There's another one. What does it mean in context? (granted authority)
And does it mean that Jesus is NOT with us when we are alone?
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Well, here's how I'm gleaning some of these things, from scripture. Of course He is with His people when we are alone but also there is also that He is present with His corporate body when we come together to worship and seek Him together and to edify/encourage one another. (I think of it as a kind of corporate anointing.) We need to have our minds renewed to see better how things ought to be in Christ's body:
1Co 14:26
How is it then, brethren?
when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying.
Eph 4:16
From whom
the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Here is a beautiful passage about authority:
Mar 10:42-45
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them,
Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
But so shall it NOT be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(That word minister is not a title of privilege as it is so often treated, on the contrary it simply means to serve, to be a servant. And Jesus is telling us that authority in the church is not to be the same as worldly authority.)
More insight into the body of Christ:
1Co 12:13-27
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (Clergy/laity division is a clear violation of this…..Catholicism in spades and Protestantism never got rid of this worldly fleshly practice either.)
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now
ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
I take it that those with greater gifts have a greater responsibility and spiritual authority. Particularly apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. But as the scriptures teach, we are all to submit to one another, and as well submit in a voluntary way to those who are over us in authority in the body of Christ, so as to not hinder and make their work more difficult than it already is. (Heb 13:17)