The One Body

From: Bible Student: Volume 3, 1883

• 2 min. read • grade level: 10

THE one body consists of all God’s children, who are said to be “one body in Christ, and everyone 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).

All the members forming the one body, united to the head, are called the Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12¹²For 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. (1 Corinthians 12:12).

They become so by the baptism of the Holy Ghost (ver. 13), given to them as children of God. Galatians 4:6⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6).

We become God’s children by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26).

All, therefore, who believe in Jesus are one body. Romans 12:5⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5).

They ought, therefore, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; or endeavor to do so. Ephesians 4:3³Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3).

Necessary to this are—Lowliness—Meekness—Longsuffering—Forbearing one another in love. Ephesians 4:2²With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2).

Contrary to this, are—Lying—Stealing—Corrupt communication—Bitterness— Wrath—Anger—Clamor—Evil speaking—Malice.

Ephesians 4:25-31²⁵Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. ²⁶Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷Neither give place to the devil. ²⁸Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. ²⁹Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:25‑31).

In accordance with this are—

Kindness—Tender-heartedness—Forgiving one another—Submitting ourselves one to another. Ephesians 4; 5.

If keeping the unity of the Spirit, we should necessarily All speak the same thing-Have no divisions—Be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians

The marks of being carnal are Envying—Strife—Divisions—Making a man, not Christ, the rallying-point; e. g., “I am of Paul,” &c. —Or saying “I am of Christ;” thereby implying that other believers are not. 1 Corinthians

What is there to hinder our keeping the unity of the Spirit?

Sins, tolerated in believers, thus forming a bar to fellowship. The sins which are necessarily a bar to fellowship are specified in scripture, as follows: Fornication—Covetousness—Idolatry—Railing—Drunkenness—Extortion. 1 Corinthians 5

Walking disorderly—Refusing to work—Being therefore a busy-body. 2 Thessalonians

(These three last to be refused as companions, but not counted as enemies, and admonished as brethren).

Teaching otherwise than according to the rules, in Timothy up to 4:3.

Not consenting to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. (See 1 Timothy 6:4⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Timothy 6:4).)

Those also to be avoided who are—Lovers of self—Boasters—Proud—Blasphemers—Disobedient to parents—Unthankful—Unholy—Without natural affection—Truce-breakers—False accusers—Incontinent—Fierce—Despisers of those that are good—Traitors—Heady—Highminded —Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:1-5¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1‑5).

All this, whilst having a form of godliness.

A man who is a heretic after two admonitions. Titus 3:10¹⁰A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10).

A man, who, having trespassed against his brother, refuses to accept rebuke from his brother, from two or more witnesses, and from the church. Matthew 18:15-18¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. ¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:15‑18).

Those who oppose themselves to be treated as follows. Foolish and unlearned questions to be avoided in dealing with them. Strife forbidden. Gentleness, aptness to teach, patience, needful. Instruction given in meekness to be the rule. 2 Timothy 2:23-26²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. ²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:23‑26).

They are to be restored in the spirit of meekness, by the spiritual, who are to consider themselves, lest they also be tempted. Galatians 6:1¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1).

The unruly to be warned; the feeble-minded comforted; the weak supported; all to be borne with patiently.

1 Thessalonians 5:14¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:14).