GOD’S HOUSE – THE BODY

“Now you are the BODY of CHRIST, and members individually” – 1 Corinthians 12:27

In this dispensation of Grace, GOD’S HOUSE is the BODY of CHRIST: “Now you are the BODY of CHRIST, and members individually” (v.27). This truth is not a peripheral reference in God’s Word. It is buttressed by many scriptures:

• “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, and ONE BODY in CHRIST, and individually member of one another” (Rom.12:4-5).

• “And He is the Head of the BODY, the CHURCH, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col.1:18).

•  “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is HIS BODY, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph.1:22-23).

The Body of Christ is ONE BODY, irrespective of the numerous denominations and local churches. The Body of Christ is that worldwide body of born-again believers saved by the blood of Jesus and called out from the world. The members of this Body have been mystically joined to Christ by the Holy Spirit, to fulfil the task of witnessing to and establishing the Kingdom of God, which He began. All disciples of Jesus are united in this assignment, with each disciple having a part to play, and all working together as a body of many members with Jesus as the Head! The Church is the Body of Christ on earth, through which He desires to continue His life and ministry, so that the will of God might be done on earth: “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a BODY You have prepared for Me” (Heb.10:5).

God’s House, the Body of Christ can be understood from the analogy of the human body, with its diverse members. Here are Seven Qualities, among others that characterize the Body of Christ:

The Body of Christ has many members: For in fact the body is not one member but many” (v.14). The human body has visible external members and hidden internal organs, but all are essential to the functioning of the body. So does the Body of Christ. No member is irrelevant or insignificant: “No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (v.22).

The Holy Spirit baptized all members into ONE BODY; all have the same Spirit: “For by one Spirit we were baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (v.13). Ephesians 4:4 says, “There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, just as you were called in ONE HOPE of your calling.”

Every member has a place, function, and operation in the body; no member is useless, unproductive or redundant: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (v.7).

Every member is unique among the variety of ministries in the body; not all have the same gift, office or function: “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the body were hearing, where would be the smelling?” (v.17).

Every member needs the other members: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (v.12).

Every member recognizes his or her place and those of others; they operate by recognition, not competition (vv.15-17). The Lord’s design is: “that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (vv.25-26).

Only in the whole body is the completeness of Christ. No one member has the fullness or is complete, independent of the rest of the body. Each needs the total body to find fulfilment (Rom.12:3). Beloved, you are a vital organ in the Body of Christ!