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All saved people, men and women, are "alive" in Christ. All saved people, men and women, are "raised up with Christ" and seated with Him in the heavenly realms "in" Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-6) All saved people, men and women, "are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24) Men are not more saved than women. Women are not more saved than men. All saved people, men and women, will go to the same Heaven when they die "in Christ."
The Apostle Paul addressed saved men and women and boys and girls when he wrote:
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."Galatians 3:26-28
"There is neither...male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." That is our Identity. We are all "one in Christ Jesus."
"Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."Colossians 3:11
All Christians: male, female, black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, slave, free, Jew, Gentile, circumcised and uncircumcised, are "in Christ." We "exchange" identities when we receive Christ. We are no longer what we were. We are now "one in Christ." We exchanged our old lives for new lives.
"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."Romans 6:2-11
"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" All Christians, male and female, were baptized into Christ Jesus and his death. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we (men and women) "may live a new life." Every Christian, men and women, will be united with Christ in his resurrection. Every Christian, men and woman, has been freed from sin.
Every believer, male and female, has the same Identity. We are "in Christ" and Christ is "in" us. We have all experienced His Love, His Grace, His Kindness, His Goodness, and His Mercy. Neither men nor women receive more or less of Christ at salvation than the other. All of Christ came into us and all of us went into Christ. God the Father blessed all Christians, male and female, in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. God chose all Christians, men and women, from before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. God predestined all Christians, male and female, to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ. In Christ, all Christians, male and female, have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's Grace, that He lavished on all believers, male and female. God made known to all believers, male and female, the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-9)
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."Ephesians 1:11-14
No man or woman, boy or girl, who is "in" Christ Jesus should think themselves superior or inferior to anyone. We are all the same "in Christ." That is our Identity and what a wonderful Identity it is! We have "everything." There is no spiritual blessing that we do not have. We, Christian men and Christian women, have it all! Not one Christian can lord anything over any other believer. We are all "one" in Christ. We all stand in the same Grace, the same Love.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."Romans 5:1-2
Christ has revealed a wonderful Mystery to the world. That mystery was given to a man, Paul, for all people, men and women, to enjoy forever and ever.
"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."Colossians 1:24-29
Paul's desire was to present "everyone," male and female, perfect (complete) in Christ. Paul didn't look at the Church, the Body of Christ, as male or female. He looked at the Church as a unified Body of saints. Paul understood our Identity in Christ. So must we. Christians, men and women, must understand that everyone in the Body of Christ is equal in the eyes of God. That is our Identity.
We live in a world that sees things by its outward or "physical appearance." Christians should see things by its inward or "spiritual appearance." The world looks at people and sees their physical standing in the community. Christians should look at people and see their spiritual standing "in" Christ. A person is either "in" Christ or "not in" Christ. People are either saved or unsaved. They are lost or found. They are slaves or free. If they are saved, their standing "in" Christ" is as complete as it can be. A saved person cannot be less complete than another saved person. We are "in" Christ and He is "in" us. No one can be more complete than that! If a person is unsaved, they do not have a standing "in" Christ and that is all that matters spiritually and eternally. They need to hear the Gospel of their salvation. No matter what an unsaved person does their entire life, nothing lasts beside their receiving Christ and enjoying Him. Unsaved people can be good or evil in their actions, but they are all in need of Christ's salvation. Nothing matters besides that.
If you meet a saved person, you have just met someone who is beautiful and powerful in Christ because of the Christ "in" them. They deserve your love and attention, your prayers and spiritual service because they have Christ "in" them. If you meet an unsaved person, you have just met someone who is dead in transgressions and sins and who is "outside" of Christ because they do not have Christ "in" them. They are lost and in need of your prayers and spiritual service.
Ministry (service) comes down to what Christ "in" us does "through" us to the glory of God. Ministry is not what we do in our flesh, but what Christ does in our heart and soul. Ministry is not about "us." It's about "Christ." Paul made that abundantly clear to some confused and disobedient Christians centuries ago.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Our ministry, our message, is Christ, not ourselves. We do not do things the way the world does them. We do not minister in the flesh; in our own strength. We minister in the Love and Power of Almighty God! Christ "in" us is the Minister.
"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. "2 Corinthians 4:1-6
We do not preach "ourselves." We preach "Jesus Christ as Lord." We preach ourselves as "your servants" for Jesus' sake. That's where every Christian must start, before they begin their ministry (service) to others. If we aren't willing to minister in the way God wants, we will "gain nothing." Once we understand what ministry is and isn't, and we're ready to minister in God's Way, then we can "serve" saved and unsaved alike in the way that will change millions in a lost world!
Men and women share the same Identity "in" Christ. However, men and women do not share all the same Roles or Functions in the Church, the Body of Christ. We share some, but not all. It's the "not all" that causes problems for many.
