MANY MEMBERS BUT ONE BODY

Romans 12:4-8 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

As found in this scripture, Paul begins this particular lesson to illustrate the inspired message he had just delivered in the preceding verses. These were the admonitions Paul delivered to the Christians at Rome: 1) present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 2) be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and 3) not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but think soberly. Certainly these are great tenets for Christians everywhere. To learn them and put them into practice in the conduct of one's life is, indeed, God's sincere desire for His children. To effectively carry out these, as well as all of His, commandments, God has seen fit to use the talents of each Christian within His church to their fullest extent.

This requires that the church of Christ not to be made up of "Big I's" and "Little You's." Even elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers are to carry out their designated oversight, service, and instructing duties as the lowest of servants. Every child of God has an extremely important duty within the body of Christ. Certainly to do so, one is to be an active, living sacrifice, and to be separated from worldliness, in order perform good, and acceptable duties, in carrying out the perfect will of God. Neither is there place in the kingdom of God for a Christian that thinks of himself more highly than he ought to think. Such attitudes would destroy the spiritual effectiveness of the church, and quench its effort to carry the gospel message to the world. For the entire body of Christ to function as He intended, God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith - sufficient talents and abilities required to accomplish His plan of eternal salvation.

Understanding the teaching of the lesson text is made easy when it is compared to the human body. Indeed, every body part; arm, leg, head, eye, ear, lung, heart, etc., has a particular duty to perform for the entire body to function properly. Paul uses this analogy in the lesson text. There is one body, but it is made up of many members. This same analogy Paul used in his letter to the church at Corinth. He wrote, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ (1 Cor. 12:12). To the Christians at Ephesus, Paul says that the church is a body with Christ as its head. The members of the body (Christians), make up the whole body. Paul then describes how the church body functions, by saying that 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 (See Eph. 4:15-16). Working together as a single entity, each member supplies the measure, that is, the work they are capable of supplying, to the whole body. Thus, the body, the church of Christ, functions as it should; maketh increase - increasing in number, and increasing is faith and knowledge by edifying (building up) ...itself (each member) in love.

So then, each member of the body of Christ, His church, does not occupy the same office, that is, does not have identical talents, or the responsibility, to carry out the same duty. The individual gifts, or talents, we have, were given to us by our Creator as He saw fit. The parable of the talents assures us that all people are not given equal abilities. God gives more talents to some people, and less to others. In doing so, does God show partiality to some of his creation? In no way, because the parable also tells us that we are responsible only for the talents we are given - no more or no less (See Matt. 25:14-30). As Peter teaches in Acts 10:34, indeed, God is no respecter of persons.

Paul now lists some of God's gifts bestowed on mankind. He begins with prophecy, that is, preaching God's word. In the early church, before God's written word was available, preaching was done by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and confirmed with the power of miracles performed by those teaching God's Word. Today, preaching the same inspired word of God is still necessary. However, miraculous inspiration, or miracles, are not necessary, because God's complete word has been preserved, and is available to all.

Today, God's prophets do not preach His word by miraculous inspiration, but they preach about God's word that has already been miraculously inspired. Yes, preachers are needed today to serve as God's modern-day prophets, or messengers. Previously, Paul, in this same letter to the Roman brethren, had completely demonstrated the need for preachers when he wrote, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Rom. 10:13-15)!

In the lesson text, Paul, in addition to preachers (prophets) of God's word, mentions other duties and responsibilities for Christians to fill, depending on the various talents and abilities given to them by their Creator. He lists, ministering, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. Such duties and responsibilities would involve, but are not restricted to, tending to the various needs of others; instructing in both bible knowledge or godly social conduct; encouraging others that may be spiritually weak and filling them with a zeal to labor for the cause of Christ; sharing with others and filling their spiritual and physical needs; properly discharging any responsibility that requires governing or overseeing the activities of others; having, and demonstrating, a compassionate attitude toward all people you are privileged to meet.

Throughout the bible, we have record of various responsibilities of Christians. Paul, in two other letters, lists such in a collective manner; some similar to those mentioned in the lesson text, and some additional duties that are different. These are cited to show the diversity of God's gifts, and to establish the fact that not all Christians have the ability to preach and teach the gospel of salvation available in Jesus Christ. Some refer to miraculous gifts that were necessary for proclaiming God's word before it was completely recorded in written form. To the church at Ephesus, he lists these by saying, And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12). In his letter to the Corinthian brethren this diversity is also shown. Paul wrote, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret (1 Cor. 12:27-30)?

The church is made up of many members, but it is one body. This is one of the great lessons found in the subject scripturer. Excluding the Author of our salvation, our Father in heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ, no other entity or person has pre-eminence in the church of Christ. Yes, elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, song leaders, and others that participate in the worship service of the body of Christ, have various duties and responsibilities that many other members are not capable of performing. Does this make them superior to other members? God's word, in many places, says no! Rather, those possessing these abilities are delegated by God to be servants of those that do not possess them. When one is baptized into the body of Christ they, not only become Christians, but they also become servants of all other members of the same body. They are assigned a duty, by God, to use the talents He has given them, to their fullest extent, to further the cause of Christ, and to fill the physical and spiritual needs of others to the best of their ability. Any religious body that is not founded on, or does not practice these principles, is a creation of man, and cannot be of God. All Christians are equal in the eyes of God, His Son, Jesus Christ, and are also equal in need and responsibility to all other members that make up the church of Christ.

The work of a church is single in its nature - to teach God's gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to its members and, as far as possible, to the people of the world that surround it. To accomplish this wonderful work, God uses the varied talents of each member of this body to accomplish this common goal. Each Christian, performing unique tasks, according to their abilities, is responsible for the welfare of the body as a whole. The strength of the entire body of Christ depends on successfully performing individual tasks that are mutually dependent upon each other. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.