Unlimited: One Body, Many Members
Jul 10, 2023 466
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body (Romans 12:4–5a).
The idea of the “body of Christ” refers to the spiritual community that Christ has formed through the Cross; in other words, the church. However, this doesn’t refer to one particular church, but rather the universal church of all those who trust in him and follow him, as imperfectly as that may be.
The “body of Christ” seems an odd expression to us, but it has a wonderful spiritual meaning. It comes from the Old Testament sanctuary/temple, when the temple was the place where God came and met with his people. God’s presence was there, so that it was said that his glory filled the temple (e.g. Ex. 40:34; 2 Chron. 7:1). The New Testament teaches us that Jesus is now the true temple (John 1:14; 2:19–20). We live in him, and through him we have the presence of God in our lives, which is manifested through the church: the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22–23.)
Just as we have one body so too all believers in Jesus form one body.
The apostle is explaining why we should be humble towards each other. Just as we have one body so too all believers in Jesus form one body. Just as our bodies have many different parts with different functions, so too all of us have different functions within the body of Christ. In this way we do his work on earth.
Spiritual Application
Every member of the body of Christ has a function. What’s yours? Pray about it, that Christ may be glorified through your service to others.
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