The Body of Christ

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The Church as the body of Christ was formed on the day of Pentecost. On that day, a saved remnant from among the Jews was baptized by one Spirit into one body. To that body, by the Holy Spirit, the Samaritans and Gentiles were also added.
“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” (1 Corinthians 12:12-1312For 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. 13For 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 Corinthians 12:12‑13)).
Christ, Head to the Church
Every body has a head, and the Head of the church is Christ. The Holy Spirit unites the church, here on earth, to its Head in heaven.
“Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set [Him] at His own right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 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 1:20-2320Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:20‑23)).
Naturally a body cannot operate if it does not follow its head. In Colosse there was a problem. The Colossian believers were not holding the Head. They were looking for Christianity outside of Christ in the philosophies of men (Colossians 2:88Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)). All must flow from the head. “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Colossians 2:1919And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19)). The head is preeminent.
“And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)).
One Body
There is only one Head and there is only one body. Though the early Church was made up of Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles, we find only one Church. The Spirit is careful to bring the Samaritans in through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, while Cornelius receives the Spirit through the preaching of the apostle to the circumcision, Peter (see Acts 10; Galatians 2:77But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (Galatians 2:7)).
“[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)).
“How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery ... which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:3-63How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:3‑6)).
The body is not Judaism. It was not known in other ages; it was a mystery. The Gentiles were not added to Judaism. The Church stands completely separate from Judaism. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free” (1 Corinthians 12:1313For 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 Corinthians 12:13)). The Church is a separate entity, as we clearly see by the way the word is used in the following verse: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)).
Composed of Many Members
Every body is composed of many members. God has chosen to set the members in the body as it has pleased Him (see 1 Corinthians 12:1818But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)). The eye needs the hand and the head needs the foot. Those members that may seem feeble are necessary. Those members who appear less honorable should receive more abundant honor. There should be no division in the body; the members should have the same care one for another (see 1 Corinthians 12:14-2614For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21And 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. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:14‑26)).
“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” (Romans 12:4-54For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5)).
The Assembly As the Body of Christ
When the Church of God is spoken of in any locality — an assembly, we would say — it is viewed as being an expression of Christ’s body and has a responsibility to walk as such. To the Corinthians the Apostle Paul could write: “Now ye are Christ’s body, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:2727Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27) JND). And again, in his salutation to that church: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)). The latter part of that verse is also of particular interest to us, because it tells us that the Epistle to the Corinthians was meant for us as well as for them.
This principle — that the assembly should be the local expression of the Body of Christ — is very important. It determines completely the basis for Christians meeting together. No membership is required; the only membership we have as believers is in the body of Christ through the Holy Spirit. We see this brought out again in connection with the Lord’s table. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:1616The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)). The very bread that we break “communicates” to us the body of Christ. There it sits, unbroken, speaking to us of the oneness of the Church. To require membership in some other “body” aside from the body of Christ, and yet to remember the Lord in the breaking of the one loaf would be a contradiction.
It would be a mistake, however, to suppose that because the loaf speaks to us of the body of Christ, all the members of the body should be admitted to the Lord’s table. Indeed there are very clear instances in scripture where individuals are to be denied a place by the assembly.
“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:1111But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11)).
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:1010A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10)).
“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:1515So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:15)).
When an assembly knowingly admits evil, then the assembly is defiled. “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:66Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6); Galatians 5:99A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9)).
The body is one; nothing we do will alter that. Certainly we are not to act contrary to that by creating divisions; however, it is not our responsibility to maintain its outward unity. To do so, would mean that we would have to receive everyone regardless of their condition, association, or doctrine. However, we are instructed to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit.
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [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” (Ephesians 4:3-63Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:3‑6)).
When the man was put away at Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:1313But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13)), he was put out of the church on earth. To suppose that each assembly was required to make a separate judgment on the matter would have been to deny the unity of the Spirit. If each assembly were to pass their own judgment, then they would become independent bodies. The individual would have only been put out of the assembly in Corinth, which would have meant there were now many bodies. This contradicts scripture. It is helpful to see that the body of Christ is composed of individual believers and that it is not a coalition of independent assemblies.