What does it mean that the Church is the body of Christ?

Beloved in Christ, the question above is an important question indeed, and by the grace of God I will employ all of my powers, in order to give you a scriptural and a satisfactory answer for your spiritual edification. Paul's usage of the metaphor, "the body of Christ" is a clear reference to the church. The phrase, "the body of Christ" appears in several places in the bible, especially in the Pauline epistles. Paul wrote: For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 12). Paul here draws an analogy of the human body with that of the body of Christ. 

In the same chapter, he wrote: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Corinthians 12: 27). We are the members of the body of Christ, just as our physical eyes are members of our human body. In another place, Paul wrote: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body ( Ephesians 5: 23). Christ died for the church, he redeemed the church with his own precious blood, and he is not only the head, but he is the savior of his own body. 

The question is why did the apostle refers to the church as the body of Christ? 

One reason why the apostle employed the phrase, ''the body of Christ'' is to help us comprehend the mystical union between Christ and his body. As members of the body of Christ, we are said to be in Christ, see (2 Corinthians 5; 17). To be in Christ, signifies the eternal union between Christ and his body. Just as the members of the human body are inseparably connected to the head, so as members of the body of Christ, we are indissolubly, and inseparably connected to our head. It is written: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 17). This tells us that as members of his body, we are joined together with him (Christ) and nothing can separate us from him.

Another reason why the church is called the body of Christ is because, Christ is the head of the body. The head of the church is not the pope or any pastor, for whoever that sets him or herself up as the head of the church, is actually usurping the authority of Christ, and that is a grave offense. The head of the church is none other than the Man Jesus Christ himself, for it is written: He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (Colossians 1: 18). 

Paul by the Spirit, states it clearly that Jesus is the head of the body, the church and none else. Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1: 22-23). God the father has placed all things under his feet, and has set him apart as the head over all things to the church which is His body. The church is his own body, and he is our head, the one who instructs, teaches and guides us by his divine Spirit. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, he is the only one whom the true church subject herself under (Ephesians 5: 24).

Another reason why the church is called the body of Christ is to let us know, that there are diversity of gifts we possess to fulfill a particular purpose. Every member possesses a spiritual gift(s) which must  actively be used to serve the reason for which it is given. Paul wrote: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12; 4-8). As members of the body of Christ, we have a gift(s), let us use it for the good of others.

Another reason is that, as members of the body of Christ, we have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote: Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3: 16). The fact that we have the Holy Spirit in us is an undisputed proof that we are members of the body of Christ. Whoever is devoid of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not born again and a such is not a member of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit in you identifies you as a true member of the body of Christ. You cannot be a member of the body of Christ without the person of the Spirit living inside you: However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Romans 8: 9). The Spirit of Christ is synonymous for the Holy Spirit, it is another way of describing the Holy Spirit.

Another reason why the church is called the body of Christ is because of the mutual bond that exists between the members, irrespective of our race, color, sex, whether Jew or gentiles, we are one in Christ. Jesus Christ died to make us one, therefore, there is no need for schism in the body. We are to love one another and show care towards each other. We are to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4; 3). There shouldn't be unnecessary quarrel in the body, but we are to be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind (Philippians 2: 2). We need one another so we can be very effective in fulling the purpose and our mission as a church. Every member is important, therefore is no need for sinful division among us. I love how the apostle words it: For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you. "On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it (1 Corinthians 12: 14-27).

The last reason I will elaborate on, is that as the body of Christ, we are the representatives of Christ here on earth. Jesus Christ on earth preached the gospel, and exhibited the love of God towards us, especially through his substitutionary death on the cross (1 Peter 3; 18). Today, the body of Christ have been mandated by Christ himself to preach the gospel and to win souls into his kingdom, and to demonstrate his tangible love towards all men for his glory. An excellent author wrote: The church is the organism through which he manifests his life to the world today". God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔

You cannot be a member of the body of Christ without the person of the Spirit living inside you

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel