“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV)
God gave us his physical body on the Cross of Calvary, so that his spiritual body, the Church, would come into existence. This “body of Christ” image is familiar to us because Paul, the Damascus Road convert, developed it theologically for us.
It is as the body of Christ that we preach the Gospel to the world around us. It is through the body of Christ that God demonstrates his love in this present world. In the body of Christ, all barriers that separate human beings, from each other and from God, are completely dismantled. For in the body of Christ there is neither bond nor free, male nor female, high-class nor low-class, educated nor uneducated, rich nor poor, old nor young. All of these human distinctions are overcome in Christ.
What a beautiful affirmation of the Church. But is it realistic? Is the 21st century Church of God, with all its flaws, truly God’s people and God’s body? The answer is a resounding, YES! The Church of God at Corinth was anything but perfect, yet Paul ardently insisted that they comprised the body of Christ. Despite all the faults and difficulties we encounter in the Church today, we are the body of Christ and members of it individually.
When we survey Christendom with a human perspective, it is so easy to get discouraged about the Church. Some even turn away from the Church, thinking there is no use. But it is just not true! We must remember that we are individual members of the body of Christ. And as an individual member, I am only responsible for me and my ministry. Others may fail, but through God’s grace, I can remain true. Despite all the serious problems we face, the Church is still the body of Christ and I am an individual member. Victory is just ahead!
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for this image of the Church as your body. Enable us to truly see ourselves as individual members of your body. Empower us to portray you spirit and love to the world around us. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for the body of Christ and live to glorify him,
Pastor Smith