So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Though many in number, believers are joined into one body in Christ and belong to one another as bodily members belong to each other, with Christ Himself as the Head of that body. God gives to the members differing gifts and offices according to grace and ability, so that no gift outranks another and each has its own appointed work to do for the good of the whole. No member can live the Christian life alone or act independently, but each is to work in its place in dependence on the others, supplying what another lacks and blending together like well-adjusted machinery under sanctified intelligence. This oneness forbids masterly ruling over conscience, exalting self, dividing into parties around men, withdrawing from brethren, or tearing down another's work by criticism and interference. It calls instead for sincere love, humility, sympathy and practical helping, with every member faithfully serving, caring for the suffering, and uniting varied gifts in labor for God.
Meaning of One Body
Though many in number, believers form one body in Christ with each person belonging to one another, and the image of bodily members pictures the church and the relation its members should sustain to each other. This instruction carries high value for all churches and lays religious duty on everyone to be studied by the whole church, calling for a higher plane of action where all who hold position as shepherds represent the great Shepherd. It gives each member a special work to do and a place to fill, yet all do not have capability to do the same work to best advantage, since one is fitted for one class of work and another for another, and all blend in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness. In this united service differing gifts according to grace are given and appreciated as essential for advancing the cause, with no special gift above another, as God's sons represent Him amid rebels and enemies who neglect His will and despise His honor in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. The same oneness rules out trying to dominate or control fellow believers by a masterly ruling power that charges what they shall and shall not do, for such ruling is not of God but another gospel, not the righteousness of Christ, and is a spoil to the church.
Christ is the Head of the body, and the body is made up of those who accept Him as Saviour, confess their sins, and are transformed by the renewing of the mind. They grow up in Christ their living Head, presenting their bodies a living sacrifice and proving by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Living this out makes true believers whose sincerity appears in pure clean words full of sympathy, tenderness and love, with family religion and family holiness honored, with moral renovation of heart, and with reproof and sharp rebuke when needed, while spurious faith is exposed by daily exhibition of character. This is the work of the Holy Spirit as sanctifier, reprover and comforter to prepare a people to meet God, bringing members into shared service and harmony in the church. It calls workers to converted intellects, daily converting power, Christ dwelling within, and repentance and daily conversion from wrongdoing, thinking soberly according to the measure of faith and living in sincere love, brotherly kindness, diligence, hope, patience, prayer and hospitality, that the gifts to the church may make it the light of the world.
Jews and Gentiles are united in this one body through faith and obedience, for both have sinned and need the Saviour's grace. Dependence on Christ and connection with Him must be as close as a limb's connection to the body, for Christ is the believer's only hope of salvation. Human merit cannot atone for sin or commend fallen people to God, and the merits of Jesus' death and resurrection are the foundation of Christian faith. Each one belongs to the Lord by creation and redemption, soul, body and spirit, bought with a price and bearing His stamp upon them. Yet each keeps an individuality, identity and character to be worked out after the divine similitude, which cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with certain God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow impressions of duty.
No human has jurisdiction over another's conscience, no right to control another's mind, to judge for another and prescribe duty, to take away rights, to exercise authority and dictate, or to be harsh, severe, dictatorial and bruise souls, for God deals with infinite tenderness with His heritage. Members of His body are to give back to God all He has redeemed in consecration to sanctification and holiness, educating every power of mind, soul and body to highest perfection and presenting self as an offering for God to work through by His Holy Spirit. This requires sober, reasonable thinking, not being swayed to right hand or left, one day on the mount and the next in a despondent valley, but giving a steady example that makes straight paths so the lame are not turned out of the way. It requires turning from things dear to the carnal nature that cause stumbling, so that the sunshine of Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping everyone around. Ministers likewise are to link together in labor instead of working alone, with no one feeling superior, refusing to work with others, or trying to do all the thinking, managing and preaching himself, but blending different talents, minds and methods in free, hearty unity of action while each keeps his own individuality.
As members of the heavenly family, believers press to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame, and their conduct toward one another must therefore be governed by principles of helping and strengthening each other. Their work in this world is to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man, which requires learning of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart in order to find rest. Those laboring in ministry and medical missionary work are thus united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility of mind before God and using varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand. All parts of the work are controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, and all drawing in even cords without friction. All stand under the standard of Christ Jesus, united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader, sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for the glory of God, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ.
Different Gifts and Offices
Though many, believers are one body in Christ and members one of another, with a special work for each member to do and not all having the same office. God dispenses differing gifts according to grace and the measure of faith and ability, giving one gift to one person and another to another as He pleases. In His order some serve in one line of work and others in other lines, all working under the same Spirit for the good of the whole body. Recognizing this plan guards against emulation, rivalry, pride, envy, and contempt of one another, and it strengthens unity and mutual love. It calls for close mutual connection and dependence with no division, rivalry, or selfish pride, but sober thinking about self, sincere love that hates evil and holds to good, and united obedient action.
No one's special gift is above any other gift, and all gifts are to be appreciated as essential for advancing God's cause. Humble ministry is as important in its place as teaching or leadership, and each member should faithfully do the work entrusted to them. In this united service God's sons represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies who neglect His will and despise His honor, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.
