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"The body is one and has many members..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12

THE HUMAN BODY

Paul employed the human body as an example to illustrate the Church, the Body of Christ.

“For as the body is one and has many members,
but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
1 Corinthians 12:12

1. An effective illustration

a) The body is one whole.

b) But it has many members.

2. “So also is Christ”

The concept of the Church as a body is found in the following texts:

“There is one body and one Spirit…”
Ephesians 4:4

“But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things
into Him who is the head- Christ- from whom the whole body,
joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:15-16

“For we are members of His body,
of His flesh and of His bones.”
Ephesians 5:30

“And not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body,
nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments,
grows with the increase that is from God.”
Colossians 2:19

a) The church is called “the body”.

b) Christ Jesus is the Head of the body (The church).

c) There are many parts (member-parts) that make up the whole body.

d) We are members of His body.

i) Every joint is important.

ii) It supplies a function.

iii) Each part must do its share effectively.

iv) This will cause growth to the body.

v) It will become edified and strengthened.

3. Christ as the Head of the body

a) He nourishes the body.

b) He knits the joints and ligaments together.

c) He desires the church to grow effectively; Hence He gives the Holy Spirit and great grace-gifts.