Members of one another

Twice a very special expression appears in the epistles of Paul. In Romans 12:5 we read: "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another". And in Ephesians 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another".

The above quoted statements speak to us of the very close oneness that exists among the diverse members of the body of Christ. Not only there is a vertical unity, meaning in regards to the Head which is Christ, but there also is a horizontal relationship in regards to each member of the body. This second class of relationship is even finer and more difficult to accept than the first, because it affects our natural distrust of others.

Although this truth is so very great and marvelous, no believer would be willing to reject the word that says: "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1st. Corinthians 12:27).

Neither would any true believer reject the word in 1st. Corinthians 12:12, although it collides with our mental standards: "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." (not only are we members of the body of Christ, but also members of Christ Himself). Right here is what we are highlighting today. What shall we say about it? Shall we believe it? Shall we reject it? To be members one of another means that the destiny of each brother in Christ is unmistakeably united to mine; I am his and he is mine.

Nothing can separate us from one another, because we are members one of another. Just as in the body the disconnexion from one member to another would be absurd and fatal, so it is also if one member of the body of Christ would deny the perfect oneness that unites him with the rest of the members of the body.

Even the fact that this phrase appears exactly identical in two different verses also has its meaning. The number two in Scripture is the number of testimony. Jesus said that "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established". Matthew 18:16c. When something is said twice, it means it is firm, that what is said is absolutely trustworthy, urgent, of top priority. So therefore, this matter is firm, it is the truth of God, it is the spiritual and indivisible reality of the body of Christ.

The practical implications of this truth are yet to be fully seen. How much blessing this has in its bosom! It is like an embryo about to be developed. We do not know if in some place on earth this has been lived out in its full dimension. However, be it as it may, the word is there, the life of that word is willing to be manifested wherever that word might be believed in.

Meanwhile, let us be believing in the Word, and let us be intertwining ourselves one with another, without prejudices or distrusts, with the full and absolute conviction that no word that proceeds from the mouth of God ever returns empty.