“For We Are Members of His Body . . .

“For We Are Members of His Body . . .

of His flesh and of His bones.” Eph. 5:30. “This is a great mystery . . . .” V. 32. This is truly a great mystery. The greater the treasure, the greater the value, and the better it will be in the hidden.

This is probably the most valuable, that is, the most effective truth of all truths. It achieves practically everything that will and can be achieved. However, it will not achieve anything at all without a living faith in it. This is precisely the great difficulty for a poor person; namely, to believe something that is so exceedingly great and glorious. However, if I believe it as it is written, it will have the intended effect, for it is true.

According to this word, when Jesus was crucified, He was the Head, and we were members of His body. Therefore we were crucified with Him. Thus we also died with Him. This is precisely why Paul could write to the Ephesians, believing we were raised up together with Him and were sat together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6), namely, as members of His body.

As members of the same body, we must obviously be crucified with Him, be dead with Him, and be raised up with Him. The amazing thing is that as truly as we believe it (full assurance), it has this effect. Where the Head was, there were we. Where the other members are, there are we. Their joy is our joy, and their grief is our grief. And as to money and property, it is their money and property. Their weakness is our weakness, and their strength is our strength.

The Head is never alone! The members are never alone! Loneliness is excluded. Sin is excluded. Division is excluded. These are the unavoidable effects of a living faith in this almost unbelievably great and glorious truth!!! For example, see 1 Corinthians 6:15: “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? [Unfortunately, this is what people usually do not know.] Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?” “Flee sexual immorality.” V. 18.

What a correct, lawful, proper, preserving, and saving mindset, which is a consequence of faith in this blessed truth! What a decidedly crucial truth!

According to this truth, we are a part of Christ in heaven spiritually; physically we are a part of Him on earth.

The Head is never alone, separated from the members, and the members are never alone, separated from the Head!

By the Father’s will and leading, this inscription was put up over His head on the cross: I.N.R.I. which means: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Not only is the Head the King, but also all the members are kings. And not only the Head is heir! Whatever the Head inherits, the members inherit also. They have everything in common!!!

Not only was the Head dishonored in this world, every single member shares in the same reproach. This is a very true and everlasting honor for them!

The consequences, the effects of faith in this truth are vast.

Your eternally thankful fellow member—