Having laid down the foundation for our conduct as Christians (‘by the mercies of God’); and the guiding principles for our conduct (‘offering our bodies as a living sacrifice; not conforming to the world, but rather being transformed through renewed minds’); the apostle Paul now applies this radical new way of living to our lives together in the church. Paul re­minds us of the importance of using our minds in the church. We are not to leave our minds outside the church door. The head, as Tozer reminds us, is not just a place to hang a hat on! As members of the church then, how are we to think — and behave?

1. We are to Think Soberly about Ourselves (3)⤒🔗

In the 16th century something of a scientific ‘revolution’ occurred. Up until that date it had been assumed that the earth was motionless; that it was at the centre of the universe; and that the sun and the planets circled the earth. Then Nicolas Copernicus dared to challenge that theory and suggested that in fact the earth was not at the centre at all — but the sun is. The earth not only spins on its axis but also circles the sun. This discovery is sometimes known as the Copernican revolution. It radically altered science, astronomy, and the way we view the universe and ourselves.

Paul is teaching here that we have undergone something of a Coperni­can revolution. Once we thought of ourselves at the centre of the uni­verse. We were number one. We were Mr. Big. Everything rotated around us. Now, by (or because of) the mercies of God, a revolution has occurred; we now have a new outlook where God is at the centre of our lives, and we are relocated to our rightful place as mere creatures and servants.

‘We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought’ — some­thing we are all prone to do. It can demonstrate itself in different ways. We can be proud of our pedigree, proud of our education — and our chil­dren’s education and achievements, proud of our doctrines, proud of our morality, and a dozen other things. ‘Pride is a sin bred in the bone of all of us.’ (Henry). Pride is the mother sin (Augustine). Paul says, ‘don’t overestimate yourself; don’t be haughty; don’t have an inflated view of yourself’. We can be very precious about ourselves. We can be very critical of others. We can be very prickly and oversensitive when it comes to criticism. We think our ideas and opinions are worth listening to. We think everyone should notice what we do. We think that if we are absent that everyone should miss us. We think when we are present every­one should see us. It has been rightly said that, ‘many would be scantily clad if clothed in their humility.’ We are to think of ourselves with sober judgement. We are not to be intoxicated with our own sense of self importance. A drunken man thinks he is stronger than he really is; is more handsome than he really is; is smarter then he really is. We are to think of ourselves soberly, sensibly and realis­tically, ‘according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.’ Whether we understand faith objec­tively i.e. as the Christian faith; or subjectively i.e. as our personal faith, the lesson is the same. God has as­signed it. He has given it. He has apportioned it. It’s His gift to us. We are all sinners saved by grace; and saved to serve. Paul knew that in his own life, when he states, ‘for by the grace given to me’ (3). He likewise states to the Corinthians, ‘For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?’ (1 Cor. 4:7)

How should we then think of our­selves and any abilities or suc­cesses we may have? Isaiah succinctly expressed it when he said; ‘Lord ... all that we have accom­plished you have done for us’ (Isa. 26: 12). Jesus reminds us, ‘apart from me you can do noth­ing’ (John 15:5). The sober believer will say, ‘Not unto us Lord, not to us, but unto your name give glory.’ (Ps. 115:1). The sober believer will say as with John the Baptist, ‘He must increase, I must decrease’. Paul says, ‘Do not be haughty ... never be wise in your own sight’ (16).

Jeremiah states,

Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice and right­eousness in the earthJeremiah 9:23­-24

2. We are to Think Corporately about the Church (4-5)←⤒🔗

Paul uses this brilliant analogy of the church as the body of Christ (see also 1 Cor. 12:12-31, and Eph. 1:22-23). So far as I know no other writer uses it. He probably got the idea from Jesus’ words to him on the Damascus road: ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ Persecuting the church was tanta­mount to wounding the living body of Christ.

The body analogy is deceptively simple, yet profound. The church is a body — not a corpse. It’s alive! Its life comes from being united to Christ. The body has many parts, its complex; each part having a dif­ferent and unique function, whether we think of the hand, or foot, or eye, etc. Yet no part is independent. A foot can’t survive on its own. An arm is no good on its own. An ear is use­less on its own. Only when joined together in one body can the parts operate as a body with the ability to perform amazing functions. Think of what your body has done today — up to now!

The upshot of all this is: we ought to think of the church as the body of Christ — of which we are a part. It’s not merely that we are caught up in the same bundle of life; something we share with all humanity. But we are members of the same body (5). The relationship that believers have with one another can’t therefore get much closer! What then are some of the implications of this teaching? It means:

We will Value the Church←↰⤒🔗

Too many professing Christians — for whatever reasons — have opted out of the church. But Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. Any true Christian will also love the church and value it. It should be fundamental to us. It should be everything to us. It’s the place where our sanctification is to take place as we live with others. Many professing believers see it as an optional extra. They don’t think biblically. They think individualisti­cally. They think selfishly. They have privatised their faith. They think church is all about ‘me’. They ask, ‘What can this church do for me and my family’? It was John F. Kennedy who said at his inauguration, ‘ask not what this country can do for me. Ask what can I do for this country.’

