One Body with Many Members

One Body with Many Members                             June 9, 2018

Have you ever thought about your Body and how marvelous it is made?

Every part has its own function. We all know that our Body is made up of many different parts and it takes all of these parts to make up our Body, example, As we might be older group, we tell our grandkids, ear hears, eye sees, foot walks we hold hands.

Did you know that the Bible also talks about a Body?  The Body of Christ.

We understand that the Bible is talking about a spiritual Body by using the natural Body as an illustration.

When we receive the Holy Spirit and Jesus lives in us, then by the Holy Spirit we have been joined together to make up one Body.  As we grow in grace and knowledge, we follow His commands and example and He forms us to be what He wants us to be and we are members of His Body.

Jesus is the head of the Body and we are the feet, hands, toes, fingers and other parts of the Body. Jesus being the head tells and directs us what to do since we are the members of the Body.

One of us may be a hugger, or an encourager like Barnabas, praying for others, put others needs before their own, acts of kindness to others, put Jesus first in their lives, teach their children and grandchildren, show love to others, etc, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Just being there gives support to the Body.  We all have a purpose in this wonderful Body, which is called the Body of Christ. 

*Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  (23)  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We do not have the same abilities, but what we have is important to the Body of Christ.  It takes every one of us to make up His Body.

Let's see what Scriptures says about the Body.

Ephesians 2:16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Ephesians 4:3-6 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  (5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  (6)  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in you all.

The Body Illustrates Our Unity in Christ

One Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit who baptizes each believer into the Body of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to unify believers in Christ. This is the unity that the believer is instructed to keep.

The Word of God says "There is one Body" (Eph. 4:4), not two, nor three, but one - only one. That "one Body" is the Body of Christ (Eph. 1:23); that is, -every true Christian is to Christ what a man's foot, hand, etc., is to that man.

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one Body.

We are called to promote truth and unity.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the Body.

Ephesians 5:29-30  After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—  (30)  for we are members of his body.

The only thing found in Scripture, there is the one Body of Christ, formed by the "one Spirit" of God and this ties all Believers together.  

We know the members of that one Body are scattered all over the earth. We cannot assemble together in one place, therefore, we assemble in any convenient location for those who lives in that area. 

There may be "two or three," or ten or more. Jesus, the Savior and Head of the Church, has committed Himself to be present in the midst of us when we assembled together in services in His Name.  We know, more of us can gather together a few hundred around the world during the Feast of Tabernacle at a planned location.

*Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

This verse show there is organization to the Body of Christ.

*Colossians 1:18 And He {Jesus} 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.

Jesus is our center of services and the Temple was the center of Israel worship service.

Our church here does affect others in the Body of Christ.  Prayers, Cards, feasts, etc. We know the Churches of God does not agree in all doctrine and other things from the Scriptures, in fact we have divisions over small things.   What are we going to do? Not meet with different members of the Body at the various High Days or the Feast of Tabernacles.  That is one of the reasons why we have so many different members of the Body.

Romans 12:3  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:4,5  For just as each of us has one Body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, (5)  so in Christ we, though many, form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Each of us is connected with every other member of the Body and that is what counts.

Romans 12:6-8  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; (7)  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; (8)  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully

The Body of Christ, like all bodies, is comprised of many parts. There are limbs, organs, and various members that, when left alone, are useless, but when assembled make up the entire Body

Taking of the bread and wine at Passover

*1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 12 and go through this verse by verse

Verse 12 and 13 is the only place in the entire Bible where the baptism of the Holy Spirit, what is consists of and when it occurs, is explained to us, but we have read where it is referred to in a number of places.  

Paul has been talking to the Corinthians about their spiritual gifts and their part in the Body of Christ, and then he goes on to say these words:

1 Corinthians 12:12  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.

Again the Body Illustrates Our Unity in Christ

The local church is to be united

*1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

*1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

*1 Corinthians 11:17-18 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.  (18)  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

The Church is not to be a battle zone

*James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

Now Paul answers the question, "How did we get into that body?" and shows  the Body of Christ does not consist of everybody in the world, only certain ones.

