We as children of God have been made this way by our obedience to God’s grace. God made us his children by giving us the way. It is up to us to receive this way. John says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 ) And Paul elaborates on this by saying we are “buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12 )

It is man that submits to and performs the baptizing, but it is God that does the operation. This operation is the operation of our being made children of God. Paul further tells us, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:26-29 ) And we see an example of this in Luke's record: “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47 ) The Lord adds us to the church when we become saved.

This church is also said to be the body of Christ. Paul tells us that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.” (Eph 1:22-23 ) In this we see that Paul equates the church to the body. They are the one and the same.

As a body, Paul tells us that there are many parts, or members, that make up a body. He says, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Rom 12:4-5 ) He also says, “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 Cor 12:12-14 )

We as children of God make up the body of Christ. Just like your own personal body, the body of Christ is made up of different parts. These parts have their own purpose. I would like for you to ask yourself is this question: “Am I a member of Christ’s body, and if so, what purpose do I serve as member of His body? What is my duty?”

Everyone’s job in the body of Christ is just as important as the other. Your role for the church is a great and important role. Paul says, “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1 Cor 12:15-18 ) Your duty is one that God has set you to have for the purpose of a properly functioning body. If all were the eyes, the body wouldn’t function properly. If the body had no eyes then the body would be blind.

I encourage you to have a sense of duty! You are just as important to the body of Christ as the next member. Our jobs are different, but our working together creates a properly working body. Let us find our job and do it to the best of our ability.

If you are not a member of this one body, I encourage you to become one by the being obedient to the gospel of Christ.