1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-14
THE BODY OF CHRIST JESUS
Christ and His church form one body, as Head and members. Christian Believers become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the "New Birth," and is called therefore the washing of regeneration. (See: TITUS 3:5)
Just as a body is one whole made up of many different parts, and all the different parts comprise the one body, so it is with the Anointed One, The Lord Our God. We were all ceremonially washed through baptism together into one body by one Spirit.
WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE
No matter our heritage... Jew or Greek, insider or outsider, no matter our status... oppressed or free... we were all given the one Spirit of God to drink. Here's what I mean: the body is not made of one large part but of many different parts.
Would it seem right for the foot to cry, "I am not a hand, so I couldn't be part of this body"? Even if it did, it wouldn't be any less joined to the body!
THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST BODY
It is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the wine, but by drinking into one Spirit.
Each member has its form, place and use. There must be a distinction of members in the body. So Christ's members have different abilities and places.
THE BODY WORKING TOGETHER
We should do the duties of our own place, and not murmur, or quarrel with others. All the members of the body are useful and necessary to each other. Let us then have more of the "spirit of unity" in our system of beliefs.
As in the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the object of all. All Christian Believers are dependent one upon another; each is to expect and receive help from the rest.
UNITY IN THE BODY
As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where He wanted it to be. We all have a special part in the body, no matter if we are seen or unseen. You may teach a Sunday School class, play the piano or even clean the church, to God you are all doing the part He has given you.
I want you to think and know about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something bigger than itself. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged by God, and functioning together in unity!
As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where He wanted it to be. And, that is the perfect part for each of us if we "Do our part as unto the Lord our God!"
THE WORLD WILL KNOW
It is time that the world sees the "Body of Christ" united and working together in love. The restoration of our unity is important to those who do not know the Lord.
By this the world will know we belong to Christ Jesus, by our unity and by our love!