the church:

Acts 20:28-31:
.28You must have-attention to yourselves and to all the little-flock among which the Spirit, the Holy (Spirit), put you (to be) overseers to shepherd the church of the Lord which he acquired-for-himself by means of the blood, (his) own (blood). .29I knew2 that weighty wolves will come into you after my departure not sparing the little-flock, .30and from you yourselves adult-males will stand-up uttering-forth (things) having been throughly-turned2 to pull-away the learning-disciples behind them. .31On-which-account you must wakefully-watch remembering that three-years night and day I did not stop with tears admonishing each one (of you).

Paul says to those who were assigned a leadership function within the church: "You must turn your minds, thoughts and attention…

Paul continues: "Emphatically I knew and continue to know (perceive) that…

Also, grown men, out from among you yourselves, will stand-up speaking things that have been and stay completely turned-around (twisted 180 degrees from the truth of God's Word, perverse, distorted, turned the wrong way) for the purpose of drawing away the learning-disciples (students) to follow after them.

Wherefore you (elders who are overseers to shepherd the church)…

…remembering (calling to your minds, having in memory) that for the space of three years, night and day (at all available times), I did not stop (cease, willingly take my rest) in company and association with tears admonishing each one of you (with strong emotion putting you in mind of these things)."

I Corinthians chapter 10 refers to our behavior towards three (3) groups of people:

I Corinthians 10:32:
.32You must become un-stumbling-people both to Judeans and to Greeks and to the church of God,

You must cause yourselves to become people who do not stumble off of the truth of God's Word that you already know to/with...

  1. Judeans (people of the Israeli background who have not yet believed what God says and thus have not received the gift of holy spirit within them)
  2. and Greeks (Hellenists, Greek-speaking people of the Gentile background, referring to people belonging to nations other-than Israel who have not yet believed what God says and thus have not received the gift of holy spirit within them)
  3. and the church of God (all holy-people who have already heard and believed what God says and have already received the gift of holy spirit within them).

We should not cause other people to stumble from the truth of what God says and wants all people to hear and believe and obey.

Acts chapter 19 refers to a "church" - but this particular church did NOT consist of holy-people:

Acts 19:32:
.32Therefore indeed other-people shouted some other-thing, for the church was having been confused2, and more-people had not known by-reason-of what-thing they had come-together.

In the theatre area there was a mob and some people were shouting one thing and other people were crying out something else! In fact, the church – referring to the assembly of that mob of people – was confused and they stayed confused (perplexed, mixed-up in their minds).

Also a lot of people (the majority) did not perceive what the purpose for coming together like that was all about – but they joined-in anyway!

Verses 39 and 40 record some of what the public official in that city said to them:

Verses 39-41:
.39But if you earnestly-seek-after something further it will be loosened-upon in the lawful church. .40For also we face-danger to be arraigned of a standing (of insurrection) concerning today, not-one cause being from-the-beginning concerning which we will be able to give-away a word concerning this combination." .41And having said these-things he loosened the church.

While speaking to the mob of people who were rejecting God's Word, the public official told them that if they intensely look for something more, it must be solved in the lawful church - the assembly of called-out people specifically for that matter, which is within the range of the law, according to the laws of that province. Then, he let that particular church go away from that location.

Matthew chapter 21 refers to the physical temple located in Jerusalem during the old covenant times:

Matthew 21:12-14:
.12And Jesus went into the temple and he threw-out all the (people) selling and buying in the temple, and he turned-down the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the (people) selling the doves, .13and he says to them, “It was written2, ‘My house will be called: house of prayer’ – but you make it a cave of robbers.” .14And blind-people and lame-people came-towards him in the temple and he attended-to them.

Jesus went into the temple and he cast out all the merchants selling and buying (trading and buying as in the marketplace) within the outer courts of the temple.

He also overturned the tables of the money-changers (where they would profit by exchanging things for the small coins needed by some at this time to be given to the temple) and the seats (chairs, suggesting an authoritative and judging position over others) of the people selling the doves that were needed by some for offerings (refer to Leviticus 1:17).

Jesus says to them, “It was written and continues written (God’s Word has not changed; it is still written)...

...but you make it a cave of robbers (a cavern containing men who plunder by violence and open force).”

Jesus cleansed the temple for the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (refer to Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11).

Then blind-people and lame-people went towards Jesus in the temple and he attended to them (he treated them therapeutically; he took care of them as necessary).

Acts chapter 17 refers to interior-temples made by the hands of mankind:

Acts 17:24 and 25(a):

.24the God, the (God) having made the world and all the-things in it, this-(God) being-from-the-beginning Lord of heaven and of earth does not dwell-down in handmade interior-temples, .25(a)nor is He attended-to by menly hands (as though He is) supplicating-for something.

