44
Now, you are the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12 :27 While the future of the body of Christ contains a glorious and wonderful fulfillment, we are currently, as individuals, included as members. Paul, in his discourse found here in chapter twelve, on who and what the body is lists a number of members who have certain short comings and the need of more attention being given to them. However, in the process of time, the object of the Lord is to establish absolute unanimity and perfection in that body.
There are certain criteria established by the Word of the Lord which are required for membership in that glorious body. The blending of the body into one unit is consistently emphasized. It has to be like the identical accord which is demonstrated in the Godhead. These people are members of the body of Christ. In order to be a part of this glorious church there must be perfect union with the Christ of God. 1 Cor. 12:12.
The spirit, the life style of these members is to be identical for they are all to be of one Spirit. They, of course, are those who have been born of the Spirit. Without the new birth, one cannot serve the Lord Jesus. Now we see that they are all baptized into the body of Christ, by one and the same Spirit. Regardless of race or creed, this is an imperative for true membership In the body of Christ. We might take note that it is the body of CHRIST. Why? Because Christ in the Greek means the anointed one or the anointing. This would coincide with the baptism, or anointing of the Spirit.
1 Cor. 12:27
No individual, church or religious order has any choice in the placing of a person in the body. Those who are chosen to be placed in this glorious group are placed there by the good pleasure of the Lord. 1 Cor. 12:18 In other words they are those who have pleased the Lord in being obedient to His Word. Another outstanding feature of this body is the complete lack of disagreement to be found among them. 1 Cor. 12:25 No dissenting words, no opposing thoughts or ideas, perfect harmony produced by the working of the Spirit in their midst. In as much as we are now the body of Christ, there must be those who can find full and complete fellowship, not only with the Lord Jesus but also with one another. The challenge facing the church today is not a unity formed by man but a coming together in the Spirit of Christ where there is an evidence of all-embracing unison. Impossible? Not with the Lord with whom all things are possible. Try the words of the Lord Jesus Luke 18:27.