1 Corinthians 12:13  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  {Greeks or Gentiles)

Important:  The body-like unity of Christians is not a goal to achieve; it is a fact to be recognized.  Not Jewish religion, but individual Jew.

The dividing lines between individuals is no more, did not matter anymore if they have the Holy Spirit living in them, because we are now all in One Body.  Remember, Jesus and John the Baptist predicted baptism with the Holy Spirit. 

Notice, word, All, is used 2 times, That is why this passage clearly establishes for us that all believers are both baptized by and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit to make Jesus Himself real to every believer.

*John 16:15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you."

Jesus said the relationship would be this, a beautiful way of saying it.

*John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

When the Spirit baptizes us, received by the laying on of hand, into the Body of Christ, he puts us into Christ and then Jesus is in us.

The Body share a common faith, conversion, fellowship and goal.

*Ephesians 4:15-16 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  (16)  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

*Colossians 2:19  They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

The following verses, shows us the  Holy Spirit gives us a “poster” of the body of Christ (church), displaying its unity as individual parts join together to function with harmony and be effective as the Church of God, just like we see in the doctor’s office of the human body (names, systems, etc.).

The Body can grow and function effectively because we each and what we do is valuable in the body today.  Paul now explains to us just how it works.  One attitude, cannot contribute to the body, don’t have any abilities.

1 Corinthians 12:14  For in fact the Body is not one member but many.

Paul is telling us that each Christian is an equal part of the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:15,16  If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the Body," is it therefore not of the Body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the Body," is it therefore not of the Body?   {two examples from the body)

1 Corinthians 12:17,18  If the whole Body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18)  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the Body just as He pleased.    {simple question to ask us – diversity in Body is essential}

God has Designed the Church or Body to achieve His Purposes, serving at His pleasure.  The Father gives gifts are given in accordance with His design and plans, not ours.  Never feel insignificant in the Body of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:19  And if they were all one member, where would the Body be?

Example:  godly example, inspires other, teaches children, etc.  Now It is amazing that so many people get the idea that they do not need the rest of the body; they can function on their own; they have their own abilities, their own ministry, and they can do things quite apart from others

1 Corinthians 12:20  But now indeed there are many members, yet one Body.

Now, Paul gets into the meat of the problem, show less glamorous parts of the body are just as important.

1 Corinthians 12:21  And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

No one is to be a “church boss” – a dominating individual

*3 John 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.

1 Corinthians 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the Body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Weaker members are necessary, too.  

*Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

1 Corinthians 12:23  And those members of the Body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

Our unrespectable parts are treated with even more respect by covering them with clothes.  Opinionated “ranking” of importance among brethren is wrong.  Just flat out wrong.

1 Corinthians 12:24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the Body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,

Just as we adorn our body so that all parts are honorably presented (modest), God has arranged the Body of Christ (church) in such a way that the honor of every member is displayed – cf. how we treat one another & others

*James 2:1-4 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.  (2)  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  (3)  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"  (4)  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schism in the Body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Unity is the principal purpose.  No one should ever be neglected within the church.  “Love thy neighbor as thyself” 

Any gift which does not provoke love, tolerance, and forbearance toward other believers is not a gift from the Lord.  Love is the final and acid test.

We are to help one another to remain faithful

*1 Thessalonians 5:14  And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.        

1 Corinthians 12:26  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

The care we have for one another, dependence upon each other, our devotion to each other in joy & sorrow, in pleasure & pain, in life & death – of our lives spent together in the Body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually.

One entity without division.  Christ loves His Church or Body.  To injure or insult it is to injure or insult Him. You can’t join it—you must be “born” into it.

Each one of us has been given a special gift and called to a specific purpose. But we know on our own we will not accomplish much. Joining together with other believers and using our gifts for the work of Christ is what brings meaning and fullness to the Body of Christ.

The unity of the Body of Christ is created in Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul explains that each local church is members of the Body of Christ which we just read.  When someone hurts, the Body of Christ should reach out to comfort and help them, until they are okay again.  We all need each other, without you I will not be complete and with me you will not be complete.  We are all the members of the Body of Christ, many members, yet one.