CHRISTIAN LIFE: “The Church, which is His Body”
Each individual believer belongs.
“And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
In His teaching, the Lo
rd Jesus frequently used simple illustrations from everyday life in order to impart profound truths. Throughout Scripture, in fact, the Holy Spirit has adopted this effective method of teaching, conveying otherwise difficult concepts to us with clarity and precision. A number of very helpful illustrations are used in the New Testament to explain truths relating to the Church. In the previous article we thought of the Church as a building in the process of construction. This time we shall consider the Church as “the body of Christ” (1 Cor.12:27) and seek to draw some practical lessons from this particular aspect of truth.
A building can be a highly impressive structure. Tourists in their hundreds can be seen visiting the famous cathedrals of our land, savouring the splendour of Salisbury’s or gazing at the glory of Gloucester’s. A body, on the other hand, may not be as spectacular as a towering edifice; but as we view a new-born baby we are at once conscious of the miracle of life. The baby is not impressive, but our minds are filled with wonder as we look at that perfectly-formed little body and consider the inter-relation of the tiny parts.
Having described the triumph of the ascended Christ, the Apostle Paul concludes the first chapter of Ephesians by stating that Christ is head of “the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” How are we “the Body of Christ”? What does this expression really mean? How are we expected to function? In order to answer these and other questions, let us pursue our study by considering firstly the design of the Body and then the display of the Body.
THE DESIGN OF THE BODY
At the commencement it should hardly be necessary to state that there is only “one Body” (Eph.4:4). All true believers, irrespective of denominational label, are members of that “one Body”.
Long ago, David the Psalmist marvelled at God’s wisdom in fashioning his own body. “I will praise Thee,” he declared, “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps.139:14). Just consider your own body. You played no part in the planning or the design of it. Think of the veins and arteries, the capillary tubes, the digestive system – all designed to function without you having to think about it! Truly, it is a masterpiece of divine wisdom! The Church (which we could call “the Heavenly Body”) is like the human body in that it too is designed to function perfectly and is an expression of divine wisdom (see Ephesians 3:10). The classic chapter dealing with the design of this Body is 1 Corinthians 12. Turning to this chapter, let us see how the heavenly Body is like the human body. I am no expert in physiology, so the points that I make will be basic and fairly obvious to all!
1. The human body is a vehicle by which a person expresses himself.
Your body is only the “outer shell”; the real “you” is the immaterial part – the spirit and soul. However, the only way you can express yourself in this world is through your body. In just the same way, the Church (as the Body of Christ) is a vehicle of expression. The Lord Jesus Christ is not present bodily upon earth today, but the Church is the body by which He expresses Himself in this world. It is the Church that the Holy Spirit uses to express God’s plan and power in this age.
2. Each human body is made up of many parts yet is one complete unit.
Although we have two eyes, two arms, two legs, ten fingers, etc we each possess only one body. Paul teaches that “as the body is one, and hath many members…..so also is Christ” (v.12). The members of the true Church number millions, yet there is only one “body of Christ”.
3. Although there are many parts, each part shares the same spirit and the same life. It is “by one Spirit” that we have all been “baptized into one body” (v.13). In spite of much teaching to the contrary, the Scriptures state clearly that all believers have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19, the body of each individual believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The life of the Spirit is therefore in each member of the Body of Christ.
4. Each part of the body is important. It would be foolish in the extreme for the foot to say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” or for the ear to say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body” (v.15-16). Obviously if the whole body were an eye, there would be no hearing, and if the whole body were an ear, there would be no sense of smell (v.17). No part should be undervalued. Every Christian is important.
5. Each part has its own function to perform. Some parts are clearly visible. Others, like the heart, lungs, liver, and stomach are hidden from public view. But God has “set the members….in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (v.18). One part cannot say to another part, “I don’t need you” (v.21) because all are necessary. Similarly, some members of the Body of Christ (like preachers) have public functions to perform. Others, who never occupy a prominent place, are no less important. (Indeed, we could say that it is the “hidden” parts of our bodies that perform the most important functions.) The sister who spends much time in prayer at home performs just as vital a part as the brother who is frequently in the pulpit. In fact, her role is probably more important in God’s estimation.
6. Each part of the body feels for the other parts. There is an inbuilt and instinctive empathy. When the legs have carried the body victoriously across the finishing tape in record time at the end of the 1,500 metres, the clenched fists are raised in exuberant triumph. Conversely, when the left ear aches, the palm of the hand gently covers the troubled part in an attempt to bring soothing comfort. In the church, “the members should have the same care one for another” (v.25). Without being nosey, we ought to take an interest in the lives of other believers – as taught in Philippians 2:4. We should rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Rom.12:15).
