The body of Christ, the Church is another truth the risen Christ revealed to Paul.
This time in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, uses his “but now” to make known the body of Christ. We now learn we have precious membership in the body of Christ.
1Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
Again and again through Paul a great truth is being revealed that was previously kept hidden. Remember, these precious truths were kept secret and were only made know to the Apostle Paul directly by Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Oneness in the Body of Christ
The body of Christ is made up of many members. The body of Christ is not a denomination or particular church. It is not a building but a living breathing creation. Each of us (believers) are members and are equipped to uniquely fulfill the role God has given us.
Imagine, God has given us each a position. We have been perfectly fit into the body by God Himself. This should be motivation to strive to do our best. We should not resist or resent our place but serve according to the will of God.
Remember there are many members, but one body. There is a oneness in Christ and as members of the body of Christ we serve together. For by one Spirit we were place into the body of Christ and by that one Spirit we work together.
We are not an island but are dependent upon each other. When we become a Christian, we are placed into one body of believers, the church. We don’t lose our uniqueness, we still have are talents and personality but we now have a oneness in Christ and belong to God.
God has a place for you in the body. Simply, believe on Christ’s finished work on the cross, so that God may place you in the one body.
1Corinthians 12:15-19 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
We did a 10-part series examining the “but now” of the Apostle Paul. Here is a list of the other articles in the series: