Church-Believers Are Connected

"So in Christ we are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."(Romans 12:5)

a. We are connected through faith.
"There is one body and one Spirit-Just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord,
one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
(Ephesians 4:4-6)

b. We are connected through meeting together.
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."(Hebrew 10:25)

c. We are connected through loving one another.
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."(John 13:35)

d. We are connected through service.
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be
pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up."(Ephesians 4:11-12)

Church-United to Christ

"So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5)

1. Our redemption is in Christ.
"and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)

2. There is no condemnation in Christ.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." (Romans 8:1)

3. We have eternal life in Christ.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)

4. We have love in Christ.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Chris? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine
or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 12:5)

Body of Christ-Personal Application

The body of Christ is the church.1 Corinthians 12:27 says,"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." We are the body of Christ who have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Therefore, each Christian is a part of the body of Christ. The body of Christ, like our human body, is comprised of many parts. There are limbs, organs, cells, bones, and various members which make up the whole body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body....." As a part of the church, we should build up and enhance the body of Christ:

1. We are called to promote truth and unity in the body. "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." (Ephesians 4:25)
2. We are called to serve in the body. "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."(Romans 12:6-8)
3. We are called to worship God in the body. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."(Romans 12:1)
4. We are called to connect to each other in humility. "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3)

By God's grace, be a contributing member of the body of Christ right now. John Piper's comment is inspiring, he said, "It is an amazing calling and an amazing identity: being the body of Christ and individually members of one another. There is more to be discovered about yourself in Christ than you ever dreamed. And Christ will be more and more honored by every discovery you make."