“If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now GOD HAS SET THE MEMBERS, EACH ONE OF THEM, IN THE BODY just as He pleased.” (1 Corin. 12:17-18) How did the idea of the Body of Christ come about? We need to “…have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. And being found in appearance AS A MAN…” (Phil. 2:5-8) “…when Christ came into the world, He said…A BODY you prepared for me…” (Heb. 10:5) So, Christ ministered in a HUMAN BODY and it was said of Him, “so in Christ we, though many, FORM ONE BODY, and each member BELONGS TO ALL THE OTHERS.” (Rom. 12:5) “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, SO IT IS WITH CHRIST.” (1 Corin. 12:12)
“Now you are THE BODY OF CHRIST, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corin. 12:27) “…the husband is the head of the wife AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HIS BODY, of which He is the Savior.” (Eph. 5:23) “…in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of HIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH.” (Col. 1:24) What about all this “body” stuff? Ok, in a conversation between Peter and Jesus they came to a common understanding and Jesus stated that on this “rock” of our MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, (this could be a covenant of agreement) “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” (Matt. 16:18) Did Jesus build His church? “Jesus went up on the mountain and CALLED TO HIM those He Himself wanted. And THEY CAME TO HIM. Then HE 1APPOINTED TWELVE, that they might BE WITH HIM and that He might send them out to preach…” (Mark 3:13-14) 1poieō: to put one fourth or ordain. “After He started His Church, He went down WITH THEM (His Church) and stood on a level place. A large crowd of HIS DISCIPLES (saved but not part of the church yet) was there and a great NUMBER OF PEOPLE (potential Christians) from all over…” (Luke 6:17)
-Bill Stockham