Paul is speaking in these verses and says:

I Corinthians chapter 3 refers to what the interior-temple of God consists of today during the new covenant times:

I Corinthians 3:16 and 17:
.16You knew2 that you are (the) interior-temple of God, even the spirit of God dwells in you, don't you? – (yes) - .17if someone corrupts the interior-temple of God, God will corrupt this (person or spirit), for the interior-temple of God is holy, the-people-whom you are.

Paul and Apollos had previously taught the Corinthian people God's Word and in this letter Paul has already written that they are God's tillage, His house being built, and that the foundation is Jesus Christ. Now Paul asks them:

Every holy-person has received God's gift of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ within him/her and it has all the ability, authority, etc, of the resurrected Christ. This holy spirit presently and actively dwells (inhabits, is housed) within all holy-people. Nothing or nobody can change this holy and spiritual truth.

However, as regards the walk (behavior, conduct, fellowship or state) category which can fluctuate...

Paul teaches with emphasis that the interior-temple of God consists of all who are God's people - all of the church, all holy-people (Christians), no matter what location we may live in.

God's interior-temple is not a stone or brick building or any other materials which can be burned-down. God's interior-temple is made up of His people who have received the gift of holy spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation. God's people cannot be burned-down by that fire which God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ will initiate to purify and "clean up" the world and all in it at a future time.

II Corinthians chapter 6 refers to the interior-temple of the living God:

II Corinthians 6:16:
.16But what consent (is there with the) interior-temple of God with idols? For you are (the) interior-temple of (the) living God – according as God said that "I will indwell in them and I will walk-in (them) and I will be their God and they will be My people,"

What consent (what strong assenting with another, as putting down one's vote being in concord of opinion together with the other)...

None! There is no consent between them because one is the antithesis of the other.

Next, Paul teaches regarding the interior-temple of God relative-to the present time-period - which is between the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts chapter 2) and the future coming of Christ to gather all holy-people together with him in the air.

All holy-people are the interior-temple of God Who is alive. The only true God is not a figment of mankind's imagination, nor has He died, nor has He been updated by a bigger version and/or better model or release made by mankind!

God is alive - living.

Emphatically you are the interior-temple of the living God, which is according as God communicated with words (refer to Leviticus 26:11 and 12 and Ezekiel 37:27):

What God said during the old covenant times has already come to pass pertaining to all holy-people today in the spirit category - we are God's people now.

Revelation chapter 3 refers to the interior-temple and the new Jerusalem:

Revelation 3:12:
.12The (person) being-victorious - I will make him a pillar in the interior-temple of my God, and he may never yet go-out outside, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, the (one) descending out-from heaven from my God, and my name, the new (name).

The Lord Jesus Christ says: The person being victorious (actively gaining the victory, conquering)...

The person having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches.

Colossians chapter 1 refers to the body of Christ which is the church:

Colossians 1:18:
.18and he is the head of the body of the church,

The Lord Jesus Christ himself is the head (the chief or principal part) of the body of the church. This church is Christ's body, and the body could not live or function without the head.

Christ is the head, from where the rest of the body is to take its instructions. All holy-people are limbs of Christ's body because of having received holy spirit-life, which is the spirit of Christ within us. 

In verse 22 Paul writes:

Verse 22:
.22but now you were fully-reconciled in the body of his flesh by means of the death to present you holy and without-blemish and not-arraigned down-before Him.

Emphatically at the present time you Colossian holy-people have already been fully-reconciled within the sphere of action of the body of Jesus Christ's flesh through the death which he endured. Why? To cause you to stand beside or near-by...

…in the full sight or presence of God.

This is referring to the holy spirit category because all of us holy-people have holy spirit-life within us, which is the spirit of Christ, and so everything that Christ has accomplished and is today - we have and are spiritually.

Verses 23 and 24:
.23Since indeed you remain-on with the belief having been founded2, and seated, not being removed away-from the hope of the good-message of-which you heard, the (good-message) having been heralded-forth in all creation, the (creation) under heaven, of-which (good-message) I, Paul, became a minister, .24now I joy in the sufferings on your behalf and I fill-up-instead the lacking-things of the pressures of Christ in my flesh on behalf of his body which is the church

In verse 24 Paul writes that it is pertaining to this good-message that he himself became a minister (a person who serves to benefit others, not 'being-subject' to them but doing work to bring profit to others, serving the good-message to people). He continues:

The body of Christ is the church because all holy-people who constitute the church are limbs (members) of the one spiritual body of Christ - Christ himself being the head of his body.