7. Each part of the body receives its orders from the head. The right arm does not tell the body what to do! Very clearly, “Christ is the head of the Church” (Eph.5:23). Although local leaders are needed, all directions for the Body upon earth must come from the ascended Head in heaven.
From the analogies considered, it will have become quite apparent that although there are many parts and many performances, there is but one Body. When the Lord God had created the first human body, He pronounced it “very good” (Gen.1:31). As He looks at the “Heavenly Body” can He say the same? For God there ought to be “glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Eph.3:21). We know that when the Church is taken home, she will be presented “a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle” (Eph.5:27), but is God really being glorified in the Church today?
THE DISPLAY OF THE BODY
As we move on to consider the display of the Body, a number of important features emerge. Although some have been mentioned already, it is worth emphasizing that the Body of Christ should be marked by unity, interdependence, and submission.
1. The Body should display unity – not uniformity. We are told that “there should be no schism in the body” (1 Cor.12:25). Shortly after Pentecost, all who believed were together and held all things in common (Acts 2:44). Sadly, this visible unity was soon to disappear as sectarian voices cried, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” – or even “I am of Christ” (1 Cor.1:12). Sabine Baring-Gould, comparing the Church (in the hymn Onward Christian soldiers) to “a mighty army”, declared boldly:
“We are not divided, All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.”
A more recent parody compared that same Church to a clumsy tortoise making no progress, and went on:
“We are all divided, Many bodies we;
Not much hope or doctrine, Little charity.”
Ashamed, we have to confess that – to observers of the Church – this has often appeared the truer version. In spite of Paul’s scathing rebuke in 1 Corinthians 1, the diverse names of such great leaders as John Calvin and John Wesley are still used by some believers to identify themselves. Surely, the spirit of the chapter teaches us that all such labels are wrong!
Unfortunately, unity and uniformity are often confused. Tracing the history of the Brethren Movement, Dr. H.A. Ironside expressed his conviction that “the chief cause of the apparent failure of the testimony of the Brethren….was through their failing to maintain the principle that unity is not necessarily uniformity.” (1) This mistake can be found in many denominations.
The Lord used both scholars and fishermen to pen His sacred Word. With differing backgrounds and styles, a wonderful unity nevertheless is displayed in their testimony. “It is not uniformity that we want, but really manifested heart unity,” Hudson Taylor wrote, aware of tensions on the mission field (2). God does not want to press us all into a mould so that we come out vocalizing some sort of identical liturgy – though many traditionalists today would encourage this! It is unity that matters, a unity made possible through the same Spirit indwelling each believer. Grant Steidl’s comment is perhaps a fitting summary: – “In creation, in His Word and among His redeemed people, God delights to display a beautiful unity but not a monotonous uniformity.” (3)
How can this unity be displayed? Being “members one of another” (Rom.12:5) we should receive one another, “as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Rom.15:7). In 1839 J. N. Darby stated quite plainly, “Whenever Christ has received a person, we should receive him.” He went on to say that “as our table is the Lord’s and not ours, we receive all the Lord has received.” (4) Some believers need a salutary reminder today.
It is not for us to exclude from the Lord’s Supper those who belong to Him and are walking with Him simply because they come from a different tradition!
2. The Body of Christ should also display interdependence – not independence. No part of the Body is to be discarded or ignored. In the context of our local fellowships, we need one another. Actions speak louder than words, and our Saviour commanded us to love one another with a love like His (see John 13:34-35). If we are to care for one another (1 Cor.12:25) and to bear one another’s burdens (Gal.6:2), more of life than just our formal times of fellowship will be affected. This interdependence should be expressed in the interaction of our daily lives.
3. Another feature that should be displayed by the Body of Christ is submission – not subversion. Just as the head, where decisions are reached, is the “control centre” of the human body, so Christ is the “Head of the Church” (Eph.5:23). Denominational headquarters where legislation is passed are not required, neither is any individual – no matter how eminent he may be – to dictate to fellowships of believers! Because Christ is the Head, the Church should be subject to Christ (Eph.5:24). Submission to Christ means obedience to His Word – and obedience results in the Church being what the Lord wants it to be.
Let us remember that the Church is a living organism – not a lifeless organization. As members of the one glorious Church through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we should praise and worship Him for His wisdom in such a design and for the wonder of being part of His Body. Then, considering the implications connected with the display of the Body, let us remember how Christ “loved the Church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph.5:25) and seek, by His grace, to love our fellow members worldwide too.
END NOTES:- (1)H. A. Ironside, A Historical Sketch of the Brethren Movement, New Jersey, Loizeaux Brothers, 1985: p.20. (2)Marshall Broomhall, Hudson Taylor – The Man who believed God, China Inland Mission, 1929, p.180. (3)Grant Steidl, Basics of Assembly Life, Believers’ Bookshelf, 1976, p.40 (4)Ironside, Brethren Movement, p.34.