In The Body, Of The Body, From The Body...Or You Are None Of His

[Mr. M]

First Corinthians Twelve:

20-22 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 

23-26 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 

Can a dismembered part of a body receive life from the Body?

The term "In Christ" does not mean "me and Jesus", and the notion that all anyone has to do is accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and upon receiving the Holy Spirit everything you need is "already in you and just trust that the Holy Spirit is going to transform us inwardly' is a complete contradiction of this pillar of the Apostolic Doctrine. The gifts of the Spirit we receive are for the Body, not ourselves, and the fruit of the Spirit is borne of our relationship with one another in the Fellowship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

4-6 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all, in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is

given to each one for the profit of all: 

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Ephesians Four:

4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called

in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But to each one of us grace was given

according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

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11-13 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 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 baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

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Romans Twelve:

3-5 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 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. 

6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

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The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of a Body for good reason. The other Apostles who ministered to the Jews used the analogy of the Temple, and believers the living stones in that Temple. In pagan cities adorned with temples to many gods, this would not have been appropriate.

Furthermore, the Unity of all believers in One Body and One Spirit conveys the Lord's intent to break down the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. The Temple complex was designed to facilitate that separation, as were the synagogues in those Greek cities where Jew and Gentile were already together under Rabbinic Instruction.

Paul's ministry was primarily to lead those Gentiles into the flock, but as a Rabbi and Pharisee, he also played a critical role in preparing the Jewish believers to receive them. 

Romans Eleven:

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

[Mr. M]

7 hours ago, Mr. M said:

The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of a Body for good reason. The other Apostles who ministered to the Jews used the analogy of the Temple, and believers the living stones in that Temple. In pagan cities adorned with temples to many gods, this would not have been appropriate.

First Peter

Two:

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Four:

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[Mr. M]

On 6/5/2025 at 5:29 PM, Mr. M said:

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

Colossians One:

24-26 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the Ekklesia, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

27-29 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.