Sunday, 28 December 2014
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:27
After having discussed the natural body and how each part functions in connection with the other parts, Paul now equates the church with the body. What was true with the natural body is certainly true with the spiritual body; there is an overall body which is comprised of individual members.
As he says, “Now you are the body of Christ.” This isn’t meant that the church in Corinth comprises the whole body. Rather, as a church, they are “the body” just as the church in Ephesus is “the body,” and the Superior Word in (ever) sunny Sarasota, Florida is “the body.” The church-universal, which is comprised of the church-individual, is what forms the body. In each church, there are individual members which then comprise the “members individually.
And of course, above all of these individual members is Christ as the Head of the church. This is the way the organization works. For far too long, individual denominations have claimed that they are the body and anyone outside of their denomination is not a part of the “true” church. Nonsense! The church is comprised of faithful believers in Christ. Never let the individual parts dictate the truth about the whole. This is exactly what Paul has argued against for so many verses.
Life application: If you are in a church body that claims it is the only true church body, then you should probably find another place to worship. Christ Jesus is the unifying factor within the church, not man-made edicts and suppositions.
Gloriously splendid Lord Jesus, today I ask for a closer walk with You. Amen.