The book of Romans is a literary masterpiece.  As Christians, we are not surprised by this, knowing that Paul wrote the epistle by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6-13).  One reason that Romans is a book we should become thoroughly familiar with is because of its theme—“the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

Paul deals with this theme through the first eleven chapters of the book, vindicating God and the gospel along the way.  He, then, beginning with chapter twelve, turns his attention to practical matters.  Now that we have been sanctified by the gospel and devoted to God, Paul tells us how we are to live in various areas of life.  One such area is our relationship in the body of Christ toward one another.

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
⁴  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Several thoughts come to my mind as I read these two verses.  First, it is clear that we are all different in Christ, and we should respect the individuality of every other member of the body.  We should enjoy the variety that is found in the body of Christ and remember that one is not better than the other.  In the church, we find some brethren from the city and others from the country.  One is not better than the other; they are just different.  In the body of Christ, some saints are low-keyed and quiet, and others are excitable and engaging.  One is not better than the other; they are just different.  So, then, we should strive to learn from each other’s differences and embrace the variety that is in the body of Christ.

The second thought that should come to our minds when reading these verses is that, not only do we have diverse backgrounds and personalities, we have different functions because we all have different talents and abilities.  What we need to do is discover what our talent is and use it the best we can.  Only then will we reach our full potential as a body (Ephesians 4:16).  

Finally, the words of Paul here cry out the truth that we should feel love and closeness to each other in the body of Christ.  Paul’s main point here is relational.  The emphasis on the one body is meant to focus our minds on the close and personal relationship that should exist between members of the church.  We are indeed members one of another. 

There could be no language that points to the close association between brethren more than the words that Paul chose to use here.  In the body of Christ, we are all connected.  We are a part of each other.   Our lives, whether we like it or not, are intertwined.  While this is true of the entire body of Christ, the most practical application of it is found in the local church.  We must never forget that we are a family.

Ephesians 3:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

For the rest of this week, I am going to be looking at some specific things that the Word says about this “one another” relationship we have in Christ.  I hope that it will help us draw closer to each other in the body of Christ, for this is the will of God.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.