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| THE CHURCH: A PLACE TO
FIT IN |
#404
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Is this not what everybody really wants to find? A place
to fit in? A place to contribute? A place to feel appreciated
for what one has to offer? The Lord knew that the people He
created would have a need like this, so He established the
church. The church is a place where people can coordinate
their talents and efforts to accomplish the work of God. To
illustrate this quality of the church, the apostle Paul employed
another descriptive analogy. He compared the church to “A Human
Body.” In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul said that God put all things
in subjection under the feet of Christ, “and gave Him as head
over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness
of Him who fills all in all.” There it is ... the church is
called the body of Christ. The “Body” analogy emphasizes the
type of coordination which should exist between all
parties involved with the church.
For instance, there must be a certain kind of coordination
between the body and the head. Paul often stressed the point
that Christ is the head of the church, which is His body
(Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). In a human being, the
members of the body must obey the signals which are sent
out by the head and be submissive to them. Likewise, in the body
of Christ (the church), all members must also be submissive to
the head, which is Christ. In Ephesians 5:23-24, Paul concluded
that since Christ is head of the church, then “the church is
subject to Christ.” Here is yet another way to illustrate
the authority that belongs to Christ. He said, “All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
This point has strong doctrinal consequences for the Lord’s
church. It demands that the things we teach and practice must
be true to the instructions coming from the head. Otherwise, the
head has lost control of the body and the body will destroy
itself through uncontrolled, spastic behavior. John expressed it
this way, “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide
in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides
in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (II John
9). Certainly, the advice of Paul in Colossians 3:17 would apply
both to individual members of the body as well as to the entire
church as a whole, “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus.” In other words, do everything by
His authority.
So, this is one way the human body helps us understand the
church -- the body must be in subjection to the head. Another
lesson we can learn is how each member of the church should
coordinate with every other member of the church. Paul explained
it very well in I Corinthians 12:12-27. He said that every
single member of the Lord’s body is important. Even though there
is only one body, there are many members in it, just like a
human body. To stress the point that no one member is any more
important than another, Paul painted a scenario in which the
foot and the hand were jealous of each other; and so were the
eye and the ear. Then he made his point: What if the whole body
were an eye - how could it hear? What if the whole body were an
ear - where would be the sense of smell? Paul said, “God has
placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He
desired.” You see, we need each other and we must avoid jealousy
and division in the church. Christians must care for each
other and suffer with each other and really appreciate
each other in the body. In Romans 12:4-8, Paul listed a variety
of “functions” which different Christians can contribute and
urged his readers to use the “gift” that God has given each
individual person. Some serve, some teach, some encourage, some
give, some lead. If everyone uses his own gift and is
thankful for the gifts of others, no jealousy and division will
overtake the Lord’s church; and the spirit of coordination
that God intended will thrive.
Undoubtedly, there are great benefits to being in the body
of Christ. The peace of Christ is said to be in the body
(Colossians 3:15); and reconciliation to God is said to be in
the body (Ephesians 2:16). But without a doubt, the greatest
benefit is the salvation which is found only in the body of
Christ. Paul said that Christ is “the Savior of the body”
(Ephesians 5:23). Who will Jesus save when He comes again? It
will be “the body” -- it will be “His church.”
Jesus is the head of only one body; He is the head of only
one church. Paul said, “There is one body”
(Ephesians 4:4). “How do I become a part of the body of
Christ?”, you might ask. It is the same story told throughout
the New Testament. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13). The same process which
places one in “the church” also places one in “the body”. And no
wonder, for “the church” IS “His body” (Ephesians
1:22-23).
| Bible
Probe |
THE CHURCH: A
PLACE TO FIT IN |
404
|
1. In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul said that Christ is “________ over
all things to the _________ which is His ________.”
2. By using the analogy of a human body, God demonstrated the
kind of ________________ which should exist in the church.
3. What part does Jesus play in the Body Analogy? (Colossians
1:18)
How, then, must the body (the church) respond to Him? (Eph
5:23-24)
What happens if the body is not submissive to the head?
What practical applications of this principle are expressed
in the following scriptures?
II John
9____________________________________________________
Col
3:17____________________________________________________
4. In I Cor 12:12-27, how does Paul explain the harmony God
expects from body members?
How should members of the body feel about each other and
treat each other?
5. From Romans 12:4-8, list some of the “functions” that various
body members have to offer to the over-all work of the church.
What attitude should body members have toward the “gifts” of
other members?
6. Beside each of the following scriptures, list a “benefit” of
being in the body of Christ.
Colossians
3:15_______________________________________________
Ephesians
2:16_______________________________________________
Ephesians
5:23_______________________________________________
7. How many “bodies” does Christ have? (Eph 4:4)
How many churches?
What must one do to become a part of the “Body of Christ”?
(I Cor 12:13)
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Your Bible questions answered here.