Minds are not molded alike, and exact sameness is not required but would bring less harmony and natural adaptability to each other. As eyes are made for seeing and ears for hearing, and mouth, nose, hands, and feet each have their own work, so each member has a different office that no other can exactly perform, yet all are necessary to the perfect whole and work in beautiful harmony. No member has every qualification needed for God's work, and no one alone is capable of being a complete whole or able to serve independently in every matter. One is to be a benefit and blessing to the other, where one lacks another supplying what is requisite and differently organized minds, temperaments, talents, and methods balancing deficiencies, rather than forcing all to yield every wish and inclination to one will. God in His providence brings together people of different temperaments that they might unite in the work, with diverse elements blended one adapted to the other, each doing its special work for God and having its place in filling up one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image, because God is one. Different workers, talents, minds, and methods must be blended with free, hearty unity of action while each keeps individuality, since humble ability will often reach hearts sealed against greater supposed ability, and close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability so that deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another.
The church is God's garden adorned with a variety of trees, plants, and flowers, and is made up of many members both large and small vessels united as one body in Christ. He does not expect the hyssop to become as large as the cedar or the olive to reach the height of the stately palm. He works through men and women who are willing to be used, and He blesses them in seeking to save souls ready to perish, so that even those with only limited religious and intellectual training have a work to do if they labor in humility trusting in Him.
Each person is to take the proper place and lot and do faithfully the appointed work suited to the ability given by God, rather than expecting everyone to do the same work. One is fitted for one class of work and another for another class, and all blend in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness and grow up in Christ their living Head. Each is to fill the appointed place with the gifts appointed, connecting gifts with the gifts of others to make them helpful, improved and blended together like threads in a complete pattern serving the unity of the body. This shared life calls for loving cooperation, humble service in love and mutual regard, and honoring one another rather than self-exaltation, insisting on one's own judgment, or acting independently of fellow believers.
Just as the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs, so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on the perfection of its individual members. Each person has an individuality and a character to work out after the divine similitude, with personal accountability to God to serve Him, an individual part to fulfill and an experience to gain for heaven. This requires sober, reasonable thinking, wearing Christ's yoke and drawing under His leading, not being swayed to right or left, giving a steady example that makes straight paths so the lame are not turned out of the way. It requires educating every power of mind, soul, and body to the highest perfection and presenting self as an offering for God to work through by His Holy Spirit, turning from things dear to the carnal nature that cause stumbling, so that the sunshine of Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping everyone around, cooperating together instead of standing as a distinct whole or living Christian life in isolation.
Harmony and Mutual Dependence
Believers though many form one body in Christ and belong to and depend on one another as its members, so Christian life is not to be lived in isolation. No member has every qualification needed for God's work and no teacher, physician or minister by himself is a complete whole, so no one should act as though able to serve or manage independently in every matter. Each has an individual part to fulfill, an experience to gain and a character to form for heaven, with a part in God's work and responsibility to serve faithfully, for when some remain idle those who do their part must carry a double burden. Withdrawing from the church and fostering complaint weakens love, sympathy and unity, while associating with the church and using influence for good helps believers grow spiritually and serve one another. Though each member is incomplete alone, varied gifts work together in harmony to form a whole, and therefore believers should value one another's gifts and work rather than envy or belittle them, working together humbly and teachably even when they differ in judgment or plans.
As the different members of the human system unite to form the entire body and each performs its distinct office in obedience to the intelligence that governs the whole, so the members of the church should be united in one symmetrical body, each doing its work subject to sanctified intelligence. Church membership therefore involves shared responsibility and coordinated service, with various lines of work committed to different men according to their several ability and all work for the Master connected with the great whole. All are to work together in concert, each controlled by divine power and putting forth undivided effort to draw those around them to Christ, with hearts blending and moving like well-adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other yet distinct in action, and no member able to be inactive.
Like the organs of a body each member must impart and serve beyond itself, for selfish refusal to do so brings spiritual death. God has given to every person certain gifts and ordained that people be joined and associated together in His service so that the varied talents of many minds are blended into one body. Close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability and capability, so that deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service and become balanced and equipped.
Those brought together in church capacity are to be united understandingly and intelligently, striving to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with the figure of bodily members picturing the church and the relation its members should sustain to one another. All parts of the work are to be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, drawing together in even cords without friction. Christ gives different people different abilities to be used in different lines of work, some strong for one kind of work and others fitted for another kind or for laboring in a different way to accomplish the same result, so no worker should feel that fellow workers must labor in exactly the same way he does, measure brethren by his own ideas, or refuse room to fellow laborers. Ministers are one body in Christ and members of one another and must link up together in labor instead of working alone, with different talents, minds and methods blended in free, hearty unity of action while each keeps individuality, for humble ability will often reach hearts sealed against greater supposed ability, and only prayer, communion with God, love as brethren, esteeming one another and hiding self in Christ make the work effective and sustain united workers by the Holy Spirit with success in winning souls.
This shared life calls for sincere love and faith that works by love and purifies the soul from rivalry, strife, contention, self-importance and selfish pride, with no division. Cheerfulness, looking on the bright side, unity, sympathy, kindness and unselfish love are to exist among God's workers, whose work is to be a help and a blessing to one another in brotherly kindness and honoring one another. Sincere love hates evil and holds to good, refusing to use influence, pen or voice to strengthen evil or serve Satan's side, and shows itself in united obedient action to God's word, in using differing gifts faithfully by grace with humility and mutual regard rather than insisting on one's own judgment or thinking more highly of self than soberly according to the measure of faith.