Ephesians chapter 2 refers to full reconciliation in one body to God and also refers to the interior-temple:

Ephesians 2:13-18:
.13but now in Christ Jesus you, the (people) at-some-time being distant, were caused-to-become near in the blood of Christ, .14for he is our peace, the (one) having made both one and having loosened the middle-wall of the fenced-enclosure, the enmity, in his flesh, .15having rendered-ineffective the law of the commandments in order that he may create the two in himself into one new man making peace .16and he may fully-reconcile both in one body to God by means of the cross, having killed the enmity in himself .17and having come he good-messaged peace to you, the distant-people, and peace to the near-people, .18because by means of him we both have the access in one spirit towards the Father.

You (holy-people) are at the present time within Christ Jesus (because you have already received the gift of holy spirit from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ)...

In truth, Christ Jesus himself is our peace (tranquil harmony, tranquility, peaceful wholeness, without any strife or disagreement). How?

Christ Jesus is the one who has already...

...in his flesh. Christ Jesus did this within the sphere of action of his flesh. How?

Christ Jesus is the one who has...

...by means of the cross. Christ Jesus did this through his death on the cross. How?

Christ is the one who has...

In verse 15 the Greek word translated "new" - one new man - emphasizes the truth that this man is newly-made and different from what was previously in effect, new because it is different from that which had been formerly, new because it replaces the old! This new man came into being on the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts chapter 2.

The usage of the word "man" is a figure of speech in order for God and the Lord Jesus Christ to communicate with mankind on the level of mankind's understanding. This "one new man" is not a fleshy or a natural/physical man - but it is spiritual, made-up or consisting of every person who has received holy spirit-life from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We (holy-people, Christians) are all in Christ, in his one spiritual body. We are all limbs of his body. This is similar to the physical foot and arm and eye, etc, being in a person's physical body - many limbs, and all the limbs together constitute one body. We are the one spiritual body of Christ and Christ is the head, and we all share-in-common the same holy spirit-life.

Why has Christ good-messaged peace to those who receive the gift of holy spirit? Because it is by means of Christ (through him) that...

God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of all holy-people. The word "Father" emphasizes our sonship relationship with God because we have the spirit of Christ in us. Our holy spirit-life has all the righteousness and ability that the resurrected Christ himself has, because we are limbs of his body - the one spiritual body of Christ. It gives us freedom of access to our spiritual Father Who is God. It also gives God freedom of access to us via our holy spirit-life. There is two-way spiritual communication between us.

Verses 19-22:
.19Consequently you are no-longer strangers and sojourners but you are citizens-together with the holy-people, even God's household-people, .20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets – Christ Jesus himself being (the) extreme-corner, .21in whom all (the) building joining-together increases into (the) holy interior-temple in (the) Lord, .22in whom also you are being built-together into (the) dwelling-down-place of God in spirit. 

Paul continues:

In correspondence to what I have just written, you are no-longer (not anymore)...

...but you are...

God's household-people have been built resting or based upon...

Christ Jesus himself (nobody or nothing else) is being the one in the honorable position of the extreme corner. The cornerstone is laid to be the joining and supporting strength to the two walls which are connected to it. Christ Jesus is the one in whom all holy-people, from both the Israeli and the Gentile backgrounds, are being connected. We are limbs of his one spiritual body – if Christ Jesus were not the extreme corner, then there could not be any building, no house!

It is within Christ Jesus that...

God's interior-temple is made up of His people who have received the gift of holy spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the extreme corner.

It is also within Christ Jesus that...

Ephesians chapter 4 refers to one body and one spirit:

Ephesians 4:4-6:
.4(for there is) one body and one spirit, according as also you were called in one hope of your calling, .5one Lord, one belief, one baptism, .6one God and Father of all (holy-people), the (One being) upon all and through all and in all;

The truth is that there is...

  1. one body (the one spiritual body of Christ of which all holy-people are limbs/members)
  2. and one spirit (the one holy spirit-life which is the spirit of Christ in all holy-people)

…according as also you were called (invited) in or within…

  1. one hope of your calling (one expectation of a still-future event which has been promised to you by God and you believe it, and this hope pertains-to your calling, the invitation issued to you and which you accepted),
  2. one Lord (one Master who is the resurrected Christ Jesus),
  3. one belief (the information that God has made known to us to have confidence-in with assured certainty and surety - the belief/faith regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ),
  4. one baptism (only one baptism because we all have been immersed, surrounded in/within holy spirit and we remain that way, we have been washed clean permanently in holy spirit-life),
  5. one God and Father of all holy-people (one God Who is also the Father of all holy-people because we have the spirit of Christ in us, and God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ also) – and God is the One Who is being:
    1. upon all (God is the One Who is always being on, upon, over all holy-people and therefore in the presence of all holy-people, and He is upon the Lord Jesus Christ also),
    2. and through all (God is the One Who is always being through all holy-people because He is the One by means of Whom we are who we are spiritually, and He is through the Lord Jesus Christ also),
    3. and in all (God is the One Who is always being within all holy-people because we have His spirit within us, and He is in the Lord Jesus Christ also).
Verse 7:
.7but to each one of us the grace was given according to the measure of the free-gift of Christ,

God has given the grace to each one of us - and the grace given is in accordance with the measure of the free-gift of Christ. God has not kept the resurrected Christ, and all that Christ has made and continues to make available, to Himself without allowing us to share and partake of this grace!

