1 Corinthians 12 ~ Body of Christ

The wheel in this photo came from my family's farm house from over 50 years ago in Ontario where I was born.

1 Corinthians 12:27 comes from Paul's letter to the Corinthian church about how Christians are to function & cooperate in harmony, like the billions of parts of a physical body. While the body's many parts do different jobs, they all have one unifying purpose: survive & sustain life. From this analogy, a question comes to my mind. It has a seemingly obvious answer, but its still worth raising: What is the overall, unifying purpose of 'the church'?

A few of the previous verses in this passage of scripture, gives us important context & highlights even more of its beautiful truth!

24-26: "But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Like the body, a wheel, shows us, in a simplified way, how all its parts are connected & how each part, although different, is very needed for the whole to function optimally.

And so it is with 'the church', which is not just a building or denomination, but it is everyone who has & will believe in Jesus Christ as God, their Lord & Savior (see What is the Church?). Phew! That is amazing to think about, considering:

"For the Scriptures say, "As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.'" (Romans 14:11, NLT).

"For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9

This is another wheel art image I made, depicting how 'good works' (represented by the colorful diamonds) come with the Holy Spirit from salvation/belief that Christ is God (represented by the yellow center) as Holy Spirit expands throughout one's soul (the 'spokes' of the wheel), body (the outer part of wheel) & eventually beyond.

In chapter 3 of Corinthians, Paul explains to the church members to remain humble, no matter one's function or purpose:

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

True Christ-like 'doings' (e.g. good works) are only possible by Him, either:

1). Through 'the body' because of sincere belief, as Holy Spirit-led obedience flows from that belief.

And,

 2). 'Good works' also happen as part of God's perfect will for the good of those who love him, to inspire belief in unbelievers & to bring back those who have gone astray. Therefore, God works through believers & unbelievers (see: https://www.bridges.church/does-god-ever-use-unbelievers-to-accomplish-his-will/).

Lord Jesus I pray, as your 'field or building,' thank you for guiding us, the church, to be open & receive Holy Spirit in service of love - to you & our neighbors. Help us grow in humility, endurance, compassion & worthiness as your body & lead us to be quick to repentance when we are in error. In Jesus name, amen.