Warnings Against Division
Though many, believers are one body in Christ and members one of another, and this instruction is of high value for all churches, calling the work of God to be carried on a higher plane where all in position to act as shepherds represent the great Shepherd. It forbids dominating, masterly ruling power that charges upon the Lord's people what they shall do and shall not do, for such ruling is not of God but another gospel, not the righteousness of Christ, and is a spoil to the church of God. This unity belongs among the gifts and responsibilities given to the church, and rules out trying to dominate or control fellow believers. Each one belongs to the Lord by creation and redemption, soul, body and spirit, bought with a price and bearing His stamp, yet each keeps an individuality and identity that cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow impressions of duty. No human being has jurisdiction over the conscience of another, no right to control another's mind, to judge for another and prescribe duty, to take away rights, to exercise authority and dictate, or to be harsh, severe, dictatorial and bruise souls, for God deals with infinite tenderness with His heritage, and members of His body are to give back to God all He has redeemed in consecration to sanctification and holiness.
Each person has a different office according to the measure of faith God has given, so no one should think more highly of himself than he ought but should think soberly. Its principles must be carefully studied and done in small matters as well as large, with work in this world to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man, which requires learning of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart in order to find rest. Those who become exalted in their own opinion let Satan weaken them and will not be sustained, but as long as they work humbly seeking wisdom from God, who is high and lifted up, He will use them as His instruments. It is duty to think soberly, to wear Christ's yoke and to draw under His leading, cooperating together instead of standing as a distinct whole, just as the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on the perfection of its individual members. Obeying it requires changing attitude and keeping self under control in order to continue in usefulness, keeping past success from being lost and making reaching the standard of perfection possible, while intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ that brings salvation to all places feet on the eternal Rock. It calls for close mutual connection and dependence with no division, rivalry, or selfish pride, shown in sincere love that hates evil and holds to good, in refusing to use influence, pen, or voice to strengthen evil or serve Satan's side, and in united obedient action to God's word by loving as brothers and giving honor to one another.
Ministers and members must work as one and not divide into parties around the men who brought them light and truth nor stand apart as independent atoms tied in separate bundles. He who planted and he who watered are one, laborers together with God, for neither planter nor waterer is anything and God alone gives the increase. There is to be no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, but all parts of the work controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, all drawing in even cords without friction. Those laboring in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility of mind before God and using their varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand. Ministers give room to fellow laborers and do not measure brethren by their own ideas, and where Christ abides in the heart there is no quarrel with a brother. All stand under the standard of Christ Jesus, united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader, sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for the glory of God, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ. Those who side with one teacher and refuse harmony with their brethren are not sanctified and need reconversion, else their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.
Withdrawing from brethren over misconceived opinions and building in self-confidence apart from them violates that oneness and lays rubbish of human supposition on the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Withdrawing from the church and fostering complaint weakens love, sympathy, and unity, for Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation, though each person has an individual part to fulfill, an experience to gain, and a character to form for heaven. Associating with the church and using one's influence for good helps believers grow spiritually and serve one another. Different minds contribute what others lack, so division and gathering a following that merely echoes one person's views hinder the church's work.
Christ links many people as one body while assigning each person a distinct line of service, giving every man, woman, and child a different work to do in His moral vineyard, one fitted to do a certain work and another adapted to a different work and another to a still different line. Each worker should guard against leaving his own work to take over or interfere with another's, because God gives different work to different people and each must stand in his own lot and place and do faithfully the work given him. No one alone is capable of being a complete whole, but all are needed together, blending together in union with the Holy Spirit of God, each to be the complement of the others. One man cannot understand the nature of the next man's work and must not tear to pieces, unravel, question, criticize and condemn what his brother is doing, for he will only find a tangle he cannot straighten and put men in hard places. Criticizing is a crime against God that opens the way for Satan's snares for the one eager to place himself where God has not placed him. Instead all are to take time to understand each other rather than standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other, trying to find points of resemblance, being a help to each other, one supplying the lack of another, accepting and appreciating keener perceptions in another and giving due credit to each one's ability, humbling the soul before God, ceasing complaining and criticizing, putting whole attention on faithful performance of own task with humility and fidelity in simplicity of true faith and by earnest prayer, and being guided by the Lord. Then Christ the Master-worker brings the varied parts together to fit perfectly, and God's work moves forward rapidly.
Each should serve according to the gift given rather than expect everyone to do the same work, and this shared life calls for loving cooperation and honoring one another. Those laboring in ministry and medical-missionary lines must not work in a haphazard, divided way but in unity with kindly affection one to another. Neglecting it leads to discord and dishonors God. Leaving it out of practice produces discord and strife that dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart to His people, and prevents Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do. Living this oneness is of vital importance to everyone, especially now above all other times in the history of the earth.
Loving Service in Practice
Being many yet one body in Christ and members one of another means conduct toward one another is governed by helping and strengthening each other while pressing to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. Lives are interwoven in practical work, so disappointment must not make believers think worse of one another, but they are to help and sympathize with each other. Those who have received present truth at the cost of opposition and ridicule and loss of worldly prosperity are joined as Christ's body and belong to each other, and as highly favored people in whom light has dawned and who will be made like Christ when He appears they are to be earnest to help and encourage one another.