God is carrying-out and fulfilling His promise, His Word which He first spoke in Genesis 3:15. He has already made holy spirit-life available to mankind by way of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ (refer to Acts 2:1-4, 38 and 39). This free-gift (the spirit of Christ) is "free" to us because Jesus Christ paid the price that was owed in order to make it freely available to mankind.

We all have the spirit of Christ in us – this does not change, and nobody has more or less, and the grace given to us is according to the standard of the free-gift of Christ. Because of having received holy spirit-life, each one of us has the same ability and power as the resurrected Christ himself available to us to use - we are limbs of Christ's spiritual body which is the church, and Christ is the head of the church.

In verse 11 Paul writes:

Verse 11:
.11and he has given2 indeed the apostles, and the prophets, and the good-messagers, and the shepherds and teachers

Christ himself (no other) gave and he continues giving...

  1. the apostles (holy-people who are sent forth or away from the Lord Jesus Christ on a specific mission or assignment to a person or people; this word places emphasis on being sent),
  2. the prophets (holy-people who speak-forth God's words being revealed to them concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people; this word places emphasis on speaking to others), 
  3. the good-messagers (holy-people who speak the good message, evangelists, those who gospelize or evangelize to a person or people; this word places emphasis on what is spoken which is the good message),
  4. the shepherds (holy-people who shepherd, take-care of and protect, exercise the whole office of a shepherd, which involves not only feeding with the Word of God but also leading and guiding and guarding, etc, as a shepherd takes-care of his flock of sheep; this word places emphasis on shepherding others – sometimes called "pastor" in today's society),
  5. and teachers (holy-people who teach/instruct with God's Word, right doctrine, to other people as directed by the Lord Jesus Christ; this word places emphasis on instructing others)….

These holy-people have exactly the same holy spirit-life which every other holy-person has received from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ - plus they have received added grace (unmerited favor) from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ to enable them to carry-out the specific qualities of their assignments, etc, asked of them in the reception of that grace. These apostles, prophets, good-messagers, shepherds and teachers are to carry-out their assignment or mission(s) from the moment of commissioning onwards until completed.

Why does Christ continue to give the apostles, and the prophets, and the good-messagers, and the shepherds and teachers?

Verses 12 and 13:
.12towards the full-equipping of the holy-people into work of ministry, into edification of the body of Christ, .13up-until we all may come-down into the oneness of the belief and of the full-knowledge of the son of God, into a complete adult-male, into (the) measure of stature of the fullness of Christ,

Paul explains that the purpose is:

…for the limited time-period that this action takes and ending when we would all (every one of us) arrive…

Again, we must recognize that this refers to the walk (behavior, conduct) category because God has already blessed all of us holy-people in every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (refer to Ephesians 1:3). 

Verses 14-16:
.14in order that no-longer we may be infants being surged and being carried-around with every wind of teaching in the trickery of men, in every-working towards the method of wandering – .15but being-truthful in love1 we may cause-to-increase all-things into him who is the head: Christ, .16out-from whom all the body joining-together and compacting-together, by means of every ligament of the full-supply and in-working in (the) measure of each one part, makes-to-itself the increase of the body into edification of itself in love1.

For the purpose and result that...

…but…

Who is the head? Christ is the head (figuratively referring to his being the chief or principal part) of his one spiritual body of-which we are limbs.

It is originating and issuing from Christ (not from another part of the body) that…

Spiritually all of us holy-people are complete because we have as much as is available to us at this present time. We are blessed in every spiritual blessing (refer to Ephesians 1:3) and it is in Christ that all the building joining-together increases into the holy interior-temple in the Lord, in whom also we are being built-together into the dwelling-down-place of God in spirit (refer to Ephesians 2:22). And we have the hope of all that we will receive in Christ when he comes to gather us all together with him and gives us our spiritual bodies, etc (refer to I Corinthians chapter 15).

However, right now we still have our fleshy bodies and minds with the fleshly/worldly influences, and therefore in the walk (behavior, conduct) category we can fluctuate – it is up to each one of us to decide to walk with and for God and our Lord Jesus Christ during the everyday living of our lives.

