The Nature of the Church
The Body of Christ
One Body, Many Members
Description
The church is the body of Christ—He is the head, believers are the members. This is not mere metaphor but mystical union. By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free. The body has many members with different functions, yet all are necessary. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.' There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. We are members one of another.
Key Verses
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. 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.
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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.