22.
The body of Christ, the church, His Bride will have to come to perfect unity and harmony in order to be what He has called her to be, that is perfect. While it is a group of many members it has to function as one. In perfect coordination and simultaneously. As long as its members are divided into segments it cannot be the body of Christ. The adherents to the body cannot operate as one as long as there is anything creating disagreement among them. The Bride must be one with Christ in every aspect. 1 Cor. 1:12 This shows us the impossibility of the church of today becoming one and even being considered as the Bride of Christ. The Bride will be gathered from among them and will come together in perfect agreement.
There is no racial preference to be found in the true body of Christ. They are gathered from the Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, bond and free. Their status in life is not of material value. Their Spiritual life and attitude is that which counts. They are blessed to have been included among the Spirit filled. Membership in the body of Christ is by baptism in the Spirit, into perfect accord and belief. The Lord has established His standards and human elements will never alter them. The flow of the Spirit in this body of many members is necessary to cause them to adhere and to continue to flow in the Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13 There will be none in the body of Christ who have not been filled with the Spirit and continue to be motivated by the Spirit, only the Holy Spirit can cause the many members to coordinate and to move as one.
Paul emphasized the fact of the individuality of the various members of the human body. Each one having a specific duty and purpose and in a healthy body not conflicting one with the other in their precise role. In the true body of Christ there can be no conflict of interest or dissatisfaction with the place allotted them. The work of each part of the body is of equal value with all contributing to the whole. There may be no displeasure with the place designated to one in the body of Christ. All parts, however seemingly unlovely are of equal importance. The Lord is the creator of the body and is building it according to His own plans and objectives. The one hundred forty four thousand are an extremely important organ in the body of Christ. Without them the ultimate, the apex of the plan of salvation could not be accomplished. Their importance to the body cannot be over emphasized.1 Cor. 15:15-21.