When you read the Word of God, don't draw back. Believe what it says and stick with it. If you listen to other people and compare yourself with others you probably will become confused. Base your faith on the Word, not on tradition.

Let's take a look at what God has said.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28,29—NIV)

Abraham's Seed is singular—one seed. Who is Abraham's Seed? You've got it. Jesus Christ is Abraham's Seed.

Is that all? No. You also are Abraham's Seed if you belong to Christ for God considers you to be one with Jesus Christ. You are one Person with Him.

Well, are you or aren't you? What does the Word say? Stick with the Word.

We cannot understand the Kingdom of God or why we must come to the full stature of Christ until we understand clearly that we are an integral, inseparable part of Christ.

Let's go on.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12—NIV)

"So it is with Christ." What is "with Christ"? The fact that Christ is made up of many parts, the whole composing one Body.

Remember, "Christ" is not Jesus' last name. The term means "the One Anointed With Oil," in other words, the One who has the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

So we understand Christ, the One anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, comprises the exalted Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, and also a Body, the members of the Church.

When Christ came the first time He was One, the Lord Jesus. When Christ comes the second time He will be many, the Lord Jesus and the members of His Body.

Right so far?

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (I Corinthians 12:27—NIV)

Each one of us is a part of the Christ who is to come, for whom the Jews are waiting. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we appear with Him. Here is where the vision of the pre-tribulation rapture is so destructive. God wants us to have the vision of returning with Jesus Christ and bringing justice to the nations, not a vision of flying away to Heaven to sit in a mansion and do nothing of significance.

"Oh, Brother Thompson, we will fly up to Heaven and then come down later and do all this stuff." Horsefeathers! Those who teach the pre-tribulation rapture seldom mention our returning even though our returning with Jesus Christ is the central emphasis of the Scriptures. The returning with Christ does not seem to be real to them. All they are emphasizing is that we will get out of trouble and have no more bills to pay.

To be continued.