The Church: The Body of Christ
I. The Church Called the Body of Christ:
1. Clearly emphasizing our relationship to Christ and to Fellow Christians.
a. Church is His Body (Eph. 1:23).
b. Body is the Church (Col. 1:18, 24).
II. The New Testament Teaches That There
is One Body. This Figure Emphasizes the Singularity of the Church:
1. Many members -- one body(Rom. 12:4-5);
But one body (I Cor. 12:20).
2. Jew and Gentile reconciled in one body
(Eph. 2:16).
3. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, ONE
BODY (Eph. 4:4-5).
Conclusion: If there is but one Spiritual Body of Christ and that is the Church -- How many Churches of Christ are there?
III. Christ is the Head of His Spiritual Body -- The Church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:23):
1. His dominion over the Church is complete -- "Head over all things to the Church which
is His Body" (Eph. 1:23).
2. Just as the members of one's physical body must be subject to his mind -- so we must be
subject to Christ in everything as members of his body (Eph. 5:24).
a. What the head commands we can and must do.
b. What He does not command and teach we must not do (II Jn. 9).
3. From the head comes the impulses that strengthen and move the members of the Body in the
performance of their work (Eph. 4:15-16).
IV. Christians are members of the Body of Christ:
1. Relationship to Christ as head -- complete subjection.
2. Relationship to Fellow Christians as members -- one of complete union and harmony.
a. Every joint supplying his part makes the body strong (Eph. 4:16).
b. Many members united in one body (Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:12-20).
c. Each member his work to perform (I Cor. 12:14-19).
d. Each member equally important (I Cor. 12:21-23).
e. Must be no schism or discord among members (I Cor. 12:24-25).
f. Sympathetic interest and mutual care for each other (I Cor. 12:25-27).
g. Bound together as one body in Christ by ties of fellowship (I Cor. 10:17).
V. Importance of Being Members of Body:
1. The Body made up of the saved (Eph. 5:23).
2. Called unto peace of Christ in one body (Col. 3:15).
3. Cannot be subject to head and united with Christ without being member of Body --
compare with physical body.
4. Reconciled to God in Body (Eph. 2:16).
5. Fullness of Christ in Body (Eph. 1:23; Eph. 1:3).
6. Become members of Body by obeying the commands of Christ(I Cor 12:13; Acts 2:41).
Questions for discussion:
1. What is the Spiritual Body of Christ?
2. Who are its members? How do we become such?
3. Can a man be obedient and subject to Christ who is not a member?
4. How complete is the authority of Christ over his body?
5. What are some of the obligations of its members?
6. How many bodies does Christ have?
7. What relationships are emphasized in this picture of the Church?
8. How is the body as a whole to be built up?
9. Where is reconciliation made possible?
10. Can salvation and spiritual blessings be enjoyed outside of the Body of Christ?