Membership one of another lays religious duty on everyone to be studied by the whole church, for every church member has a work to do though all do not have capability to do the same work to the best advantage, one being fitted for one class of work and another for another class, all blending in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness and grow up in Christ their living Head. That membership means visiting one another, talking the truth, praying with and for one another, visiting the sick, encouraging one another, and giving sympathy and love, thereby making manifest unity in Christ. When one member suffers all share that suffering, so each member should care about the needs of the whole brotherhood, and churches and conferences are to provide worn-out workers with the care, comfort, and homes they need.
Care for the body and healthful habits belongs to Christian service as different functions of the one body to which believers belong. Each has a part in God's work and all are responsible to serve faithfully, for when some remain idle the workers who do their part must carry a double burden. No member of Christ's body can be inactive, for various lines of work are committed to different men according to their several ability, yet all work done for the Master must be connected with the great whole in concert, each one controlled by divine power with undivided effort to draw those around them to Christ, hearts blending and moving like well-adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other yet distinct in action. A living church is a working church, and the do-nothing position of professed converts robs the church of vitality, while those who claim to know the truth yet make no effort to win sinners will be revealed as spiritual dwarfs; God's people unite their varied gifts in saving souls by showing missionary courtesy, missionary hospitality, and missionary zeal, and He has grace for every worker.
No teacher, physician, or minister by himself can be a complete whole, for God has given to every person certain gifts and ordained that people be joined together in His service so that varied talents of many minds are blended into one body. Close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability, and deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. That membership requires Christian courtesy at all times, becoming more refined by association, overlooking little differences on questions of no vital consequence, denying self and yielding personal opinions on minor matters to cooperate heartily and with brotherly kindness, speaking plainly and firmly when occasion demands but with such Christlike kindness that no offense is taken, and uniting forces unselfishly and untiringly to build up one another's work with far-reaching results for good.
The instruction must be brought into practical life, and living it makes true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily exhibition of character. True Christians have put on Christ and are transformed by renewing of their minds, proving by experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, showing sincerity by pure, clean words full of sympathy, tenderness and love, with family religion and family holiness honored, with moral renovation of heart, and with reproof and sharp rebuke when needed, as the work of the Holy Spirit as sanctifier, reprover and comforter to prepare a people to meet God. Though many, believers are one body with many members not all having the same office, and they are called to converted intellects, daily converting power, Christ dwelling within, and repentance and daily conversion from wrongdoing, to present their bodies a living sacrifice, be transformed by renewing of the mind, think soberly according to the measure of faith, use gifts differing according to grace, and live in sincere love, brotherly kindness, diligence, hope, patience, prayer, and hospitality, that the gifts to the church may make it the light of the world.
Those laboring in ministry and medical-missionary lines must not work in a haphazard, divided way but in unity with kindly affection one to another, for living this oneness is of vital importance to everyone especially now above all other times in earth's history. Leaving it out of practice produces discord and strife that dishonors God, withholds the power He would impart, and prevents Him from glorifying His name before the world and heavenly universe, because members are not doing the work they should do. God's church is to connect its members so that light and gifts given to one can serve others, with no person or institution acting apart from the rest, in love, gentleness, justice, and shared participation, including the joining of medical missionary work and the gospel. Those in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility before God and using varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand, all parts controlled by wisdom God gives with harmony in every action, no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, all drawing in even cords without friction, ministers giving room to fellow laborers and not measuring brethren by their own ideas, with no quarrel where Christ abides in the heart, all standing under Christ's standard united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for God's glory, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ. This unity is expressed in harmonious service where each faithfully performs an assigned task, workers help one another, duties are divided according to ability, and each worker is honored as one of God's workers, binding hearts together and advancing the Lord's work.
In infinite wisdom God employs human agencies to cooperate with Him in salvation, giving a variety of agencies different gifts to cooperate harmoniously each filling a special God-given sphere of action. The work for fellow men is done not by judging them but by showing forth what the Lord has done in transformation of character. God has given every man, woman, and child a different work in His moral vineyard, one fitted for a certain work and another adapted to a different work and another to a still different line, each to be the complement of the others, for no one alone is a complete whole but all are needed together blending in union with the Holy Spirit, taking time to understand each other instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge, trying to find points of resemblance, helping each other, one supplying another's lack, accepting keener perceptions in another and giving due credit to each one's ability. No one can teach the lesson while acting independently, rejecting counsel, and criticizing fellow believers, for living it in practical love and cooperation belongs to following Christ's plain teachings, with each a responsible moral agent having an appointed part, cooperating with God while depending on divine help. The variety of gifts is to be brought into building the temple of the Lord, each finding its proper place to grow into a holy temple in the Lord, with believers not shutting themselves within themselves but loving one another as brethren, being kind and courteous.
Though many in number, believers are joined into one body in Christ and belong to one another as bodily members belong to each other, with Christ Himself as the Head of that body. God gives to the members differing gifts and offices according to grace and ability, so that no gift outranks another and each has its own appointed work to do for the good of the whole. No member can live the Christian life alone or act independently, but each is to work in its place in dependence on the others, supplying what another lacks and blending together like well-adjusted machinery under sanctified intelligence. This oneness forbids masterly ruling over conscience, exalting self, dividing into parties around men, withdrawing from brethren, or tearing down another's work by criticism and interference. It calls instead for sincere love, humility, sympathy and practical helping, with every member faithfully serving, caring for the suffering, and uniting varied gifts in labor for God.
