The Body II

"God gave Jesus to be the head to the church, which is His body." (Ephesians 1:22-23) "We are to grow up into Him, which is the head, from whom the whole body fitly joined together, each part helping the other parts so that the whole body is healthy and growing in love." (Ephesians 4:16) The body is a huge object lesson. The body is under the control of the head. When the head says run, swim, wrestle, walk, or throw, etc., the parts obey. If any part doesn't function, it is considered paralyzed, and must be examined and given proper treatment. In some cases, limbs have to be amputated, so the rest of the body isn't affected. It's the same way with the Spiritual body. When a Christian doesn't hear the Lord's voice and doesn't obey, it's a very serious matter that must be taken care of, lest the rest of the body is affected. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5, had to deal with this problem. One of the members got into serious sin. Paul used another object lesson to explain the situation. He said, "Don't you know a little leaven leavens the whole loaf?" In other words, the whole church will be affected. "Purge out the leaven - remove the wicked person so that you will stay healthy." Another example is found in Galatians 4:19, "My little children, of whom I trevail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you." Here it sounds like Paul isn't sure these people are part of the body yet. In verse 20, he says, "I stand in doubt of you." In verse 16 he says, "Obey the Holy Spirit's instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do." In other words, to be a part of the functioning body of Christ, you must be yielded to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep (my body) hear my voice - and they follow me (obey)." It's quite plain. You are either hearing His voice (reading the Bible) and obeying it, and are therefore, in the body, or you are not hearing His voice, (not reading the Bible) and not obeying, and are therefore, not in the body. If you are in the body of Christ,. Then you have a special job to do. "God has set the members, every one of them, in the body as it pleases Him." (1 Corinthians 12:18) Paul mentions the physical parts, such as eye, ear, hand feet, etc., each having their part to play. So in the Spiritual body, each member should know where they fit in. (1 Corinthians 12:15 & 17) Members should have the same care, one for another. "When one suffers, all the members suffer with it." (Verses 25 & 26) "All of us who are His body, are connected to Christ, the head, by His strong sinews and we grow as we get our nourishment and strength from God." (Colossians2:19)