As the body is one

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. – 1 Corinthians 12.12-14

There is a lot about unity here following on from the Table. We see, if you will, a blessed trinity of unity. We see that we are one body with One God and One Spirit. We also share in one baptism.

Because we are one the old barriers are broken down. Paul says that Jews and Greeks are now one. He says that bond and free are one. This truth is clear. Black and white are one. Irish, English, French, Amerian, Saudi, Iraqi, Russian, or what ever – in Christ we are all one. All of us who are saved are individuals who are all parts of the one body.

It saddens me to see the church dividing over all kinds of issues. It breaks my heart to see Christians divided over skin colour or nationality or social status. It especially break my heart to watch the church dividing over politics. How can God be honoured by that kind of action?

First and foremost in our lives ought to be our heavenly citizenship, our oneness with Father and Son, our common indweeling Spririt, and our functioning as one united body.