Meaning of One Body
Though many in number, believers form one body in Christ with each person belonging to one another, and the image of bodily members pictures the church and the relation its members should sustain to each other. This instruction carries high value for all churches and lays religious duty on everyone to be studied by the whole church, calling for a higher plane of action where all who hold position as shepherds represent the great Shepherd. It gives each member a special work to do and a place to fill, yet all do not have capability to do the same work to best advantage, since one is fitted for one class of work and another for another, and all blend in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness. In this united service differing gifts according to grace are given and appreciated as essential for advancing the cause, with no special gift above another, as God's sons represent Him amid rebels and enemies who neglect His will and despise His honor in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. The same oneness rules out trying to dominate or control fellow believers by a masterly ruling power that charges what they shall and shall not do, for such ruling is not of God but another gospel, not the righteousness of Christ, and is a spoil to the church.
Christ is the Head of the body, and the body is made up of those who accept Him as Saviour, confess their sins, and are transformed by the renewing of the mind. They grow up in Christ their living Head, presenting their bodies a living sacrifice and proving by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Living this out makes true believers whose sincerity appears in pure clean words full of sympathy, tenderness and love, with family religion and family holiness honored, with moral renovation of heart, and with reproof and sharp rebuke when needed, while spurious faith is exposed by daily exhibition of character. This is the work of the Holy Spirit as sanctifier, reprover and comforter to prepare a people to meet God, bringing members into shared service and harmony in the church. It calls workers to converted intellects, daily converting power, Christ dwelling within, and repentance and daily conversion from wrongdoing, thinking soberly according to the measure of faith and living in sincere love, brotherly kindness, diligence, hope, patience, prayer and hospitality, that the gifts to the church may make it the light of the world.
Jews and Gentiles are united in this one body through faith and obedience, for both have sinned and need the Saviour's grace. Dependence on Christ and connection with Him must be as close as a limb's connection to the body, for Christ is the believer's only hope of salvation. Human merit cannot atone for sin or commend fallen people to God, and the merits of Jesus' death and resurrection are the foundation of Christian faith. Each one belongs to the Lord by creation and redemption, soul, body and spirit, bought with a price and bearing His stamp upon them. Yet each keeps an individuality, identity and character to be worked out after the divine similitude, which cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with certain God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow impressions of duty.
No human has jurisdiction over another's conscience, no right to control another's mind, to judge for another and prescribe duty, to take away rights, to exercise authority and dictate, or to be harsh, severe, dictatorial and bruise souls, for God deals with infinite tenderness with His heritage. Members of His body are to give back to God all He has redeemed in consecration to sanctification and holiness, educating every power of mind, soul and body to highest perfection and presenting self as an offering for God to work through by His Holy Spirit. This requires sober, reasonable thinking, not being swayed to right hand or left, one day on the mount and the next in a despondent valley, but giving a steady example that makes straight paths so the lame are not turned out of the way. It requires turning from things dear to the carnal nature that cause stumbling, so that the sunshine of Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping everyone around. Ministers likewise are to link together in labor instead of working alone, with no one feeling superior, refusing to work with others, or trying to do all the thinking, managing and preaching himself, but blending different talents, minds and methods in free, hearty unity of action while each keeps his own individuality.
As members of the heavenly family, believers press to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame, and their conduct toward one another must therefore be governed by principles of helping and strengthening each other. Their work in this world is to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man, which requires learning of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart in order to find rest. Those laboring in ministry and medical missionary work are thus united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility of mind before God and using varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand. All parts of the work are controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, and all drawing in even cords without friction. All stand under the standard of Christ Jesus, united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader, sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for the glory of God, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ.
Different Gifts and Offices
Though many, believers are one body in Christ and members one of another, with a special work for each member to do and not all having the same office. God dispenses differing gifts according to grace and the measure of faith and ability, giving one gift to one person and another to another as He pleases. In His order some serve in one line of work and others in other lines, all working under the same Spirit for the good of the whole body. Recognizing this plan guards against emulation, rivalry, pride, envy, and contempt of one another, and it strengthens unity and mutual love. It calls for close mutual connection and dependence with no division, rivalry, or selfish pride, but sober thinking about self, sincere love that hates evil and holds to good, and united obedient action.
No one's special gift is above any other gift, and all gifts are to be appreciated as essential for advancing God's cause. Humble ministry is as important in its place as teaching or leadership, and each member should faithfully do the work entrusted to them. In this united service God's sons represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies who neglect His will and despise His honor, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.
