There are a number of statements in the New Testament which refer to the church as the body of Christ.
From these and other statements, we learn that the body of Christ is the church. The body is composed of all Christians. However, it is not a physical body but a spiritual body.
It is no doubt called the body of Christ because it is a part of Him. It is connected to Christ in a very intimate way. The relationship between Christ and His church is as close as the relationship between our physical head and our physical body. In order for this relationship to exist, Christ had to pay a tremendous price.
In this charge to the elders at Ephesus, we see how important the church is to the Lord. It is his body, and he is deeply concerned about it. Paul also knows this, and he wants these elders to see to it that it is protected.
Ephesians 4:4 tells us that there is “one body.” This is equivalent to saying there is one church. The religious world of today does not like to hear a statement like this, yet this is exactly what Paul is telling us.
Probably the core concept of the expression “body of Christ” is the close, intimate connection between Christ and His church. The concepts of harmony, unity, agreement, and cooperation are all involved in this expression.
A. Christ is related to the church in the same way as a physical head is related to the physical body.
Under normal conditions, there is one head and one body. This is also true of the relationship between Christ and his church.
B. A body with two heads would be a monstrosity.
Yet, this is essentially what we have in the religious world today. We have one religion with a head on earth and then a head in heaven. The one on earth claims to be the head of Christ’s church. He has many titles that convey the idea of headship. Among his many titles, he is referred to as that other Jesus Christ
C. Another monstrosity would be to have two bodies with one head.
Yet again, in the religious world of our day, this claim is made. Denominationalism makes Christ the head of hundreds of different bodies with conflicting doctrines. A reading of Ephesians 4:3-6 demonstrates a real conflict with present-day denominationalism and God’s plan for His church.
D. It should be clear that both of these positions are abnormal.
There is one head (Christ) and but one body (the church).
A. Since Christ is head of the church, then he is over the church.
All authority in the church is within Christ.
B. The word “all” eliminates any other authority for anyone.
Thus, all those in the church are under His authority. There is no other authority.
C. My head controls the actions of my body.
It does not control the actions of any other body. There are many bodies claiming that Christ rules over them. But if they are not the body of Christ, then Christ does not rule over them. He rules over His body.
D. Anyone refusing to enter the body of Christ rejects His authority and refuses to let Christ rule over them.
They are letting Satan be their leader.
A. The head sends out signals by means of the nervous system to different parts of the body.
The body reacts to the direction of the head by doing what it wants done.
B. Paul uses the physical body to show that each one must assume the responsibility assigned to it and carry out whatever is required.
1 Corinthians 12:12-30 discusses this relationship.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:25, the purpose of all this is “That there should be no schism in the body, but that members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
C. These verses are a lesson on the complete cooperation that exists among members of the body of Christ.
D. No one member has a right to refuse to function as directed.
All parts are necessary, and the functioning of each part is essential to the success of the body.
E. Prominence does not assure one any greater reward than one who is not so prominent.
The obscure worker is just as pleasing and loved by the head (Christ) as the most prominent workers in the body.
A. No one member can continue to maintain life when separated from the main body.
Several things make separation impossible. One would not have the direction of the head. One would not have the cooperation. Help, love and encouragement from other members.
One would not have the benefits of the blood which is in the body. If one ceases to “Walk in the light”, he cannot expect Christ’s blood to keep on cleansing him from all his sins. One would not have the benefit of other life-giving elements.
A. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:13.
B. Paul writes in Galatians 3:27.
C. What a privilege, an honour, to be in the body of Christ where we can “partake of the divine nature,” 2 Peter 1:4.