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Body of Christ

The document discusses Saint Paul's view of the Church as the body of Christ, with Christ as the head and believers as different members, using their various spiritual gifts. It says this image suggests unity amid diversity, like how a human body has different parts that work together. It notes that in the body of Christ, there are no divisions based on attributes like gender, race, or social status. Embracing this full unity would mean the Church utilizing each member's gifts to accomplish its mission, rather than any one person trying to do everything or ranking some gifts over others.

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Chinky Ibarra
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38 views7 pages

Body of Christ

The document discusses Saint Paul's view of the Church as the body of Christ, with Christ as the head and believers as different members, using their various spiritual gifts. It says this image suggests unity amid diversity, like how a human body has different parts that work together. It notes that in the body of Christ, there are no divisions based on attributes like gender, race, or social status. Embracing this full unity would mean the Church utilizing each member's gifts to accomplish its mission, rather than any one person trying to do everything or ranking some gifts over others.

Uploaded by

Chinky Ibarra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Body of Christ

Scriptural Image of the Church


Church the Body
of Christ
Saint Paul's view of Church as a body of
Christ "Just as a body, though one has many
parts, but all its many parts form one body,
so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized
by one Spirit so as to form one body -
whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even
so the body is not made up of one part but
of many (Corinians 12:12 - 14)."
What does this image or symbol suggest to you
about the nature of the Church?
Christ's body can be:

PHYSICAL BODY - the historical Jesus, assumed at the Incarnation.


EUCHARIST BODY - making sacramentally present to us the person of the Risen Christ
in his saving sacrifice.
MYSTICAL BODY - the church, the faithful, united to Christ as their head, and united and
vivified by His Spirit.

The Church is called the body of Christ because Christ is the head of the church and we are
called to do work of Christ, each like members of a body. We have different skills, purposes,
and spiritual gifts, yet every believer is equally important to the full functioning, mission,
and efficacy of the church.
Saint Paul used the image of the Body of Christ to
show unity amid diversity in the Church, much as a
human's body parts are all different but work
together as one. How might this image of a body
apply to social and cultural diversity? Add any other
areas of diversity you believe should be included.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male
and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Paul clarifies that in Christ, neither social identifies nor the social statuses deriving
from them to open up for the Galatians the pathway to the Abrahamic blessing by
either excluding or including those with certain social identities, for Jewish and Gentile
Christians are "all one in Christ".

Therefore, no matter what the differences we have in life, in our personality,


and in our beliefs as long as we are Christians and part of the Church, we are
welcome and incorporated within the family of God; we will inherit the
kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21). Social identities and statuses are not the basis of
division within the body of Christ. Gal. 3:28 doesn't support color-blind
Christianity.
If Saint Paul's image of the Church as a body were
fully applied, how would the Church, this school, or
the community in which you live be the same or
different?
The body needs many parts, many gifts, talents, and skills - to function. We as
believers need to work together to accomplish the mission Jesus gave us. Rather
than trying to do the same thing, each of us can contribute that which God has
called us to do and be.
When the church, or the body of Christ, works together and is joined together in
faith, we can function properly in the role that Jesus has given to the church. When
there is disharmony in the church, it will be difficult to fulfill its mission.
As members of the body of Christ, we have been given spiritual
gifts. Using these spiritual gifts is a key part of how we go about
being a faithful member of the church. Christians have different
skills and personalities, and have been designed by God in a
purposeful way, so that we can love God, love others, and share
the Gospel. As the body of Christ, we should embrace the
diversity within, affirming and celebrating the spiritual gifts each
contributes, rather than ranking spiritual gifts. We know that all are
equally important according to God’s word. As a member of the
body of Christ, we are called to serve, to take care of each other,
and bear the fruit of the Spirit. To be part of the body of Christ is
to have found hope and salvation in Jesus. It is an honor to receive
the gift of salvation, which we cannot earn ourselves, but that was
freely given to us when Jesus died on the cross for the world. This
term, body of Christ, helps us understand what it means to be
part of the church. Jesus is the head of the church, and we as
believers make up the church, and therefore, are deeply
connected to the work and mission of Jesus. Every believer has
been given certain spiritual gifts and skills to contribute to the
church and is valuable and important to furthering God’s kingdom.

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