The Body of Christ

Eph 1:22-23 "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" NASU

A Spiritual Body

We usually think of “church” as a physical building where members meet to worship and study God’s word. In Scriptures, the word “church” denotes the body of those who have yielded to the gospel of Christ and have been redeemed by the blood of Christ in their assembled, local and universal senses. Paul illustrated this in 1 Cor. 11:18 “..When you come together as a church….” Paul refers to the “church of God at Corinth” in 1Cor. 1:2.

Acts chapter 2 relates the response to the gospel as many people were saved. These converts began a life of study, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer and caring for each other. They were later referred to as “the church” Acts 5:11.

A Living Organism

The church is not an organization or a club but is a body of redeemed people- a living organization. The church which Christ established is living and vibrant with God’s life and blessings. 1 Cor. 3:16 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" This is a description of the people who make up the church. We must also be like Paul admonished the church in Corinth. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

The church can also be thought of as God’s earthly residence.

An Intimate Relationship

As surely as the Lord while on earth needed a physical body in which to accomplish his His work of redemption, He now needs a spiritual body in which the fruit of His redemptive work can be made available to everyone, everywhere. Thus, the church in the New Testament is commonly called by inspired writers “the body of Christ. Eph 5:23 says "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body." Those who obey the gospel of Christ become, and literally function as, Christ’s spiritual body on earth. (Romans 6:3;1Cor. 12:13; Gal 3:27.)

The church of the New Testament, at its heart, is a relationship with Christ. It is not initially a relationship with people, but it immediately results in a relationship with other Christians, the other members of the church, even as the children of the same father are secondarily related to each other. To be members of Christ’s church we must enter a relationship so intimate and special that we are part of Him even as a body belongs to the head.

Conclusion

The church, the body of Christ, is entered by faith. This faith results in repentance (Acts17:30-31), confession of Jesus as God’s Son (Romans 10:10), and baptism into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galations 3:27). At the point of baptism, one’s sins are washed away and, with his new birth completed, he becomes part of the body of Christ (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 22:16; 1Corinthians 12:13).

The church of the New Testament is not a denomination. Denominations are manmade; the church in the New Testament is designed, created, indwelt and sustained by the Lord. Denominations come from the earth, from man; the New Testament church comes from heaven, from God. The church belongs to Christ- it wears His name, meets together for His worship, does His work in the world, and is indwelt by His Spirit.

The invitation is extended by Christ to all men to enter His church upon His terms of salvation (Revelation 22:17) and live in the world as His church.

Adapted from Eddie Cloer, What is the Church, chap 1, (Resource Publications, Searcy, AR 2001