Members of the One Body Romans 12:4-5: “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.” I Corinthians 12:12-14: “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. For the body is not one member, but many.”

I Corinthians 14:20: “But now are there many members, yet but one body Ephesians 2:16: “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross; having slain the enmity thereby. Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

The One Body is the One Church! Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18. The One church is: The one Jesus built, Matthew 16:18. The one Jesus bought, Acts 20:28. The one Jesus is the head of, Colossians 1:18. The one to which the saved are added, Acts 2:47. The one Jesus is the Savior of, Ephesians 5:23. The one into which people are baptized, I Corinthians 12:13

An Interesting Fact: Most Bible Believers believe there is “one body.” The Wycliff Bible Commentary: “One body, the organism composed by the Lord Jesus Christ as the head and all true believers in Him.” The Problem we encounter: It is not whether there is one body; rather it is the varied perceptions of what constitutes the one body.

The General Perception of the One Body: A religious monstrosity composed of all the warring denominations in so-called “Christendom,” plus all saved individuals who are not a part of any religious group. As they perceive it, it consists of the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, The Baptist Church, the church of Christ, the Methodist Church and, etc., etc.!

The General Perception Illustrated: CatholicChurch Lutheran Church Baptist Church Metho-dist Church Seventh Day Adventist Presby- terian Church Church of Christ Etc., Etc. Plus all Saved Individuals Who are Not members of any church!

This Perception Cannot Be in Keeping with Bible Teaching! “Denomination” basically means division, and denominationalism perpetuates division, which violates the Scriptures! John 17:20-21; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3. Most Denominations teach error concerning conversion, especially on baptism, which is “for the remission of sins,” Acts 2:38. Those who are not baptized for that purpose are not really Christians!

The Folly of the Aforementioned Perception Illustrated: Consider the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church as “legs” of the one body. Most Baptists teach that one once saved can not be lost. Most Methodists say one once saved can be lost. These two “legs” are going in the opposite direction! Consider the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church as “arms” of that one body. The Catholic Church says baptism is essential; the Presbyterian Church says it is not essential! These “arms” are fighting each other! Consider the United Pentecostal Church and the Assembly of God Church as “eyes” of the one body.

Important Facts to Remember: All “saved” people are a part of the one church or the one body, Acts 2:41,47; I Corinthians 12:13. The one body is the one church, Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16; 5:23. “Church” is from ekklesia, which means “the called out.” People are “called” by the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:14. Those at Thessalonians who were called by the gospel were members “of the church of…” 1:1.

Important Facts (Continued) “Church” used in two senses: The Universal Sense: Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22-23. The Local Sense: Acts 8:1, “the church” at Jerusalem. Acts 13:1, “the church” at Antioch. I Corinthians 1:1, “the church…at Corinth.” Revelation 1:4, “the seven churches in Asia.”

The Local Church: Consists of saved individuals within a general locality, who have joined together to function as a local church, to work and worship as a collective group of Christians. When fully organized according to the Scriptures, it consists of “saints in Christ Jesus..with the bishops and deacons,” Philippians 1:1. The fact that God’s plan calls for the existence of local churches necessarily infers that God wants His people to be identified with sound local churches. Cf. Acts 9:26; Philippians 4:9.

Practical Application The local church consists of members. “Church” is a collective noun. The local church consists of those who are “sanctified in Christ Jesus..,” I Cor. 1:1. An overseer-overseen relationship, Acts 20:28. Each local church autonomous. Other terms which designate the same group Family, I Tim. 3:15, a collectivity of relatives. Body, Eph. 1:22-23, a collectivity of members who are functionally related to each other.

Application – All the Members have a Work or Function, Rom. 12:4-5 Individually, as a collectivity, the members must work together to accomplish a common purpose. No one can say to another “I have no need of thee,” I Corinthians 12:21. The whole body is responsible for the growth of the whole body, Ephesians 4:16. All the members of one’s physical body must work and function together for the well being of the whole body; so it is with the local church.

Four Important Marks of A Local Church: Submission to divine authority, Col. 1:18; 3:17. Identification. Acts 9:26 Commitment, Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-2; Hebrews 13:17; Philippians 3:13-14. Service, Acts 9:26,28; I Corinthians 15:57-58.

Conclusion: At this juncture, we do not ask “are you religious;” rather we ask “are you a member of the body of Christ;” “are you a child of God,” “are you saved?” If the answer is no, then obey the gospel now, so you can be “delivered from the power of darkness,” and be “translated into the kingdom of His dear Son,” Colossians 1:13!