Be Members of One Another

Romans 12:5 (KJV)

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

When you think of the word member, what comes to mind?

At the very least you have to realize that a common area of concern needs to exist for any two people to share membership in anything.

What is the central belief that is common across the varying denominational faith structures of traditional Christianity?

What are we members of, and what does that mean?

First; Christianity is a family:

Romans 8:12-17 (NIV)

12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.

13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are members of God’s family… brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ, and the children of the promise given to Abraham.

Romans 4:16-17 (NIV)

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

Second; all in that family share a basic common belief … that is:

Jesus is the resurrected Son of God, sent to die for the redemption of mankind’s sin.

Without this belief it is questionable that a person, or group of persons, could be included as part of Christ’s body of believers. You can’t be a believer if you don’t believe. But having believed, we are then accepted as members of God’s family.

Now that we know what makes us a member of God’s family, we should concern ourselves with the necessary things expected of the members in that family. One thing we can be very of sure of is this…

Family is important to God; very important.

Our Heavenly Father is the creator of relationship. One of the clearest messages we that we get from scripture is that God’s creation of mankind was out of His desire for a relationship. It’s this relationship that has produced the demonstration of His love for us all.

Everybody is in a relationship with God.

What is most misunderstood across the board is the existence of that relationship and what to do about it. Many don’t believe the relationship exists because they choose not to believe in the presence of God. Others accept the presence of God and the relationship, but simply don’t care. For the most part our relationship with God, and the way we handle it is simply done very badly. We have been operating according to our sinful nature for way too long.

It is only through Christ that we have the opportunity to be reconciled to a right relationship with God.

The one thing that Christ wanted for all believers is expressed in His desire that we all come together as one. Just as he and the Father were one… His prayer was for all believers to be one; that is members of one another.

John 17:20-22 (NIV)

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one

Blessings,

Matt.