No one can travel in two directions at the same time. Choices become important when we face directions. Choosing calls for counsel. Where can we find trusted counsel? To whom can we turn?
In the church there is an opportunity for counsel. Actually, the Greek word for church, ekklesia, means a “called-out people.” Within the body of Christ, there is a bonding not experienced in any other relationship and unmatched in society.
Not everyone who joins the church, however, understands this uniqueness. As a result, the church has suffered divisions such as Paul aimed to correct in this letter to the Corinthians. Paul deplored the way members showed their loyalty to human personalities instead of Christ.
Now in the body of Christ, there is a special unity the apostle helps us to understand. From I Corinthians 12:12-26 Paul teaches THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
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 l 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 l 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 honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; 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 honor 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 honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now let me show you the ACTIONS taken to bring unity in the body of Christ as Paul presents them to us.
The first action is:
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.
That the body is unified in one Spirit is very important to understand. Paul uses the illustration of the physical body to show that the body is one yet made up of many members.
How the body functions is fascinating. According to medical science one tiny cell, hardly visible at conception...
