LOVING AND SERVING THE BODY OF CHRIST
Galatians 5:13-15
Romans 12:3-10
From the text above, we discovered the scriptural explanation of the relationship of the members of the body of Christ. The Bible is not silent on the duty of each believer in the church. Indeed, it emphasises the possibility, necessity and responsibility of serving the body of Christ. The New Testament paints a clear picture of what is meant by the Body of Christ, the Church.
The church is likened to a bride and members of the church to the flock being watched/tended by the Shepherd. The Church is also likened to a kingdom where Jesus Christ is the ruling King. The Church is also called the family of God, where Jesus Christ is the Head. She is described as a building whose foundation is Jesus Christ. Over and above all these, the Church is referred to as the Body of Christ. All these metaphors are used for the Church.
THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST
Romans 12:$-5
1 Corin. 12:12-14
1 Corin. 10:17
Gal. 3:26-29
John 17:20 -21
Ephesians. 2:10-22
Eph. 4:4-6
The word of God emphatically dwells on the unity of the church, the body of Christ. In the twelfth verse, it says, "the body is one", and this truth of oneness in the body runs through the verses. Through there is unity in the body, there is also diversity in the function of the members . This is similar to the human body. While we speak of only one body, there are several parts of the body - head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, legs, toes. Through these parts of the body are several, they all in unity constitute the body.
The Church ought to be one just as the members of the physical body is one. All the members of the church (blood washed and saved) ought to know that Christ placed them in His body for a purpose. At salvation. the Holy Spirit baptizes (puts) the new believer into the body of Christ: "for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body" (verse 13). That one body consists of all "Jews or Gentiles...bond or free". As soon as we are born again, all tribal, national, social, professional or academic discriminations are removed and we are fused into one identity - the body of Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:3-6
Here we see very clearly how the Holy Spirit emphasises the unity of the body. This is the prayer of the lord in John`s gospel: "JOHN 17:20-21"