ONE BODY HAVING MANY MEMBERS

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 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. 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.

Here, Paul uses the physical body as an example to teach the Corinthian brethren, and us today, about the one body of Christ, which is His on church. How great it would be if only the world would accept, and believe, that, from the beginning of time, God intended there to be only one church of Christ. It was God's plan from the beginning of time that salvation was to come through His Son, Jesus Christ. He was sent to earth as a physical being, born of woman, lived on earth, was exposed to, and overcame, all temptations of Satan, preached the word of God throughout the country in which He lived, was persecuted and slain by His own countrymen, was buried, overcame death by arising from the grave, commissioned His disciples to preach His gospel message throughout the world, ascended into heaven, and is today, setting in the seat of authority at the right hand of God.

His mission is complete. From that moment forward,God 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 that filleth all in all (Eph. 1:22-23). This same message was delivered to the church at Colosse. To them, Paul wrote, and He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell (Col. 1:18-19).

Paul's emphasizes the oneness of the body of Christ in his inspired writing to the church at Ephesus. He wrote, there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Eph. 4:4-6).It is that one body, referred to in this text, as well as those preceding, that is the body of Christ, His church. Paul used the lesson text to describe, explain, and confirm the New Testament church. His explanation begins with Paul saying, for as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body. The example Paul uses here to explain the body of Christ is the physical, human body of mankind. It is made up of many members, or body parts. The head, brain, arms, legs, feet, toes, heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, nose, ears, eyes, tongue, etc., are all members of the human body. All perform uniquely different functions, but all are necessary to function as a unit - one human body. All body parts are important. ...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 (See Vss. 14-26). Working together in unity of purpose, the human body functions as God designed it to do. Why is this important? Paul gives us the answer in verse 25, that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

With this description of the human body in mind, Paul then says so also is the body of Christ. In other words, the human body functions similar to the church of Christ, which is His body. Obedient Christians, members of His church, make up the body of Christ (See Eph. 5:30; 1 Cor. 12:27). Paul told the church at Ephesus, and us today, how members of His body are to work in unity for the benefit of all. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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 (Eph. 4:15-16). Whether Jews or Gentiles, ...bond or free, male or female, rich or poor, all that have become members of the one body of Christ, have heard the calling of the one God, were moved through one Holy Spirit acting, through inspired apostles, disciples, and evangelists, preaching the one gospel of Christ, unto the one hope of salvation, through the one faith, by which they were inspired to submit to one baptism, and thereby become members of the one body of Christ. All members of the church of Christ, although having varying talents and abilities, like the physical body and its various parts, work in the spirit of unity for the edification of all, and for the glory of our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Any member of the body of Christ that performs the most menial task to the best of his or her ability, will be rewarded equally with those that accomplish greatness. Dear God, thank you for the simple nature of your kingdom, that all obedient men and women of the world, are able to partake of the hope of salvation that is available in Christ Jesus through His church.