We will Value the Unity and well being of the Church. ‘The Church is One Body in Christ and Individually Members of One Another’ (5)←↰⤒🔗

Christ values the unity of the church and prayed for it. Christ is the secret of our unity. He is the head of the body. A church united in Christ is a healthy church. Sometimes our unity can be threatened and obscured by infection and disease and illness in the body. When members of the body are not submitting to Christ and refuse to do His will, there is sin. This malady must be addressed — either by the individual or by the leaders in the church. If we may change the anal­ogy for a moment we think of a wheel. Think of Christ as the hub and our­selves as the spokes. The closer we are to Christ, the hub; the closer we will be to one another, the spokes. When there is infection in the body of Christ, you can be sure the problem is not with Christ — but in the life of the individual.

Don’t be like Mr and Mrs Jones who fell out with their three boys, who scattered to various parts of the world. One went to Canada, another to Australia and one to South Africa. They are still a family — they are still all ‘Jones’ — it’s just that they do not communicate or see each other. The Jones’ are a dysfunctional family. The church if it’s not careful can be a dysfunctional family; a sick body. Paul exhorts, ‘Live in harmony with one another’ (16). We ought to do all we can to preserve and promote the unity of the body.

We will Value the Support of the Church←↰⤒🔗

I should not be like that fool­ish member of the body which says to other members, ‘I have no need of you’ (1 Cor. 12:21). The Lord has made us part of the body exactly be­cause we need one another. Our motto should be that of the Three Musketeers, ‘One for all and all for one.’ We all at some stage will be in need; perhaps in need of an ear, a call, a lift, a hug, encouragement, an invitation, prayer, etc. We all will be at some stage able to minister to, or encourage, other members in the body.

We will Value Diversity in the Church. We have Different Func­tions (4) and Different Gifts (6)←↰⤒🔗

We are all different. Instead of resenting the fact, we should rejoice in it. God created a world with great variety and colour, e.g. look at the trees, the flow­ers, the birds, etc. E.g. look at the people! No two are alike. We are unique! We have different interests, lifestyles, humour, background, and experiences, etc. They say, ‘Variety is the spice of life.’

Imagine a 50 piece orchestra where every instrument was a trumpet! What would you think of that? Great if you like to blow your own trumpet! Not so good for the rest of us. Like­wise, the church is not a one man band. But everyone has a significant part to play to express the harmony and diversity in the church. Let us then always think corporately; recog­nising and valuing the gifts and contri­butions of others; while we ‘in propor­tion to our faith’ exercise our gift.

3. We are to Think Constructively about Serving (6-8)←⤒🔗

Paul here exhorts us to exercise our spiritual gifts. The body needs ex­ercise! (Food, exercise and rest are essential if the body is to grow). Gifts must therefore be exercised if the body is to grow. Paul mentions seven gifts. This is not a complete list of gifts, but mere examples. (See also 1 Cor. 12 where he men­tions 13 gifts; Eph. 4:7-12 where he mentions five; and 1 Peter 4:10-11 where he mentions two gifts. So there are at least 20 gifts specified in the NT; and we suppose this may not be an exhaustive list). We should see this list as typical ways we can serve one another in the church.

Every Christian has a gift. Some of us may feel we have no gifts of any consequence. We may think, ‘If I could preach I would be a pastor. If I were any good at languages I would be a missionary. If I were an academic I would be a teacher. If I were not so shy I would be a wit­ness to others. But God has given me so little it is not worth trying.’ However, it needs to be stressed; there are no useless people in the church. There are no spare parts. Every member has a gift to use. Paul says, ‘Let us use them!’ (6). We might say, ‘use it or lose it!’ Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t wait to be recognised. Just do it! There are always things needing to be done. Note how many of these gifts are of a practical caring nature. They are not all the flashy, trendy, eye catching gifts! But there are always lonely people to visit. Peo­ple we might invite to our home. People we might call or write to. There is always need for ‘prayers’ in the church. There is always need for ‘givers’. There are always prac­tical, mundane tasks to be done, like cleaning, and catering, or offer­ing a lift in the car, and so on. These gifts are to be exercised in the church and through the church. Wherever you are, you are a member of the body, and a wit­ness for Christ. We are always on duty. Someone has said that, ‘the church is the only club that ex­ists for the benefit of its non members.’

For some of you your gifts will be used more in your own home; or at work or wherever God has placed you. Wherever you are; you are God’s servant. Do you see yourself a missionary; an ambassador for Christ? ‘Let your light shine that you may be blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and twisted gen­eration.’ For those of us not in the workplace (who are retired or whatever) we need to support and encour­age those who are with our prayers. May God bless your witness for Christ.

In conclusion, let us ask ourselves:

What sort of church would our church be if every member were just like me?

Better or worse would our church be if every member were just like me?

Were every member of the church to be just such a member as Christ would see;

What changes would come to you and to me, and the gain to our church — what would it be?