THE ONE BODY

People often make amazing decisions based purely upon biased or prejudiced feelings. The Bible clearly reveals that the church of the Lord is one body. A human body with two or more heads is abnormal. The same would be true of a human head having two or more bodies. The human body is used in the Scriptures as a metaphor of the church or the body of Christ.

The church of our Lord is one body. The apostle Paul says, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Cor. 12:27). There is only one body, but many members of the one body. Paul likewise taught the brethren at Rome saying, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Rom. 12:5).

In our world there are many different religious bodies all claiming Christ as the one head. Such surely is the wistful thinking of man because many different bodies cannot be found in the word of God! Christ promised to build only one church -- his church (Matt. 16:18). He never promised one belonging to someone else. The church and the body are terms that refer to the same thing (Eph. 1:22-23). There is only one body for which Christ died (Eph. 4:4; Acts 20:28) and only one body he has promised to save (Eph. 5:23).

The act of baptism puts one into the one body of Christ. Paul proclaims, "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" (1 Cor. 12:13). The same apostle taught the Galatians, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). Peter commanded those on Pentecost to "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Baptism is a burial and not a sprinkling as is evidenced by studying the fourth verse of the sixth chapter of Romans.

All people are to be members of the same body. It matters not whether one is young or old, rich of poor, or educated or uneducated -- all who obey God's word are members of the same body. To the Galatians Paul said, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:28-29).

Each member of the one body is important. "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" (1 Cor. 12:21). All members of the body are to work together for the glory of God. What one member does or does not do can have an effect on the rest of the body. It is also easy for folks to see that one leg does not travel in one direction while the other leg travels in the opposite direction and yet they both end up at the same destination. Such is the clam of many religious groups who contend that although they take different routes (doctrines and worship) they will all arrive at the same destination (heaven).

Jesus taught, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23).

There is to be no division in the one body of the Lord. The plea of the inspired Scriptures is that members of the body are to give diligence "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). Please note this is not some man-made, man-agreed upon unity, but rather the "unity of the Spirit." Religious division is sinful and contrary to the will of Christ. It is not the church of man's choice but rather the church which Christ built (Matt. 16:18) that people should give their allegiance to. Pride will stand between many people and their obedience to the Gospel. Bias and prejudice will cause multitudes to reject the simple truth found in God's word. How horrible it will be for those who had every opportunity to see, yet chose to remain blind!

Written by: Marvin L. Weir