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Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:27)
God is, in this age, creating a body of people known as the "church" and which is referred to here as the "body of Christ." It is made up of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and it is through this body that the glory and wisdom of God will ultimately be displayed before all creation.
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph. 3:10-11)
This can only be understood in terms of the "deposit" of the divine nature that God has made in this great body of people. It is the perfection and glory of the life and nature of the Son of God himself that will, through the body of Christ, be displayed before these rulers and authorities.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:25-27)
God has already clearly displayed his almighty power in the created universe (Rom. 1:18-20; Ps. 19:1) and he will display his power again in executing judgement and justice upon a godless world (2 Th. 1:7-10). Infinitely greater than this, however, is the glory that shall be revealed as the nature, the life, the very being, of the Son of God is revealed through this innumerable company of the redeemed. It is before this glorious and majestic sight that all created beings will ultimately bow in awe and worship.
The immensity and scope of the purpose of God in the body of Christ is beyond human comprehension. However we are told that at the end of this age, when all the plans and aspirations of a rebellious and sinful world lie in a heap of smoking ruins, the glory and majesty of what he has purposed in this body will be brought to fulfilment.
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Eph. 1:9-10)
But in this current age God's eternal purpose, despite its indescribable magnitude, finds its focus in the lives of ordinary people, the individual members of the body of Christ. For it is humble people such as these who are the purpose of God.
Thus Paul uses the metaphor of the "body of Christ" when describing how, in the economy of God, the church works. Just as our bodies are made up of a variety of different parts all of which are essential to the proper functioning of the body, so it is that the body of Christ is made up of individual children of God each one of which constitutes a functioning part or member.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor. 12:12-13)
It is by means of our body that we act out our will and desires in the world. If our body is strong and healthy then we have the capacity to achieve a great deal. If our body is dysfunctional in any way then we are limited to a greater or less degree in what we can do.
In the same way, it is through the body of Christ that Jesus acts out his will upon the earth. Thus it is through this body that the Gospel is preached, his love shed abroad in the earth, men and women delivered from the powers of darkness and the commission that the Lord has committed to the church is fulfilled. Importantly, it is through the interaction of individual members that the body of Christ is itself brought to maturity.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:11-16)
The Scripture here tells us here that it is the responsibility of those appointed as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to "prepare God's people for works of service." This means that by teaching, inspiration and example they are called to provide all members of the body with whatever spiritual equipment they need to effectively do the work of building up the body of Christ. It is by this means alone, ie "as each part does its work," that the whole body of Christ will ultimately be brought to full maturity "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
There are many ministries and functions which go to make up the fully functioning body. The apostle Paul goes to great lengths to emphasize the essential nature of each and every part.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don’t need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don’t need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor. 12:14-26)
The message here is clear. In the church, unlike the world, there is no hierarchy of importance and honour and no sense of superiority or elitism. On the contrary, those members who, in a worldly sense would be considered of less importance are given greater honour, love and support from those around them.
All members of the body of Christ are dependent upon all other members. This is not meant to be a theory or a wonderful ideal towards which we should work, but an ever-present, everyday practical reality in the life of the church.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (Rom. 15:1)
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here’s a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (James 2:1-5)
For this reason the Lord has placed many different functions and ministries in the body of Christ so that only by working together will it carry out its divine mission in the earth. The effective working of each part in relation to every other part is essential to bring this body of people to the "full stature of the image of Christ."
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Rom. 12:3-8)
Here we have a list that is intended to give us a feel for the infinite variety of gifts and callings that God places within the body of Christ. It is by no means a complete list and, indeed, there is yet another list given in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Cor. 12:28-30)
Let us consider, for a moment, some of these gifts and callings which are discussed, perhaps, less than others. For example, Paul includes "encouraging" as one of these.
Having a heart that is sensitive to the pains, difficulties and heartaches of others and has the right words and actions that can lift the depression and give hope and strength, is surely a gift from God. People functioning in this way in a church have a value which is beyond measure even though what they do may go largely unnoticed. This gift may be so highly developed that, at times, it may go beyond words, so that just a look of understanding and faith can lift the spirits and bring hope to a heart that is weary from the conflict.
Then Paul talks about the gift of "contributing to the needs of others." Having a sensitivity to those who are experiencing financial difficulties and, discreetly and with love, giving them an appropriate amount of money to help them out, is also a gift from God. Such a ministry is not the sole prerogative of the wealthy. Some of very modest means have been known to spend a lifetime working quietly behind the scenes ministering to the need of others in this way.
One of the distinguishing features of this ministry is that it is done in secret, not "before men" to gain their applause and approval.
"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matt. 6:1-4)
In some cases, details have emerged only after the death of one whom God had called to exercise this ministry. Many more will never be known until that day when the secrets of all men’s hearts will be revealed.
It is easy to understand the need for "gifts of administration" in the church. What is not so obvious is the fact that these are spiritual gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit and that they are listed beside others such as gifts of healing, prophecy, teaching and the like, which are readily seen as "spiritual."
Thus, what is being talked about here is not one endowed with natural and worldly business capability and experience, but one who has been called and anointed by the Holy Spirit with specific abilities to take care of the everyday affairs of the church.
What can we say, then, of those who give themselves to a life of practical service to the church, attending to the myriad of little details that largely go unnoticed, but which contribute so much to the worship and ministry of others. Should it be any surprise to us that such gifts of "service" are placed alongside all the other gifts and callings as yet another gift to the body of Christ? Indeed it should not!
It is clear from Paul’s teaching that all of these gifts may be exercised on different levels according to the "proportion of faith" that God has given each one. For example, those that prophesy are told to use the gift "in proportion to his faith." In other words, while one may serve individuals or small groups the service of another may be in a wider sphere.
What the Scriptures emphasize, however, is that no matter what the gift or the scale on which it is exercised, all are equally important to the proper functioning of the body of Christ. While the world may see the more prominent positions of leadership as being more "important" and worthy of greater "honour," this is not so with God at all.
The value that God places upon the contribution of an individual to the body of Christ is not determined by the gift which is being exercised or the scope of its influence, but by the spirit in which it is ministered.
...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)
It is through the love of Christ filling and overflowing the hearts of its members that the body of Christ is brought to maturity.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:15-16)
It is by this measure that God will evaluate the part we have played in his eternal purpose. When all thoughts, deeds and motives are revealed we will understand fully what value God has placed upon those to whom he has entrusted ministry and service in the body of Christ. Jesus has warned us that there will be some surprises.
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." (Matt. 19:30)
Thus it is that in his eternal purpose God is creating and bringing to maturity a body of people who carry out his will upon the earth and demonstrate before angels, before demons and before all mankind the glory and majesty of he who is our Redeemer and our Lord.
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