Looking At Ourselves As Members Of Christ | Words Of Truth
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

Looking At Ourselves As Members Of Christ


I. Introduction:

A. In the process of conversion, one is baptized into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:26-29).

  1. Being in Christ is a new life (II Corinthians 5:17).
  2. Ultimately, salvation is “in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:10).
B. Being in Christ means that we are members of His body (I Corinthians 12:12-13; I Corinthians 12:27).

  1. His body is His church (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18, and Colossians 1:24).
  2. Thus, when you are talking about those in Christ or in His body, you are talking about members of the church; saints (I Corinthians 1:2).

II. Body: Your Bodies Are Members Of Christ (I Corinthians 6:15-18).

A. Think about being joined to Christ (Ephesians 5:30).

  1. So, IF those in Christ err, there is a certain question to ask. Being members of His body, do those erring think Christ is the minister of sin (Galatians 2:17)?
  2. Can one separate themselves from the head while still being in the body (Ephesians 4:15-16, Colossians 2:8-10, and Colossians 2:19)?
B. Now, we understand that if a person errs they separate themselves from their relationship with God (Isaiah 50:1, Isaiah 59:1-2, John 8:31, John 15:1-10, I John 2:24, and II John 1:9). With that understanding, consider the point Paul was making to the Corinthians.

  1. Saints are to consider ourselves as true body members of Christ working together as one body (I Corinthians 12:14-20).
  2. Think about how if one who is part of the body of Christ joins to something sinful he or she is polluting the body (Ezekiel 20:39); polluting the name of our Lord (Isaiah 48:11).
  3. Now, back to Corinth… What about the principle of leaven when a body member does something such as committing fornication (I Corinthians 5:1-13)?
C. Building upon the previous point… While individual responsibility is certainly the greater principle of the Scriptures (Romans 14:11-12), we cannot divorce ourselves from our being members one of another (Romans 12:4-5).

  1. If one member of the body decides to err, what about the possible effects upon the rest of the body (Ecclesiastes 9:18, Romans 9:1-3, Romans 14:13, I Corinthians 15:33, Revelation 2:18-22, etc.)?
  2. Knowing the value of reputation (Proverbs 22:1); what could one member’s actions do to the body of our Lord?

III. Conclusion: Saints, we are members of Christ and each other. Act unselfishly because you are not just on your own here (Philippians 2:3-5).