The Body of Christ and its Members

For many of us, the Church we belong to no longer has a God-given purpose. For many, the Church is just a place to find some peace of mind that is lost during the week due to a crowded lifestyle.

We have been taught to believe that what is generically called Church is aplace where people with common religious concerns gather. It’s a place where people sing, pray, listen to a sermon, and socialize a little after the program is over and then go off to their personal concerns and interests.

A very small portion of the members have the job of carrying out this program. The vast majority of members are in the position of being spectators at these religious programs, their job consisting of attending/sitting in the pew and contributing a certain amount of money for the needs of the congregation.

In these assemblies, the ordinary member is a mere consumer, he has nothing to do, his participation in the assembly being his only task. Reality shows that quite a few members don’t even come to these programs, the buildings being quite empty at some worship services. In many cases their members know each other only by sight.

Perhaps until today you, like many others, have had no involvement in the church where you are a member and have not considered that each member is put into the body by God to be of use to the other members. (And to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the benefit of others. 1 Corinthians 12:7)

Perhaps it seemed to you that it was normal for the Church to involve only a small group of brothers. Perhaps, it seems natural to you that there are many in the assembly who do not attend meetings by the month or year and yet remain on the membership list.

Lest we be deceived, today more than ever we need to carefully consider what God’s Word tells us about our place in the Church of Christ.

The Church or the Body of Christ is one of the great mysteries of God. (This mystery is great – I’m talking about Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:32) This plan or design of the Church of Christ was made in eternity. Even the lords and principalities in heavenly places look upon the Church and marvel at the way it works. (That the lords and principalities may know today through the Church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal plan which he has made in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:10,11)

In order to understand God’s eternal plan for Christ and His Church, we need to look very carefully at what Scripture says about it.

To get a clearer understanding, we will highlight a few verses from the Holy Word.

“I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18)

“He is the Head of the body, the Church” (Colossians 1:18).

“You are the body of Christ, and every one of you is a member of his body.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

“No man ever hated his own body, but nourishes it, cherishes it with love, even as Christ the Church.”(Ephesians 5:29,30) 5. “I now rejoice in my sufferings for your sake… for His body, which is the Church.” (Colossians 1:24)

The Church is identified as the body of Christ. He is the Head of the body and the people born of God’s seed are the members. (He is the Head of the body, the Church. Colossians 1:18; You are the body of Christ, and each one individually his members. 1 Corinthians 12:27)

Christ is the Head of the body, the Church. God’s plan for the newborn is to raise him, to perfect him, to make him like Himself. And He does this through His Word, through the Holy Spirit and with the help of the members, who are in the Body of Christ.

This plan has been made in eternity in Christ Jesus. (According to the eternal plan he made in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:11)

God makes the Body of Christ, its mode of operation is very similar to that of the human body. (God made the body. 1 Corinthians 12:24) He puts into the Body of Christ only members that have life from above/born again. (The Lord added to their number daily those who were saved. Acts 2:47)

He begins His work with us and if we remain obedient, He will bring it to completion. (I am confident that He who began this good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6)

An infant cannot choose for himself where to grow up, so the One who gave birth to him takes care of him and places him in His family, that is, in the Body of Christ. (See God’s work with the centurion Cornelius in Acts of the Apostles)

He has promised to be with us all our days, never leaving us for a moment. He will take us by the hand and accompany us to the end of the road. (And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Amen. Matthew 28:20; For He Himself said, “I will never leave you; I will by no means forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5)

He does not abandon His newborn and will not let them grow without help from Him. (And He has given some… for the perfecting of the saints… for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11,12)

God puts the members in the Body of Christ in a similar way as He put them in the human body; the heart in its place, the pancreas in its place, the fingernail in its place, each with their functions. (I will build my church… Matthew 16:18)

This study is an excerpt from the Church the Body of Christ booklet, fully available in English on https://unmodifiedword.com/.