One Body, Many Members

March 25th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 12:4-5 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Verse 4 explains v. 3, specifically concerning how one Christian measures himself against another. The truth is, the Church of Jesus Christ is a group of people—a body—who have placed their faith in Christ and His blood-atoning sacrifice on the cross to free them from God’s wrath that is upon all sinners. Elsewhere, Paul compares this body of believers to the human body which also has many parts while remaining one body (cf. 1 Cor. 12). Of course the human body has some organs that are more vital than others (e.g., heart vs. gallbladder), but when any one body part suffers, they all suffer. So too in the body of Christ, the Church.

In Christ’s Church it is clear that no one person is more important than another, for all have the same measure of saving faith (v. 3). Yet, all have differing functions and abilities, serving Christ as God has gifted them to serve Christ and His Church. God has undeniably endowed each member within Christ’s Church with various abilities, passions, and convictions—some with greater intensity than others. As is true with the human body or with a car—both of which have many parts but one main function—Christ’s Church has various functions but one overall goal: all things to the glory of God. So, all gifts given by God are for His glory.

Now although God has ordained some to be in authority over others (e.g., wives to husbands, children to parents, citizens to government, church members to elders), this does not mean one outranks the other. Husbands are clearly not more important than their wives (Gal. 3:28), and elders are no more blessed than laymen. So, no Christian can ever logically think more highly of himself than anyone else in the universal Church of Christ. All are equal.

Though writing to the church in Rome, it is likely that they met in different locations, or houses, throughout the city. Though they may have met in different places, they were one church—one body, unified in Christ. In spite of this, they were diverse in their giftedness, as is every church in every age in every town and country. The unity of the body of Christ is thus not incompatible with diversity. In fact, the body of Christ demands diversity within itself, for none can work properly without the other (cf. 1 Cor. 12:15-21). In fact, as D.A. Hagner says, “Each member profits from what the other members contribute to the whole. Reflection on these truths reduces preoccupation with one’s own gift and makes room for appreciation of other people and the importance of the gifts they are called to exercise.”

Unity and diversity within the universal Church means that when Christians abroad are jailed and tortured, the local church should feel it too. As the Church works together to bring glory to God, the Church also suffers together when one suffers. God often uses these sufferings to bring His people together in unity. Surely, no Christian exists for himself alone. The universal Church is therefore many local churches around the world working together as one. And a proper assessment of oneself is essential to finding one’s place within the larger body of Christ.

Food For Thought
Paul asked Christians, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Salvation is a gift given to us by God so that we might never boast. Even the good works we do are given to us by God (Eph. 2:8-10). If we understand salvation properly, then we will look at ourselves and at Christ properly. Don’t try to be the brain of your church or the heart, for that is Christ’s place who is the Head of the Church. Since we merely serve the Head, let us do so faithfully and humbly.