Ephesians chapter 5 refers to the interaction between Christ (the head) and his church (his body of holy-people):

Ephesians 5:21-24:
.21subjecting-yourselves to one-another in fear of Christ: .22wives, to (your) own husbands as to the Lord .23because (the) husband is head of the wife as also Christ (is) head of the church, himself (being the) savior of the body, .24but as the church is subject to Christ thus also the wives to the husbands in everything;

In this record, Paul continues teaching the holy-people how they ought to walk (behave, conduct themselves) by the freedom of their will during the everyday living of their lives:

Each one of us has the spirit of Christ in us, and therefore we ought to subject ourselves to one-another in fear of Christ. This fear refers to our fright, our being afraid at the consequences of the performance of any wrong behavior. We should manifest the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God has placed at His right-hand side, the position of being second-in-command to God Himself.

In Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9 Paul continues to explain exactly what "subjecting-yourselves to one-another in fear of Christ" means in application for holy-people (Christians).

What is the comparison? As the church is subject to Christ thus also the wives to their husbands in everything – this is the arrangement.

However, it is by freedom of will that the husbands and the wives decide to behave themselves within this arrangement - as it is by freedom of will that Christ decides to behave himself in accordance with God's will. 

Verses 25-30:
.25husbands, you must love1 (your) wives according as also Christ loved1 the church and gave himself over on behalf of her .26in order that he may make her holy, having cleaned (her) with the washing of the water in (the) spoken-matter .27in order that he may present the church in-glory to himself, not having a spot or a wrinkle or something of the things-of-this-kind but in order that she may be holy and without-blemish, .28thus also the husbands owe-it to love1 the wives of themselves as the bodies of themselves, the (husband) loving1 the wife of himself loves1 himself, .29for not-one (adult-male/husband) at-some-time hated the flesh of himself but he fully-nourishes and cherishes it according as also Christ the church .30because we are limbs of his body,

In Ephesians 5:25-30 the Greek word "church" is a feminine noun and that is why the church may be referred to as "she" or "her" or "herself" (not meaning that everyone in it is of the female gender).

All holy-people (Christians) are limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ. Christ is the head, and we all share-in-common the same holy spirit-life - it is the spirit of Christ within us.

Verses 31 and 32:
.31"in-the-place-of this, a man will leave-down (his) father and mother and he will be glued-together-towards his wife and the two will be into one flesh" – .32this mystery is great, but I say (this) into Christ and into the church;

Paul continues to teach and explain by referencing what was previously written in the Book of Genesis regarding the first man and woman. The following verses include the context also:

Genesis 2:21-23:
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Next in Genesis 2:24 comes the statement regarding this intimate Godly relationship referenced in the Book of Ephesians. This was not spoken by Adam when he said what is recorded in verse 23, but it was spoken and written-down when God gave the revelation to write this portion of the Book of Genesis, which was after the fall of the first man, Adam, and after the promise of the Christ was made (refer to Appendix to Romans, the fall of Adam).

Verse 24:
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The context in Genesis is what God had done, by means of Adam.

The context in Ephesians is what God has done, by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:31 and 32:

The word “mystery” throughout Paul’s letters means “secret.” A mystery contains the details that are known and can be understood by those involved in it and by those to whom it has been revealed – it is not inexplicable to those involved in it.

Christ has been glued together with the church. We are one body spiritually. All of us, including Christ who is the head, now have the same (one) holy spirit-life, and when Christ comes and gathers us all together with him we will receive our spiritual bodies like the one he received from God when God raised him up from among the dead-people.

Also, Christ did not leave God behind somewhere forsaking God, but Christ still has God remaining being his Father and now God is our Father too. We all have access to God and God has access to us via our holy spirit-life.

Paul returns to addressing how the husband and wife ought to walk (behave, conduct themselves) as they await the coming of Christ to gather all holy-people together with him.

Ephesians 5:33:
.33besides, even you the (holy-people), one-by-one, each (husband) thus must love1 the wife of himself as himself, but the wife in order that she may be fearful (towards her) husband;

Moreover (more/other than what I have already written above regarding how and why you ought to behave yourselves appropriately)...

I Corinthians chapter 12 refers to the body of Christ having many limbs in it, and all the limbs are needed for the body to function the best way:

I Corinthians 12:12-14:
 .12for fully-as the body is one (body) and it has many limbs, but all the limbs of the body, being many, it is one body – thus also (is) Christ, .13for also in one spirit we all were baptized into one body, whether Judeans or Greeks or slaves or freemen, and we were all given one spirit to drink, .14for also the body is not one limb but many.

Paul uses the physical body as an illustration to help us understand spiritual-things. In verse 12 he writes:

In truth, fully-as the physical body is...

…in this manner also is Christ, for also we (holy-people) all were baptized (immersed, surrounded)...

…and all of us holy-people were given to drink (let drink and so we all received)...

…for also...

Every holy-person has been baptized in holy spirit and this is how each one of us became a limb (member) of the one spiritual body of Christ.