Men and women have had different roles in life and society since the beginning of civilization. Men carry the seed of procreation and begin the process of a new life. Women carry and nurture that new life and give birth. Women don't have children without the man's seed. Men don't carry the life-egg and give birth. Each has a separate role in making a new life, but come together in love to accomplish it. Men and women need each other for life to continue. Is either role more or less important? No. Both are necessary.
That's the way it has been throughout time. Men and women have different roles in life, the family and society. "In Christ" men and women also have different roles.
"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."Matthew 4:18-22
"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."Matthew 10:1-4
Jesus Christ came to earth and selected the people through whom He would establish His Messianic Kingdom. They were all men. They would rule and reign with Christ from the twelve thrones of the twelve tribes of Israel. The apostles did the preaching and teaching after the Holy Spirit came upon the small group of Christ's disciples. They made the decisions. They weilded power and authority. God held them responsible. Does that mean women had no role in the Kingdom of God? No. Christ loved women and designed special ministries for them.
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.' 'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'"Luke 1:26-35
God chose a woman, not a man, to give birth to Christ Jesus the Lord. Jesus was God from eternity. He was man from Mary. A woman had the "Role" of being mother to the Son of God. That's very special.
Women had an important role in Christ's ministry while He was on earth. They followed Him, listened to Him, obeyed Him, loved Him and served Him. What they did for Christ was nothing less than what men did for Christ. It's not a matter of male or female. It's about pleasing Christ.
"Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there."Mark 15:40-41
Jesus Christ is not a bigot. He is not a racist. He is not a chauvenist. He is God. He loves all people of all races and genders. He selects people for service according to His Will. If people have a problem with that, they have a problem with the Will of God.
Christ continued to guide His disciples after He returned to heaven after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit came upon all of them and empowered each for their service. Christ gave men and women roles in His Kingdom according to His will, but each was important to Him.
"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers ... When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-4
All the disciples, men and women, were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. That was their Position in Christ. Their roles differed, but their position in Christ was the same.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."Acts 2:42-47
We find differing roles for men and women in the Kingdom Dispensation, but never forget that God loved them equally. What they did had nothing to do with who they were in Christ.
God did a new thing when He saved Saul (Paul). God said of Paul, "This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." (Acts 9:15) "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." (Acts 11:25-26)
Christ gave Paul the role of "Apostle to the Gentiles." Paul preached the Gospel of God's Grace and declared how God would minister through people. His declarations are detailed about the roles of men and women.
Paul made it clear in his writings that men "and" women played a vital role in the ministry. Some of the men he mentioned included Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, Luke, Timothy, Titus, Aquila, Titius Justis, Crispus, Apollos, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, Trophimus, Paul's nephew, Andronicus, Junias, Urbanus, Tertius, Erastus, Quartus, Lucius, Epenetus, Dionysius, Jason, Sosipater, Herodion, Rufus, Stephanas, Epaphras, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Epaphroditus, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aristobulus, Marcissus, Demas, Mnason, Phygelus, Hermogenes, Onesiphorus, Clement, Erastus, Hereus, Trophimus, Olympas, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Artemas, Zenas, and Philemon. Some of the women Paul mentioned included Lydia, Damaris, Priscilla, Phoebe, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Julia, the sister of Hereus, Chloe, the mother of Rufus, Euodia, Syntyche, Nympha, Claudia, Lois, and Eunice.
Paul spoke highly of the many women who served with him. He wrote of Euodia and Syntyche that they had "contended" at his side in the "cause of the gospel." (Philippians 4) Paul commended Phoebe to the Romans as "a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me." Paul called Priscilla a "fellow worker" in Christ Jesus. Luke wrote in Acts 18 that Priscilla and her husband Aquila "explained" the way of God to Apollos. Paul thanked Priscilla and Aquila for their ministry with him and for having church meetings in their home. Paul wrote that Mary had "worked very hard" for the saints. Paul wrote that Tryphena and Tryphosa worked "hard in the Lord." Paul wrote that the mother of Rufus had "been a mother" to him. (Romans 16) Paul wrote about the sincere faith that first lived in Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. (2 Timothy 1)
Paul's letters outline specifics about the ministry of Christian men. Some men were overseers (episkopon - bishop). This is similar to the term "elder" (presbuteros - an older man). "Overseer" spoke to the nature of their ministry. "Elder" spoke to their maturity of spiritual experience.
"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife...He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?). He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil."1 Timothy 3:2, 4-6
"...appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless..."Titus 1:5-7
Some men were deacons (diakonos - servant). They also had to be men of special character.
"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect...They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons...A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well."1 Timothy 3:8, 10, 12
While Paul was specific in his instructions about how all Christians should conduct themseslves, he gave Timothy and Titus particular instructions about Christian men.
Paul wrote Christian men that they should love their wives "just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself..." (Ephesians 5:25-33) Paul wrote that fathers should not "exasperate" their children; "instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) This is certainly a primary ministry of married Christian men. In fact, a married Christian man cannot have a successful ministry without first being a loving husband to his wife and loving father to their children.
Please continue with this study about the Role of Women in the Ministry.
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"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999