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For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another (Romans 12:4-5).

What comes to mind when we think of a church?  Quite naturally, we picture a building where one goes to worship on Sundays.  The English word “church” is derived from the Greek adjective, “kyriakon,” meaning “belonging to the Lord” - “Theology for every Christian.”   It may refer to (1) the Lord’s people in general, (2) any particular group of the Lord’s people, or (3) the building in which the Lord’s people worship (I Cor. 11: 20, Rev. 1: 10).

The Greek word for “church” is “ekklesia”  meaning “called out, summoned out or gathered.”  So Christians are “the called-out ones” - an assembly separated unto God.  Interestingly, the church is sometimes referred to without the use of the word itself.  We see this in I Peter 2: 9-10: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:   Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 

In most instances, the word “church” refers to a particular local church: “Greet the church that is in their house” (Rom. 16: 5).  When writing to the churches, the apostles assumed that they were addressing regenerate church members – those who had been truly converted to the Lord: “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1: 7) ; “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints …” (I Cor. 1: 2).

In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul compared the church of Christ to a human body.  This analogy is reflected in the unity of believers in the following ways:

1.  We have been bought with the same price

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Pet. 1: 18-19). 

The apostle Peter reminded us to treasure our salvation.  Why?  Because our Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our redemption.  In his address to the Ephesian elders, the apostle Paul spoke of the “church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20: 28).  Thank God for our Saviour Who has “obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9: 12).

“Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master’s use.  Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord’s, by the strongest ties.  May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are His” – Matthew Henry.

Precious indeed is our blood-bought bond and the blessed fellowship we can have with one another through Christ our Saviour!

2.  We are heirs of the same inheritance

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8: 17).  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). 

What a happy privilege to be the sons and daughters of the Living and True God!  Redeemed through the blood of Christ our Saviour,  we all have the Lord as our portion, and exceeding great reward.  We also enjoy the infinite honour of being elevated as joint heirs with Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.  One fine day, we will partake with Him of the magnificent glories of our heavenly home.

The Lord Jesus gave us this wonderful promise whilst He was on earth: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14: 1-3).  O what joy will fill our hearts when our Lord returns in His glory to take us back to dwell with Him forevermore!        

Can we ever imagine what our celestial mansion will be like?  The apostle Paul was at a loss for words as he wrote about the glories of our eternal home:  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2: 9).  Brethren, are we excited about the prospect of that everlasting inheritance?  Do we look forward to the coming of our Saviour?  Let us be found faithfully loving and serving Him till He returns for us.   Amen.   (… to be continued)                                                                                                   - Pastor