Minds are not molded alike, and exact sameness is not required but would bring less harmony and natural adaptability to each other. As eyes are made for seeing and ears for hearing, and mouth, nose, hands, and feet each have their own work, so each member has a different office that no other can exactly perform, yet all are necessary to the perfect whole and work in beautiful harmony. No member has every qualification needed for God's work, and no one alone is capable of being a complete whole or able to serve independently in every matter. One is to be a benefit and blessing to the other, where one lacks another supplying what is requisite and differently organized minds, temperaments, talents, and methods balancing deficiencies, rather than forcing all to yield every wish and inclination to one will. God in His providence brings together people of different temperaments that they might unite in the work, with diverse elements blended one adapted to the other, each doing its special work for God and having its place in filling up one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image, because God is one. Different workers, talents, minds, and methods must be blended with free, hearty unity of action while each keeps individuality, since humble ability will often reach hearts sealed against greater supposed ability, and close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability so that deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another.
The church is God's garden adorned with a variety of trees, plants, and flowers, and is made up of many members both large and small vessels united as one body in Christ. He does not expect the hyssop to become as large as the cedar or the olive to reach the height of the stately palm. He works through men and women who are willing to be used, and He blesses them in seeking to save souls ready to perish, so that even those with only limited religious and intellectual training have a work to do if they labor in humility trusting in Him.
Each person is to take the proper place and lot and do faithfully the appointed work suited to the ability given by God, rather than expecting everyone to do the same work. One is fitted for one class of work and another for another class, and all blend in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness and grow up in Christ their living Head. Each is to fill the appointed place with the gifts appointed, connecting gifts with the gifts of others to make them helpful, improved and blended together like threads in a complete pattern serving the unity of the body. This shared life calls for loving cooperation, humble service in love and mutual regard, and honoring one another rather than self-exaltation, insisting on one's own judgment, or acting independently of fellow believers.
Just as the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs, so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on the perfection of its individual members. Each person has an individuality and a character to work out after the divine similitude, with personal accountability to God to serve Him, an individual part to fulfill and an experience to gain for heaven. This requires sober, reasonable thinking, wearing Christ's yoke and drawing under His leading, not being swayed to right or left, giving a steady example that makes straight paths so the lame are not turned out of the way. It requires educating every power of mind, soul, and body to the highest perfection and presenting self as an offering for God to work through by His Holy Spirit, turning from things dear to the carnal nature that cause stumbling, so that the sunshine of Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping everyone around, cooperating together instead of standing as a distinct whole or living Christian life in isolation.
Harmony and Mutual Dependence
Believers though many form one body in Christ and belong to and depend on one another as its members, so Christian life is not to be lived in isolation. No member has every qualification needed for God's work and no teacher, physician or minister by himself is a complete whole, so no one should act as though able to serve or manage independently in every matter. Each has an individual part to fulfill, an experience to gain and a character to form for heaven, with a part in God's work and responsibility to serve faithfully, for when some remain idle those who do their part must carry a double burden. Withdrawing from the church and fostering complaint weakens love, sympathy and unity, while associating with the church and using influence for good helps believers grow spiritually and serve one another. Though each member is incomplete alone, varied gifts work together in harmony to form a whole, and therefore believers should value one another's gifts and work rather than envy or belittle them, working together humbly and teachably even when they differ in judgment or plans.
As the different members of the human system unite to form the entire body and each performs its distinct office in obedience to the intelligence that governs the whole, so the members of the church should be united in one symmetrical body, each doing its work subject to sanctified intelligence. Church membership therefore involves shared responsibility and coordinated service, with various lines of work committed to different men according to their several ability and all work for the Master connected with the great whole. All are to work together in concert, each controlled by divine power and putting forth undivided effort to draw those around them to Christ, with hearts blending and moving like well-adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other yet distinct in action, and no member able to be inactive.
Like the organs of a body each member must impart and serve beyond itself, for selfish refusal to do so brings spiritual death. God has given to every person certain gifts and ordained that people be joined and associated together in His service so that the varied talents of many minds are blended into one body. Close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability and capability, so that deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service and become balanced and equipped.
Those brought together in church capacity are to be united understandingly and intelligently, striving to be one as Christ is one with the Father, with the figure of bodily members picturing the church and the relation its members should sustain to one another. All parts of the work are to be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, drawing together in even cords without friction. Christ gives different people different abilities to be used in different lines of work, some strong for one kind of work and others fitted for another kind or for laboring in a different way to accomplish the same result, so no worker should feel that fellow workers must labor in exactly the same way he does, measure brethren by his own ideas, or refuse room to fellow laborers. Ministers are one body in Christ and members of one another and must link up together in labor instead of working alone, with different talents, minds and methods blended in free, hearty unity of action while each keeps individuality, for humble ability will often reach hearts sealed against greater supposed ability, and only prayer, communion with God, love as brethren, esteeming one another and hiding self in Christ make the work effective and sustain united workers by the Holy Spirit with success in winning souls.
This shared life calls for sincere love and faith that works by love and purifies the soul from rivalry, strife, contention, self-importance and selfish pride, with no division. Cheerfulness, looking on the bright side, unity, sympathy, kindness and unselfish love are to exist among God's workers, whose work is to be a help and a blessing to one another in brotherly kindness and honoring one another. Sincere love hates evil and holds to good, refusing to use influence, pen or voice to strengthen evil or serve Satan's side, and shows itself in united obedient action to God's word, in using differing gifts faithfully by grace with humility and mutual regard rather than insisting on one's own judgment or thinking more highly of self than soberly according to the measure of faith.
