490. ROM 12:4-5. CHRIST’S SPIRITUAL BODY
Rom_12:4-5. Christ’s Spiritual Body
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office," &c.’97Rom_12:4, Rom_12:5.
Scriptural views of the church of Christ would go far towards promoting a right state of mind in believers towards one another. Most persons acknowledge but one true church, but then all are eager to show that their own party forms that church, to the exclusion of all who do not walk with them, bear their name, and pronounce their peculiar sectarian shibboleth.
One of the great causes of this mistake arises from confounding uniformity with unity. The one we believe is not possible, the other is specifically enforced in the divine word. Our text may greatly aid us in comprehending the mind of God on this important and interesting subject.
I. The Church of Christ is composed of many Members.
II The Members of Christ’s Church are diversified in Character and Office.
III. The numerous and diversified Members of Christ form "one" Body.
IV. All the Members of Christ’s Body are Members one of another.
I. The Church of Christ is composed of many Members.
Now this is not contradictory of those passages which represent the flock of Christ as small, or the number of the righteous as few;’97compared with the great mass they are so. But truly in the abstract they are many; were so in the apostles’ time; are so now; many more than we know of; Elijah calculated wrongly. See 1Ki_19:8, 1Ki_19:10. Bigotry often does so. The great completed family will be innumerable. No man shall number them. The seed of the Shiloh is to exceed the sands of the sea shore and the countless stars of heaven.
II. The Members of Christ’s Church are diversified in Character and Office.
In the human body the variety and use of the various members is beautiful and wonderful. Some of these are less distinguished and less important, but all essential to the completion of the body. All have their distinctive functions, &c. One sees for the body, one speaks, one hears, one bears burdens, &c. Now in this way the church of Christ is constituted. Some minister, others teach, exhort, rule, &c. ver. 6-8. But let it be observed here that all the members have an office, all a part which is assigned by the great head and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
III. The numerous and diversified Members of Christ form "one" Body.
One member does not make a body, nor yet several, but all. The unity of the church is especially taught by the apostle, Eph_4:4, &c. Now this body of many members is one in the following parts.
(1) One common Father. Just as all human beings are the creatures of God, so all believers are the spiritual sons and daughters of God; "Our Father" is the common universal language of all the family of faith.
(2) One common nature. Just as the human species have only one human nature, however form or features may differ, so there is only one spiritual divine nature which all possess who have been born of God
(3) One pervading animating spirit. If so ye be, ye are the sons of God, the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. "If any man have not," &c. One spirit, but diversity of operations.
(4) One in vital union to Christ,’97"In Christ." He is the great centre where all the lines of truth meet. The one foundation on which all rest. The one mediator in whom all trust. The one great head to whom all the members are united influenced, directed and whom they love and obey.
(5) One in entire dependence upon divine grace. Without the Saviour we can do nothing. However intellectual, experienced, and talented, all and each are helpless without him.
IV. All the Members of Christ’s Body are Members one of another.
However dissimilar in age, office, &c. All spiritual persons belong to one spiritual community, one building, one body. As such,
(1) They have mutual blessings. All heirs of the same covenant and promises. The same bread and water of life Same benefits and privileges.
(2) They have mutual perils. The adversaries, snares, and dangers, are the same. The evils of the world, of the carnal mind, of the raging lion, &c.
(3) They have a mutual and common destination. All journeying to the same place which the Lord hath prepared, &c., shall walk the same streets, worship before the throne, join in the same songs, and enjoy the same bliss forever and ever.
(4) They are mutually dependent on each other in their way to this blissful destination. There can be no independence in the church of Christ. All depend on God, all dependent on each other; just as in the body, the eye sees for it, &c. The least is necessary and important, so the greatest; so the learned and the illiterate; the rich and the poor; the man of ten talents and the man of one.
Application
1. Learn what constitutes a true Christian. Being a member of the body of Christ; believing we are united to Jesus and his people.
2. What necessity there is in the body for the individual members to exercise the spirit and graces of Christianity.
(1) Ought there not to be great forbearance? We ought not to expect from any, but that, which an imperfect Christian can present.
(2) Ought there not to be sympathy? It is so in the natural body,’97if one part suffers, the whole nervous system feels.
(3) Ought there not to be love, and love unbodied in active mutual aid? What man will not aid any weak or maimed member.
(4) Prayer. "Pray for one another, &c.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS