Commentary: The body of Christ By RALPH FUDGE Sunday, November 30, 2025 The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:5, “For we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Paul compared the church to a human body, in which each part has a different but important role. He pointed out, “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?” If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?” (1 Corinthians 12:15-17). In a church, which is a group of believers, each Christian has been given at least one gift. A spiritual gift is something you do better than most other people. It may be teaching or leading youth, conducting a choir, or administering church business. It may be preaching or using your singing talent to serve the Lord by inspiring others. The purpose of any and every spiritual gift is to build up (edify) some church and thereby provide people the opportunities to be saved and then serve the Lord. No gift is for the benefit of its possessor, although gifted people do enjoy the use of their gifts in serving God. This is due to the fact that God always rewards all service made to Him by believers. Use of our gifts gives glory to God, our very purpose for living on earth. It is also not possible to serve God apart from other people. One cannot be spiritual in isolation. Dr. Charles Stanley said, “Walking in the Spirit is not a solo mission.” He said a believer will always need other believers. He added, “You cannot walk in the Spirit apart from functioning in the body of Christ.” That is where church attendance comes in. Again, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to edify the church. How can anybody possibly do that without ever attending church services? You may have known someone who claimed that he could worship God at home, and we all should certainly do that constantly. This person may claim that he can hear a good preacher on television. I admit there are a few very good preachers on TV. But that is not serving God and is not the same as meeting with and fellowshipping with other believers. The author of Hebrews reminds us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). God is clearly telling us to go to church! The Bible is God’s thoughts and will on paper. It alone is a powerful witness for Christ. People have been saved in motel rooms by reading Gideon Bibles. And thank God for it. But there are no hermit Christians. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. Jesus tells us, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). May all Christians, who are able, regularly attend worship in church. May we all enjoy the fellowship and love of other believers and inspire each other for greater faith. May we all serve the Lord and truly be the body of Christ. ___ Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. --- PULLQUOTES --- Quote: The purpose of any and every spiritual gift is to build up (edify) some church and thereby provide people the opportunities to be saved and then serve the Lord.