Warnings Against Division
Though many, believers are one body in Christ and members one of another, and this instruction is of high value for all churches, calling the work of God to be carried on a higher plane where all in position to act as shepherds represent the great Shepherd. It forbids dominating, masterly ruling power that charges upon the Lord's people what they shall do and shall not do, for such ruling is not of God but another gospel, not the righteousness of Christ, and is a spoil to the church of God. This unity belongs among the gifts and responsibilities given to the church, and rules out trying to dominate or control fellow believers. Each one belongs to the Lord by creation and redemption, soul, body and spirit, bought with a price and bearing His stamp, yet each keeps an individuality and identity that cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow impressions of duty. No human being has jurisdiction over the conscience of another, no right to control another's mind, to judge for another and prescribe duty, to take away rights, to exercise authority and dictate, or to be harsh, severe, dictatorial and bruise souls, for God deals with infinite tenderness with His heritage, and members of His body are to give back to God all He has redeemed in consecration to sanctification and holiness.
Each person has a different office according to the measure of faith God has given, so no one should think more highly of himself than he ought but should think soberly. Its principles must be carefully studied and done in small matters as well as large, with work in this world to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man, which requires learning of Christ who is meek and lowly in heart in order to find rest. Those who become exalted in their own opinion let Satan weaken them and will not be sustained, but as long as they work humbly seeking wisdom from God, who is high and lifted up, He will use them as His instruments. It is duty to think soberly, to wear Christ's yoke and to draw under His leading, cooperating together instead of standing as a distinct whole, just as the perfection of the physical body depends on the perfection of the individual organs so the perfection of the spiritual body depends on the perfection of its individual members. Obeying it requires changing attitude and keeping self under control in order to continue in usefulness, keeping past success from being lost and making reaching the standard of perfection possible, while intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ that brings salvation to all places feet on the eternal Rock. It calls for close mutual connection and dependence with no division, rivalry, or selfish pride, shown in sincere love that hates evil and holds to good, in refusing to use influence, pen, or voice to strengthen evil or serve Satan's side, and in united obedient action to God's word by loving as brothers and giving honor to one another.
Ministers and members must work as one and not divide into parties around the men who brought them light and truth nor stand apart as independent atoms tied in separate bundles. He who planted and he who watered are one, laborers together with God, for neither planter nor waterer is anything and God alone gives the increase. There is to be no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, but all parts of the work controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, with harmony in every action, all drawing in even cords without friction. Those laboring in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility of mind before God and using their varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand. Ministers give room to fellow laborers and do not measure brethren by their own ideas, and where Christ abides in the heart there is no quarrel with a brother. All stand under the standard of Christ Jesus, united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader, sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for the glory of God, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ. Those who side with one teacher and refuse harmony with their brethren are not sanctified and need reconversion, else their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.
Withdrawing from brethren over misconceived opinions and building in self-confidence apart from them violates that oneness and lays rubbish of human supposition on the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Withdrawing from the church and fostering complaint weakens love, sympathy, and unity, for Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation, though each person has an individual part to fulfill, an experience to gain, and a character to form for heaven. Associating with the church and using one's influence for good helps believers grow spiritually and serve one another. Different minds contribute what others lack, so division and gathering a following that merely echoes one person's views hinder the church's work.
Christ links many people as one body while assigning each person a distinct line of service, giving every man, woman, and child a different work to do in His moral vineyard, one fitted to do a certain work and another adapted to a different work and another to a still different line. Each worker should guard against leaving his own work to take over or interfere with another's, because God gives different work to different people and each must stand in his own lot and place and do faithfully the work given him. No one alone is capable of being a complete whole, but all are needed together, blending together in union with the Holy Spirit of God, each to be the complement of the others. One man cannot understand the nature of the next man's work and must not tear to pieces, unravel, question, criticize and condemn what his brother is doing, for he will only find a tangle he cannot straighten and put men in hard places. Criticizing is a crime against God that opens the way for Satan's snares for the one eager to place himself where God has not placed him. Instead all are to take time to understand each other rather than standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other, trying to find points of resemblance, being a help to each other, one supplying the lack of another, accepting and appreciating keener perceptions in another and giving due credit to each one's ability, humbling the soul before God, ceasing complaining and criticizing, putting whole attention on faithful performance of own task with humility and fidelity in simplicity of true faith and by earnest prayer, and being guided by the Lord. Then Christ the Master-worker brings the varied parts together to fit perfectly, and God's work moves forward rapidly.
Each should serve according to the gift given rather than expect everyone to do the same work, and this shared life calls for loving cooperation and honoring one another. Those laboring in ministry and medical-missionary lines must not work in a haphazard, divided way but in unity with kindly affection one to another. Neglecting it leads to discord and dishonors God. Leaving it out of practice produces discord and strife that dishonors God, withholds the power He would be pleased to impart to His people, and prevents Him from glorifying His name before the world and before the heavenly universe, because church members are not doing the work they should do. Living this oneness is of vital importance to everyone, especially now above all other times in the history of the earth.
Loving Service in Practice
Being many yet one body in Christ and members one of another means conduct toward one another is governed by helping and strengthening each other while pressing to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. Lives are interwoven in practical work, so disappointment must not make believers think worse of one another, but they are to help and sympathize with each other. Those who have received present truth at the cost of opposition and ridicule and loss of worldly prosperity are joined as Christ's body and belong to each other, and as highly favored people in whom light has dawned and who will be made like Christ when He appears they are to be earnest to help and encourage one another.
