The Practice Of The Body Life
THE PRACTICE OF THE BODY LIFE
In this message we shall consider the practice of the Body life as it is presented in the closing chapters of Romans.
SONSHIP FOR THE BODY
We have seen that we are to serve God in the gospel of His Son (1:9). This gospel is a gospel of sonship. Sonship includes designation, resurrec tion, justification, sanctification, transformation, conformation, glorification, and manifestation. We are presently undergoing the process of des ignation; that is, we are being designated sons of God by the power of resurrection. Sonship is for the Body. In order to be members of the Body of Christ, we must be sons of God.
In a very real sense, chapter twelve is the direct continuation of chapter eight, with chapters nine through eleven as a parenthetical insertion re garding the selection of grace. Chapter eight reveals that we are being conformed to the image of the Son of God (v. 29). This conformation qualifies us for the practice of the Body life.