Body of Christ - How Do You Fit In

The Church, The Body of Christ – How Do You Fit In?

Understanding what the body of Christ is and what being a member of the body of Christ means is important to us in regard to our Christian walk. It is also of major importance to the Church today.

First we'll cover what being a Christian means from the view point of the scriptures. One's identity is an important factor in determining relationship to the whole. Christian is the name given by the Greek/Roman unbelievers, as a reproach (like calling someone a cult today), to the followers of Christ. It was first used at Antioch. In the first century the names by which the disciples were known among themselves during the first century were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers," "follower of the way." With the purpose of distinguishing the Church from the unbelievers without (Gentile & Jew), the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs only three times in the New Testament :
“Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
“Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
“1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Next let us examine the progression from the Old Testament description of the believer to the New Testament description. From the Old Testament times through the first century (New Testament) times, the term applied to the people God made His covenant with was follower of " the way," "the way of God" in the Old Testament and "the way" in the New Testament. Let's examine the Old Testament record first.
“Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
“Deuteronomy 9:12 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.”
“Deuteronomy 11:28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
“Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.”

From the time of Abraham, Moses, and Solomon (who wrote Proverbs) up until the New Covenant was established by God, the term following "the way" and "the way of God (or Lord)" was used as a descriptive reference to walking God's Word and as a descriptive name of the people who followed God's law. Jesus, himself taught the disciples in “John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus told them that "he was the way," God's Word become flesh (the prophecies fulfilled) and the people of the time acknowledged that he taught "the way of God" in truth.
“Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

Beyond this time point, Paul in referring to his persecution of the believers, called them followers of the way (any of this way, persecuted this way). But, after his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul became himself a follower of the way, "that after the way they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers."
“Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
“Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”
“Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”

Apollos, the great orator of the Gospel, is described as a man who was instructed in the way of the Lord. (He knew only the baptism of John, but the disciples Aquila and Priscilla instructed him to perfection about the baptism of Christ - members of the body of Christ at work)
“Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”

The people of the times who cared not to believe, including the Jews, were the most prominent source of ridicule for the followers of the way (of Christ).
“Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.”
“Acts 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.”
"2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (Webster's Dictionary - pernicious is defined as destructive)

Before going on further we need to look at the reason the followers of the way were labeled Christians in a derogatory way. They went around preaching, putting emphasis on the "Christ-in-them," the new birth of Holy Spirit that was made available from the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, on to the present.
“Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

Now that we have established the connecting line of the descriptive name of the Old and New Testament believers, only one more thing is necessary to see that we are a Christian by what God's Word says a Christian is produced by. To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Saviour sent of God, that he was what he claimed to be. This is to believe the Gospel, by the faith of which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, that God Raised him from the dead, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 5:1).
“1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
“Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

With this clarification that you are a Christian, a follower of the way, lets continue on with what the body of Christ is and how you fit into it. In Romans we find that we believers though many are part of one body and therefore connected to each other in a close relationship in Christ. That we do not all have the same job to perform, and, that each member has been given an equal measure of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9 - one of the functions of the manifestation of holy spirit - you having Christ in you have in the manifestation the amount of faith that Jesus Christ had.).
“Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

In the letter of first letter of doctrinal correction Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, we find a very clear description of what the body of Christ is as well as our individual positioning in the body. Regardless of how our placement and function may differ from each other, we have to function as a whole (not independent of each other, going in different directions). The allegory of the ear saying I'm not the eye so I'm not part of the body, or the foot saying I'm not the hand so I'm not part of the body is made to give example that no part is insignificant and all parts of the body are necessary for the body to function. The important thing to bear in mind is that God has placed each member (each individual believer) in the body of Christ where they will function the best to benefit all members. No part that we play in the Church is insignificant or unimportant, the functions that by reasoning seem to be the weakest, God has given more honor. God through His placement of us function wise, has cemented the body together in order that there be no "schism" (no division or separation or disharmony- denominations?), enabling us to care equally for each other. As a result of this we all are part of the body of Christ and members in particular, each of us are special in God's eyes!
“1 Corinthians 12:12 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. 13 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. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And 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. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

As a part of the body of Christ we have been made able to receive and utilize the exceeding greatness of God's power as we look to Christ as the head (the principal leader of the body of Christ).
“Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Furthermore as a member of the body of Christ, being redeemed from the Old Testament law and being reconciled to God, we are fellow citizens with the saints and are a part of God's household. We are citizens of heaven already, having obtained an equal sharing of the inheritance that Jesus Christ received, through adoption by God. We gentiles have become a part of God's chosen people.
“Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

The exhortation in Ephesians is to keep unity in the body of Christ, to keep the unity of the Spirit by teaching and thinking the same thing. Just as there is only one body (no divisions), One Spirit, One hope (salvation and Heaven), One Lord (our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ), One faith, One baptism, and One God and Father of us all. This list is obvious... one, one, one, one, one....not many different ideas and varieties. Then in the description of gifts God gave the body of Christ (the Church, the Church today also). Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers... to guide and perfect the saints (us)...to do the work of the ministry...for the edifying (building up-strengthening) of the body of Christ. We are not to sway from the truth and follow after someone who has a different opinion of what they think the Word says by operation of their cunning craftiness to deceive members of the body. We are to speak the truth in love.
“Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Colossians sums it up as to how a member of the body of Christ should function while handling their job in the body. The actions of one member to another is the bonding factor. We are called into One Body, we are to retain God's Word in our minds (dwell in you richly), speak the Word to each other, forgive other members in the Body if there is any confrontation.
“Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Finally...whatever you do or say, do everything in the name Of Jesus Christ and give thanks to your Father, God. You are very special in God's eyes. You have a function to perform that no one else can do. Your presence in the body and your faith in action enable the Church to work and increase in strength. You are God's children.