Membership one of another lays religious duty on everyone to be studied by the whole church, for every church member has a work to do though all do not have capability to do the same work to the best advantage, one being fitted for one class of work and another for another class, all blending in a complete whole as they increase in faith and righteousness and grow up in Christ their living Head. That membership means visiting one another, talking the truth, praying with and for one another, visiting the sick, encouraging one another, and giving sympathy and love, thereby making manifest unity in Christ. When one member suffers all share that suffering, so each member should care about the needs of the whole brotherhood, and churches and conferences are to provide worn-out workers with the care, comfort, and homes they need.
Care for the body and healthful habits belongs to Christian service as different functions of the one body to which believers belong. Each has a part in God's work and all are responsible to serve faithfully, for when some remain idle the workers who do their part must carry a double burden. No member of Christ's body can be inactive, for various lines of work are committed to different men according to their several ability, yet all work done for the Master must be connected with the great whole in concert, each one controlled by divine power with undivided effort to draw those around them to Christ, hearts blending and moving like well-adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other yet distinct in action. A living church is a working church, and the do-nothing position of professed converts robs the church of vitality, while those who claim to know the truth yet make no effort to win sinners will be revealed as spiritual dwarfs; God's people unite their varied gifts in saving souls by showing missionary courtesy, missionary hospitality, and missionary zeal, and He has grace for every worker.
No teacher, physician, or minister by himself can be a complete whole, for God has given to every person certain gifts and ordained that people be joined together in His service so that varied talents of many minds are blended into one body. Close contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases ability, and deficiency in one worker is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus unite in imparting their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. That membership requires Christian courtesy at all times, becoming more refined by association, overlooking little differences on questions of no vital consequence, denying self and yielding personal opinions on minor matters to cooperate heartily and with brotherly kindness, speaking plainly and firmly when occasion demands but with such Christlike kindness that no offense is taken, and uniting forces unselfishly and untiringly to build up one another's work with far-reaching results for good.
The instruction must be brought into practical life, and living it makes true believers while spurious faith is exposed by daily exhibition of character. True Christians have put on Christ and are transformed by renewing of their minds, proving by experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, showing sincerity by pure, clean words full of sympathy, tenderness and love, with family religion and family holiness honored, with moral renovation of heart, and with reproof and sharp rebuke when needed, as the work of the Holy Spirit as sanctifier, reprover and comforter to prepare a people to meet God. Though many, believers are one body with many members not all having the same office, and they are called to converted intellects, daily converting power, Christ dwelling within, and repentance and daily conversion from wrongdoing, to present their bodies a living sacrifice, be transformed by renewing of the mind, think soberly according to the measure of faith, use gifts differing according to grace, and live in sincere love, brotherly kindness, diligence, hope, patience, prayer, and hospitality, that the gifts to the church may make it the light of the world.
Those laboring in ministry and medical-missionary lines must not work in a haphazard, divided way but in unity with kindly affection one to another, for living this oneness is of vital importance to everyone especially now above all other times in earth's history. Leaving it out of practice produces discord and strife that dishonors God, withholds the power He would impart, and prevents Him from glorifying His name before the world and heavenly universe, because members are not doing the work they should do. God's church is to connect its members so that light and gifts given to one can serve others, with no person or institution acting apart from the rest, in love, gentleness, justice, and shared participation, including the joining of medical missionary work and the gospel. Those in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ, wearing His yoke in humility before God and using varied gifts to bless humanity so God can use them as His helping hand, all parts controlled by wisdom God gives with harmony in every action, no jealousy of Paul or Apollos or Cephas, all drawing in even cords without friction, ministers giving room to fellow laborers and not measuring brethren by their own ideas, with no quarrel where Christ abides in the heart, all standing under Christ's standard united by desire to strengthen His work in every line, following His directions rather than human devising and refusing to fasten the soul to a human leader, because Christ is Leader sent by the Father to redeem the fallen race and restore the moral image of God in humanity for God's glory, as faithful stewards dying to self and living to Christ. This unity is expressed in harmonious service where each faithfully performs an assigned task, workers help one another, duties are divided according to ability, and each worker is honored as one of God's workers, binding hearts together and advancing the Lord's work.
In infinite wisdom God employs human agencies to cooperate with Him in salvation, giving a variety of agencies different gifts to cooperate harmoniously each filling a special God-given sphere of action. The work for fellow men is done not by judging them but by showing forth what the Lord has done in transformation of character. God has given every man, woman, and child a different work in His moral vineyard, one fitted for a certain work and another adapted to a different work and another to a still different line, each to be the complement of the others, for no one alone is a complete whole but all are needed together blending in union with the Holy Spirit, taking time to understand each other instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge, trying to find points of resemblance, helping each other, one supplying another's lack, accepting keener perceptions in another and giving due credit to each one's ability. No one can teach the lesson while acting independently, rejecting counsel, and criticizing fellow believers, for living it in practical love and cooperation belongs to following Christ's plain teachings, with each a responsible moral agent having an appointed part, cooperating with God while depending on divine help. The variety of gifts is to be brought into building the temple of the Lord, each finding its proper place to grow into a holy temple in the Lord, with believers not shutting themselves within themselves but loving one another as brethren, being kind and courteous.