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Romans 12:4–5
. . . so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another (Rom. 12:5).
Christians need to have a proper understanding of who they are, not a self-image that is too high or low. This is important for the sake of truth, of course, but also because Christians are necessarily in relationships with other believers. They are part of something larger than themselves, and they need to understand their place in it. That is what today’s passage is all about.
In these verses we encounter one of the apostle Paul’s greatest analogies. He compares the church to a body, noting that both are single entities with many parts and that both require the proper functioning of all their constituent units. Furthermore, each of the parts depends for life and health on the diligent work of the other parts. This is an incredibly apt metaphor for the church, for as Paul taught us in Romans 5, we have been brought into union with Christ, and by virtue of our union with Him we are in union with one another. We are in a relationship with other Christians that is far stronger than common membership in a club or even common citizenship. Furthermore, the Scriptures say that God has placed us in this body and gifted us just as He desired, giving each of us a unique role we must play if the body is to function properly. Simply put, each of us needs other believers, and they need each of us.
But why does Paul mention this great analogy at this point in Romans, immediately after urging his readers not to think more highly of themselves than they ought? It is precisely because they are members of this body that believers must see themselves in the proper light. The smooth functioning of the body requires that we see ourselves as a necessary part of the whole, and yet as just a part. If our opinion of ourselves is too high, we likely will not willingly depend on others; rather, we will be tempted to go it alone. On the other hand, if our opinion of ourselves is too low, we likely will hesitate to use our gifts for the good of our brothers and sisters. Indeed, we may not even believe the testimony of Scripture that every Christian has a gift. We must fervently believe the glorious good news—that we are part of the body of Christ—as well as the other good news—that there are other parts in the body, too. If we understand these twin truths, we likely will prove ourselves useful and effective servants of the church.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Do you know Christians who have abandoned the church in favor of worshiping on their own at home? Perhaps you know some who maintain only a limited level of involvement in the church, rejecting membership. As believers, we need the church, and it needs us. Pray for those who are not fulfilling their roles as members of the body.
For Further Study
- 1 Corinthians 12:12–31
- Ephesians 4:4–16
- Ephesians 5:23–30
- Colossians 1:18, 24
- Colossians 2:19