God Calls You the Body of Christ

Metaphor: Body of Christ (part two)

Concept: If we are members of a single body, that of Messiah then we must think differently about our life and those we are a ‘member with’ in His Body.    

1 Cor 12:12-31 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. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.NIV

Eph 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Eph 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Col 1:24  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.NIV

Our interdependence is based on our uniqueness as individuals and our common bond as members of the Body of Christ. We do not live a life simply onto ourselves. In western cultures where the concept of an extended family is not common we struggle to take care of ourselves. We often suffer cultural gilt concerning our material wealth when compared to some other nations which causes us to do many works to help those less fortunate.

What we lack however is an understanding of our need to help those with the church or body of Christ. This concept of helping those within our family or group are taught throughout the Old Testament and are a part of contemporary Jewish teaching as well. When scripture says the world will know us by our love we are reminded that love, charity and compassion most naturally start at home.

This study is far bigger than a mere devotional can address when ir comes to our role as spiritual members of the body and spiritual gifts. We can however begin to grasp the single truth of our need to be Christ to those who follow Him if we are ever going to get those outside the Church to be interested in this Christ we say we follow.