Verses 15 and 16:
.15If-ever the foot may say, "Because I am not a hand I am not from the body" – not by-this it is not from the body; .16and if-ever the ear may say, "Because I am not an eye I am not from the body" – not by-this it is not from the body.

In this section Paul writes about the limbs of the physical body as though they could speak, in order to more effectively teach how the one spiritual body of Christ functions with many limbs.

If the foot should say that because it is not a hand (a different part of the body) then it does not emanate out-from the body – is a consequence of saying this causing the foot to not be part of the one body? No, the foot is still part of the body whether it considers itself to be so or not! This limb is supposed to function as a foot within the body.

If the ear should say that because it is not an eye (a different part of the body) then it does not emanate out-from the body – is a consequence of saying this causing the ear to not be part of the one body? No, the ear is still part of the body whether it considers itself to be so or not! This limb is supposed to function as the ear within the body.

If a holy-person should say that because he is not someone else (a holy-person who has a different function within the one body of Christ) then he does not emanate out-from the one body of Christ – is a consequence of saying this causing this holy-person to not be part of the one body of Christ? Does his denial in the everyday living of his life of the spiritual truth cause what God says to not be true? No, this holy-person is still part of the spiritual body whether he considers himself to be so or not! This holy-person is supposed to function as God and the Lord Jesus Christ intend him to function within the one body of Christ.

Verses 17 and 18:
.17If the whole body (is) an eye, where (is) the hearing? If (the) whole (body is the) hearing, where (is) the smelling? .18But now God put the limbs, each one of them, in the body according as He intended.

If the whole physical body were an eye (which is for seeing), then where would the faculty or sense of hearing be? There would not be any! If the whole physical body were the hearing, then where would the faculty or sense of smell be? There would not be any! But emphatically at the present time, God has put (God did it Himself - He placed, set) the limbs, every particular one of them, within the physical body to function according as He intended (willed).

God did what He Himself intended – not as any of the limbs in the body intended; for example: the eye did not dictate to God that it wanted to be the faculty of seeing and not of hearing when God formed the physical body of mankind and so God did what He was told to do by that limb!

If the whole spiritual body of Christ functioned only in one manner, then the spiritual body of Christ would have no capacity to do any other necessary spiritual function(s) which God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ may want it to perform. But at the present time (since the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2), God has put (God did it Himself - He placed, set) the limbs/members, every particular holy-person, within the one spiritual body of Christ to function according as He wills, and with the Lord Jesus Christ carrying out God’s will. Of course it is up to the freedom of will of each holy-person to carry-out his/her particular function when it is needed to be done within that one body of Christ.

Verses 19 and 20:
.19But if all-things were one limb, where (would be) the body? .20But now (there are) many limbs but one body.

If all-things (everything that makes-up the physical body) were made into only one limb, then where would the body be? There would be no body, only one big limb! God did not make every man and woman to be the same limb, but there are a lot of limbs which make-up the one physical body which each of us has.

If everything, which makes-up the one spiritual body of Christ, were only one limb, then there would not be any spiritual body of Christ because it would be only one limb, one part of the whole! But the truth is that there are a lot of limbs and all the limbs together constitute the one spiritual body of Christ.

Verses 21-26:
.21But the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I do not have need of you," or again the head to the feet, "I do not have need of you" – .22but much rather the limbs of the body considering to begin weaker are constraining (limbs), .23and which (limbs) of the body we consider to be more-dishonorable to these we put-around more-exceeding honor, and our indecorous (limbs) have more-exceeding décor, .24but our decorous (limbs) do not have a need – but God mixed-together the body having given more-exceeding honor to the lacking (limb) .25in order that there may not be division in the body but the limbs may be anxious-about the same-thing on behalf of one-another, .26and whether one limb suffers all the limbs suffer-together with (it), whether a limb is glorified all the limbs joy-together with (it).

In a physical body, the eye does not have the ability (able-power, capability) to say to the hand that it does not have a needful-use or necessity for it to be a particular limb of the same body; nor does the head have the ability to say to the feet that it does not have a needful-use or necessity for them to be two limbs with similar functions within the same body. 

But contrary to one limb not needing another limb in the same physical body, a lot more-so those limbs of the body supposing to originate weaker (naturally made with less physical strength) than other limbs, presently and actively are constraining limbs (limbs which are necessary due to constraint, applied-force). The body cannot function with vitality and productively without them.

But contrary to any potential unbalance within the physical body...

But contrary to the body being divided up into separate limbs or separate groups of limbs being stuck together without other limbs - God mixed the body together in this manner...

The body is made-up of limbs mixed-together, not separated from each other, and in order for the one body as a whole to function productively and with vitality all the limbs must function to the best of its ability as God has given it the ability to do so.

Also, because God mixed-together the body...

So also is the one spiritual body of Christ.

