The Church

Introduction

Bible verses that portrait the church as the Body of Christ, one of four means by which the church is depicted in Scripture.

DEPICTION of The Church in Scripture

Purpose

The use of the Body of Christ to depict the church concerns the expression of Christ and his unity with the church. In essence the mystery of the church shows a distinctive in the dispensation. The death and resurrection of Christ introduced a new thing – the church was which was unveiled. Whether Jew or Gentile, the redemption work of Christ is sufficient for all, to bring those living in the time of grace into the same body – the Church – because their sin has been dealt with by the blood turning away the wrath of God.

Believers make up ONE Body

The Church is one body

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

A Believer is a member of the Body

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

A believer is baptised by the Holy Spirit into the Body

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13 - 14)

One body with many members

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. For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. … But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
 (1 Corinthians. 12:12 - 12:15)

Parts of the body are connected – one affects the other

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)

The body comprises different parts with different functions

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
(Romans 12:4 – 5)

One Head

Jesus Christ is preeminent, even of the church

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence. (Colossians 1:18)

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
(Ephesians 1:22 - 1:23)

Family as the example

Christ as the head of the church is found in the example of a family

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:23 – 24)