“No Division in the Body” — 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
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It is not unusual for many to see themselves as individuals coming in and other of other people’s lives, even to the point of loneliness. And it is difficult to think of a time in recent history where people have experienced such depths of loneliness as occurred during the pandemic.
Yet, as Christians we are united to one another by faith in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul writes about this unity in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27:
That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
What does it mean practically that Christians are members of Christ’s body?
In Christ we are all brothers and sisters.
By way of analogy, we are all parts of his body fitted together by him to love and care for each other. Being adopted we are members of God’s household, which means in Christ we are all brothers and sisters. We are to be united by Christ without division or strife, loving from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
The sixteenth-century Protestant Reformer John Calvin writes of the “holy and inseparable knot” that joins Christians together:
“And let us see we be so edified, that every one of us seek the furtherance of his neighbors, and without envying one another, let us all labor to be furthered in God, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, being joined together with this holy and inseparable knot, which he made betwixt us, when he called us to be members of his body…” (John Calvin, Sermons on Titus, p. 89)
We are called to suffer and rejoice together.
The second greatest commandment is to love one another even as God loves us (Matt. 22:35-40). We are to be with one another, caring for each other, encouraging and building up one another in faith. While this building up of the saints may take place in different ways than we would want at times due to various factors, we need to trust that God is in control and will always provide for his children. May believers continue to actively care for one another in the local church in creative and useful ways, both big and small, for we are called to suffer and rejoice together.
Related Articles:
The Vital Connection between Sincere Love and Hospitality in the Church
Are You a Productive Bee? 7 Ways God Has Gifted Christians to Serve
Recommended:
The Three Forms of Unity: Subordinate Doctrinal Standards (The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort)