Verse 27:
.27But you are (the) body of Christ and limbs in-particular;

In the spirit category: all of you (holy-people, Christians) are the spiritual body of the resurrected Christ, and you are limbs (members) with each one of you being individual parts of the whole body – every part comes out-from the interior of the body.

All holy-people are connected to Christ and to each other by means of that holy spirit-life within each one. Christ is the head of the body and we are the other limbs of his spiritual body with different functions. Christ is continuing to do those things which God asks him to do, and we should also function correctly.

Romans chapter 12 refers to the various functions of the limbs within one body in Christ:

Romans 12:3-5:
.3For I say by means of the grace, the (grace) having been given to me, to every-person being among you, not to super-think against that-which it is necessary to think but to think with-a-view to soundly-think as God distributed a measure of belief to each-person; .4for fully-as we have many limbs in one body but all the limbs do not have the same practice, .5thus we (being) many-people are one body in Christ but uniquely limbs of one-another;

When any holy-person (Christian)...

...then that holy-person is to believe what God says and obey Him.

Each holy-person is to think-soundly as God distributed a measure of belief to him/her. In Romans 12:4 and 5, Paul explains by giving the illustration of how a person's physical body operates to its own benefit - the whole profit. He writes:

Even just as…

…in this manner…

This one spiritual body of Christ has limbs (every holy-person) and each limb has its own particular function – this is what allows each one to act in its own individual manner in accordance with the measure of belief distributed to it by God (as verse 3 above). Each one of us should function as he/she is assigned, but yet each one of us is connected to all of the other limbs. We are not all placed as one-limb all doing exactly the same thing - that would not be a well-functioning body!

We have already been taught that the one thing that connects and unifies all of us is the holy spirit-life within us, and when each one of us functions as we are instructed to function within that one body, then each one of us is benefited individually, plus the whole body collectively is benefited. It is noteworthy that Paul does not say that anyone is left-out, or that it is for some holy-people only but not all.

This is similar to a physical body – when each limb functions as it is supposed to function, then each limb benefits itself, plus the whole body is benefited. However, if one limb of the physical body does not function properly, the lack of its functioning affects the rest of the body, and sometimes other limbs of the body have to take on an extra task in order to cope with that lack of supply of the one limb not functioning correctly. But when all limbs function as they are designed to function, then the body can perform many different tasks by working together, e.g. walking, swimming, lifting items, etc.

Verses 6-8:

.6but having different gracious-gifts according to the grace, the (grace) having been given to us – whether prophecy according to the proportion of the belief, .7whether ministry in the ministry; whether the (person) teaching in the teaching, .8the (person) encouraging in the encouragement, the (person) sharingly-giving in singleness, the (person) standing-before (others) in earnest-diligence, the (person) being merciful-towards (others) in cheerfulness;

Paul continues by giving us examples of particular practices or functions within the one spiritual body of Christ and how we are to carry them out during the everyday living of our lives. He uses the figure of speech whereby only part (some of the practices) is mentioned but the whole (all of the practices) is to be understood as being included.

He writes: we (the limbs being one body in Christ) continue having…

…and examples of saying and doing these are…

Paul provides further information regarding behavior and functioning of the one spiritual body of Christ in Romans 12:9-21.

I Corinthians chapter 10 refers to the church sharing with the accomplishments of Christ:

I Corinthians 10:15-17:
.15As to thoughtful-people I say (that) you must judge that-which I say: .16the cup of blessing which we bless, it is a sharing-in-common of the blood of Christ, isn't it? – (yes) – the bread which we break, it is a sharing-in-common of the body of Christ, isn't it? – (yes) – .17because we (being) many-people are one bread, one body – for we all (of us holy-people) share out-from one bread.

Paul teaches about those times during which we (holy-people, Christians) gather-together with one another in celebration of all that God has already done and continues to do for/to/with us by means of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The blessing of the blood of Christ is the remission (dismissal) of sins, for without the shedding of blood there could not be any remission of sins. Our blessing is that we share the blood of Christ in common – our sins are dismissed.

Jesus Christ's physical body was killed – but God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and now he has his spiritual body and he cannot and will not die again. We spiritually share the body of Christ in common because we have believed what God has said and thus God gave us the gift of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are limbs of his spiritual body. Spiritually we have received the deposit which is our holy spirit-life, which is our guarantee that we will receive our new spiritual bodies when Christ comes to gather us all together with him. Our bodies will be formed together with the body of his glory.

Verse 17 says that we – all of us many holy-people – are...

In truth, all of us share out-from one bread, the one true bread in the spirit category. We partake in association with one another of the one bread who is Christ. Christ is the one who sustains and maintains us. Christ himself is the bread which he gave to us so that we all share equally and fully of his spiritual body. We are all limbs of his body, and this is available now because of what his death, resurrection, ascension into heaven, etc, accomplished.

