Topical Bible: Titles and Names of Saints: Members of Christ

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Members of Christ" is a profound designation for believers, emphasizing their intimate and organic connection to Jesus Christ. This title is rooted in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul frequently employs the metaphor of the body to describe the relationship between Christ and His followers. As members of Christ, believers are integrally united with Him, participating in His life, death, and resurrection.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of believers as "Members of Christ" is primarily drawn from Paul's epistles. In 1 Corinthians 6:15, Paul writes, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself?" . This rhetorical question underscores the sacredness of the believer's body, which is not merely a physical entity but a part of Christ's own body. The implication is that believers are called to live in holiness, reflecting their union with Christ.

Further elaborating on this theme, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it" . Here, the apostle highlights the diversity and unity within the body of Christ. Each believer, as a member, has a unique role and function, contributing to the overall health and mission of the Church.

Theological Significance

The designation "Members of Christ" carries profound theological implications. It speaks to the mystical union between Christ and the believer, a union that is both spiritual and sacramental. This union is initiated through faith and baptism, where believers are incorporated into the body of Christ. As members, they share in the life of Christ, receiving His grace and participating in His mission.

This union also implies a deep sense of belonging and identity. Believers are not isolated individuals but are part of a larger community—the Church, which is the body of Christ. This communal aspect is vital, as it reflects the interconnectedness and interdependence of each member. As Paul writes in Romans 12:5, "so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another" .

Ethical Implications

Being "Members of Christ" carries ethical responsibilities. Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of their calling, reflecting the character and holiness of Christ. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul urges, "I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received" . This involves living in unity, love, and service, as each member contributes to the edification of the body.

Moreover, as members of Christ, believers are called to avoid sin, particularly sins that defile the body. In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Paul admonishes, "Flee from sexual immorality... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body" . This passage highlights the sanctity of the believer's body as a member of Christ, urging a life of purity and devotion.

Conclusion

The title "Members of Christ" is a rich and multifaceted designation that encapsulates the believer's union with Christ, their identity within the Church, and their ethical calling. It serves as a reminder of the profound mystery of the Christian faith, where believers are not only followers of Christ but are intimately united with Him as members of His body.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 6:15
Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 5:30
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... put upon Christ, by offices, places of trust, and titles of honour ... I cannot lose
a foot, cannot lose a finger; why, saints are Christ's members, his members ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm

The Kingly Priesthood of the Saints
... everything you like; but know that those titles will not ... thick jungle of India shall
see the saints of God ... t expect kings to put down their names for trifles. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the kingly priesthood of the.htm

The People on the Earth: Chapters 2-3
... him (the Beast) to make war with the saints and to ... Note how the titles of Christ
in verse 8 ("I am ... 4. Nevertheless thou hast a few names [119] in Sardis] These ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the people on the earth .htm

The Lord's Supper
... What names and titles in Scripture are ... We must have love to all; but to the saints,
who are our fellow-members here, we must draw out the fire of our love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

The Beloved Pastor's Plea for Unity
... the apostle especially expresses his fellowship with the saints in Rome ... that fellowship
he calls them by endearing names, by the highest titles which they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the beloved pastors plea for.htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... So precious are their names that God enters them in the book of life and Christ ...
Positively: They have titles of honour. ... The angels are the saints' servitors. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

On Idolatry
... manifest from the Scriptures, in which these titles are read ... festivals, fasts and
pilgrimages, [to angels or saints,] and to swear by their names, and not ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... true piety are said to inscribe their names among the ... Those magnificent titles, as
when the temple is called ... case it not only comprehends the saints who dwell ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... troubles, [440]173; addresses God by various titles, why, [441 ... of temptations,
[463]324; called by such names as would ... cast out by bones of the saints, [476]403 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

(On the Mysteries. Ii. )
... For as the breathing of the saints, and the invocation of the ... but while there are
spoken over us the Names of the ... though it is not found in the titles of the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xx on the mysteries.htm