Ephesians has a list of seven ones. These are the doctrines of the church. They are important items to renew our mind with. The first study is the one body, which is the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3-6
3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
One Body
Body Of Christ – The Definition
The term “Body of Christ” actually refers to the members of His church, throughout history. Who or what is the body of Christ? The body of Christ is the Church, made up of all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Each Christian, then, is a part of the body of Christ.
Romans:12:1-8: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 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.
First Paul deals with our life as worship toward God and renewing our mind. Then he deals with humility and lowliness in relation to ourselves (v. 3). Then he deals with our relations with each other in the church (vv. 4-13).
So focus with me on verses 4-5.
1. The Unity of the Body of Christ Is Created in Jesus Christ
Let’s read verses 4 and 5a and stop with that tremendously important little phrase “in Christ.” “For as in one body we have many members,and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ.” We, though many, are one body in Christ.
What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”?
The phrase I want us to focus on is the phrase, “in Christ” in verse 5a: “so we, though many, are one body in Christ.” What this phrase means is that the interwoven unity of all the members into one body is created and brought about in Christ. One simple way to say what that means is that as each of us is in relationship to Christ, we are therefore in relationship to each other. If I am Christ’s brother, and your are Christ’s sister, then you are my sister. By creating relationships with himself, Christ creates the relationships in the body.
But the truth here is deeper than that. What it means to be “in Christ” far more profound than the human analogy of family relations suggests. That would be precious enough. But it’s far more and far better than that.
What this phrase “in Christ” means is that when you trust Christ as your Savior and Lord, a union is established between Christ and you in such a way that everything in Christ that can be shared will be shared with you. Everything that he is, and everything that he has that can be shared will be shared with you.
Consider a few examples from the way this little phrase “in Christ” is used. This is what it means for you to be “in Christ”:
1 Corinthians 1:4, we receive grace in Christ.
- Romans 3:24, our redemption is in Christ.
- Galatians 2:17, we are justified in Christ.
- Ephesians 4:32, we have forgiveness of sins in Christ.
- Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation in Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, we are a new creation in Christ.
- Romans 6:23, we have eternal life in Christ.
- Philippians 4:19, God supplies all our needs in Christ.
- Ephesians 1:3, we have every spiritual blessing of heaven in Christ
- Colossians 1:28, we will be presented to God perfect in Christ.
- Romans 8:32, we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ.
The first biblical reference to this body was made by Jesus during the last supper.
Mark 14:22 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.'”
This symbolic act is the beginning of the communion service which Christians accept as a remembrance that they are a part of the body of Jesus Christ, due to Jesus’ death on the cross.
1Co:10:17: For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
You belong to him. You are in him. There is a union by faith so that all that he is, he is for you. It is simply breathtaking. Oh, that God would help us believe it with all our hearts.
And the only thing—and it is a huge and wonderful thing—to be added from Romans 12:5 is that we experience all of this together in one body. “So we, though many, are one body in Christ.” Redeemed together. Justified together. Forgiven together. Created anew together. Every need met together. Loved by God together. Perfected together. Living forever together—and all of this glorious unity created in Christ and for the glory of Christ.
Eph:5:30-32 30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32: This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Oh, let us never trivialize the church! It cost God the life of his Son to create this. And what you share with the persons sitting near you in Christ is a life and an inheritance and a union so great and so profound that it surpasses the value of all other human relationships and all inheritances and can never end.
That’s the first thing to see: The unity of the body of Christ is created in Jesus Christ .
Col 1:18 And he 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.
Col:2:19: And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
We are all united into one body in Christ, and it does not matter what our nationality is, we are all one.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
2. Individuality Is Valued in Christ
Look at Romans 12:5 again and focus on the second half of the verse: “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
Paul is saying that our true individuality is found—discovered, experienced—in relationship to the body of Christ. Think about verse 5b, “and individually members one of another.” Members (parts) of one another. One by one. Individually. Here’s what Paul is saying: I am part of you. You are part of me. I am like your eye or your ear or your hand or your foot. And you are like my eye or my ear or my hand or my foot. Each individual, Paul says, is part of the other individuals in the body.
Here is the amazing thing: That’s who I am. I am a part of you. Which means that my individuality—my individual identity, as God has created me to be—cannot be known except in serving you as I rely upon Christ. And yours cannot be known except in serving others in reliance on Christ. That’s what hands and feet and eyes and ears do. They serve. That’s why we have gifts.
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.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27: 12: 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. 13: 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. 14: For the body is not one member, but many. 15: If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16: And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17: If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18: But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19: And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20: But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21: And 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. 22: Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24: For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26: And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
This means each Christian is an equal part of the body of Christ!
There is organization to the body of Christ,
Ephesians 1:22-23, 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 also says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 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.”
Romans 12:5-8 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 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.
Every Christian possesses a gift and is called to use it in service within the body to build up the body of Christ, to strengthen the body and to carry out its purpose within the world. Each member of the body of Christ is also called to serve the church through his or her natural gifts and abilities. This service is offered out of devotion to Christ for the sacrifice He made on the cross, providing them with eternal life in heaven. The diversity of gifts, each supporting the other, makes the body strong!
Paul values individuality so highly that he does not fail to tell us how our true individual selves can be known, namely, by living in relationship others and by serving and being served in the body of Christ. And then from that position and identity (as we will see later in the chapter) we express our individual identity with Christ in relation to the world. Love other people with all your heart in reliance on Christ and you will discover who you are.
So, the first point was that the unity of the body of Christ is created in Jesus Christ. And the second point was that individuality is valued in Christ—indeed, discovered in the body of Christ.
It is an amazing calling and an amazing identity: being the body of Christ and individually members of one another. There is more to be discovered about yourself in Christ than you ever dreamed. And Christ will be more and more honored by every discovery you make.
3. Personal Application
As a part of the church, what can you do to enhance the body of Christ? The body is a holy entity and is to be respected and treated with complete honor and care. The Bible provides several action principles for building up the body of Christ:
- You are called to love. Eph:4:15-16 15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16: 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.
- You are called to peace Col:3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
- You are called to share Jesus Eph:2:16: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: As part of the body of Christ, you are to share your life-changing story with others!
- You are called to be separate from the world. 1Co:6:15-20 15: Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.16: What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.17: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Are you a contributing member of the body of Christ? Are you actively serving God and sharing Him with others? Are you contributing to peace and unity within the body? Do you worship regularly? Take a moment to evaluate your life in light of these principles:
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