Christ is our life because we have his holy spirit-life (refer to Colossians 3:4). We are limbs of his spiritual body and we cannot be separated from him or from one-another in the spirit category.

I Corinthians chapter 11 refers to the church remembering what Christ accomplished:

I Corinthians 11:23-25:
.23For I received from the Lord that-which also I gave-over to you that the Lord Jesus, in the night which he was given-over, took bread .24and having expressed-thanks he broke (it) and said, "This is my body on behalf of you, this you must do with-a-view-to my remembrance"; .25likewise also (he took) the cup after the meal saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, this you must do as-often-as if-ever you may drink with-a-view-to my remembrance";

The Lord Jesus Christ used a figure of speech called a metaphor (a declaration that one thing is/represents another thing) to emphasize and illustrate by demonstration exactly what he meant.

Jesus taking the bread and breaking it into pieces giving to each one of them...

The people who believe what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished must do this same thing of taking the bread and breaking it into pieces giving to each one of us for the purpose of our remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to call him up in our minds (remind ourselves of him), which includes his sacrifice and all that he has accomplished.

The fullness of this today is that all holy-people now share of his spiritual body which is incorruptible (not corruptible as the fleshy body) and we have the definite hope of receiving our own spiritual bodies when Christ comes to gather us all together with him.

Jesus taking the cup and giving the contents of it (the drink itself was wine) among each one of them...

Jesus died losing his physical life (soul) by the shedding of his blood and after his resurrection he shared his new life (holy spirit) with those who believe.

The people who believe what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished must do this same thing of taking the cup and sharing the wine in the cup among each one of us for the purpose of our remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to call him up in our minds (remind ourselves of him), which includes the shedding of his blood and all that he has accomplished.

The fullness of this today is that all holy-people now share of his holy spirit-life (not soul/breath life) and we have the definite hope of receiving the fullness of life when Christ comes to gather us all together with him.

The new covenant which the Lord Jesus referred to was going to come into effect at the moment that the complete redemption and salvation was made available to mankind, which occurred on the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts chapter 2) when God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ shed forth the gift of holy spirit. Of course, it is only the people who believe what God says regarding Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ who actually receive the blessing.

This new covenant of the spirit replaced the former covenant of law and circumcision. Jesus did not know exactly when this was going to occur at the time he spoke of it to those with him when he ate his last meal before his death.

Verses 26 and 27:
.26for as-often-as if-ever you may eat this bread and you may drink this cup you message the death of the Lord continuously-until where he may come; .27so-that whoever may eat the bread or may drink the cup of the Lord unworthily will be liable of the body and the blood of the Lord.

In truth, as many times as you (holy-people, Christians) should...

Today also, whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup together we message the death of the Lord. We should do it in remembrance of him, thereby acknowledging all that he accomplished for us by...

...and we look forward to his coming to gather us all together with him.

Verses 28-30:
.28But a man must prove himself and thus he must eat out-from the bread and he must drink out-from the cup, .29for the (person) eating and drinking not throughly-judging the body eats and drinks judgment to himself – .30because-of-this many-people among you (are) weak and sickly and sufficient-people sleep.

A Christian man must put himself to the test (examine himself) in order to approve himself in-relation to this matter by making sure that he is behaving in accordance with what the Lord Jesus Christ said. It is in the manner stated in verses 23-26 that he must eat out-from the bread from-which all present share and he must drink out-from the cup of the Lord from-which all present share during that assembly of holy-people together.

Spiritually every holy-person remains a limb (member) of the spiritual body of Christ because his holy spirit-life cannot be lost - but it is only in the physical flesh category that he can leave himself open to that-which is less than what God would want every holy-person (Christian) to manifest and live every day of our lives.

Paul explains: it is on account of what I have just written that...

This is the implementation of the temporary judgment in the physical category against those holy-people who do not eat and drink together as the Lord Jesus Christ instructs.

I Corinthians chapter 6 refers to the behavior of the limbs of the body of Christ, and to the interior-temple:

I Corinthians 6:13-17:
.13The foods (are) for the belly and the belly (is) for the foods - but God will render both this-thing and these-things ineffective; and the body (is) not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body - .14but God both raised-up the Lord and He raises us up-out-from (deadness) by means of His ability. .15You knew2 that your bodies are limbs of Christ, don't you? – (yes) – therefore, having lifted the limbs of Christ, should I make (them) limbs of a female-fornicator? – may it not become! .16You knew2 that the (person) being-glued-together to a female-fornicator is one body (with her), don't you? – (yes) – for He says, "The two will be into one flesh"; .17but the (person) being-glued-together to the Lord is one spirit!

These verses emphasize the total contrast - between the physical category of this world - and who we are spiritually having