The Body of Christ
The Church as the Body of Christ has only one head, but it has many members. The one and only head of the Body of Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Jesus Christ is the head and hence sovereign authority in the Church (Ephesians 5:24, 48-31, Colossians 2:18-19). As the authority, He is to give all the directives to the body. He is to guide and control the body.
"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” (Colossians 2:18-19)
Only as members of the body are in subjection to the Head and respond to His commands can the body function healthily and properly. A church that does not respond to the head is a paralyzed Church.
The only way for a dead Church to come alive is to come back to Jesus, the Head, who is the Resurrection and the Life.
The life source of the body is the Head (Colossians 1:18; 2:11-13). The life of the body is nothing less than the risen life of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:4).
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians 1:18-19).
Once
the Head is given His correct place as the source of life, the fullness
that is in the Head can flow to the rest of this body which is made up
of many members (I Corinthians 12:19).
1. Each member is vitally connected to the other members through the bloodstream.
It is the blood of Christ that brings us together (Ephesians 2:13). It is the flowing blood of Christ released by the unity and fellowship of God’s people that cleanses and purifies its membership (I John 1:7). It is the blood of Christ that makes us members one of another.
2. Each member is activated by the breath of God.
Jesus said that the words which he spoke are Spirit and Life (John 6:63). It is the Word of God and the Spirit of God which activates, motivates, and energizes the members of the Body of Christ. Any Church that does not allow for the full expression of the Word of God and the full release of the Spirit of God is choking itself and cutting itself from the source of its own life, which is the Head, Christ.
3. Each member must function at the direction of the Head.
Each member has its own unique function (I Corinthians 12:27) and is accountable to the Head for the demonstration of that service (grace).
4. Each member is totally dependent upon the other members.
Every member of the body is unique and special in its function, but the only way it can properly function is to be rightly related to the whole (I Cor. 10:17). The message of the Body of Christ is that one is not useful alone and no one can survive alone. So many individuals today are trying to function apart from any ties or identification with the Body of Christ. They are independent and they pride them- selves in their independence. The members of a body only have right function if they are linked to each other in proper placement. They have no ministry function alone. Every member of the body is mutually dependent on every other member and absolutely dependent upon the Head. Perhaps we should realize that we are all “Dependent Local Churches.”
5.. Each member has a unique and important place of function.
God has declared that all have a purpose and function that is vital to the success of the whole (Romans 12:4-5). Each individual is created perfectly suited to the function for which God intended him. God knows us all exactly, and He has taken everything into account. For this reason it is important for each of us to seek the head as to the exact place that God has designed for him. It is not a matter of looking over a list of vocational options and choosing the most lucrative or naturally appealing. It is a matter of discovering God’s call. God has given to everyone a function as it has pleased Him, and for no other, are we held accountable.
When every member of the body is functioning in its place there will be a rest in the body. The individual person will find true expression and fulfillment. He will feel a sense of belonging and accomplishment, and the body as a whole will be edified and built up properly.1
1 Material taken directly from Kevin Connor’s Book: The New Testament Church., publisher Sovereign World Ltd.