All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible 1995 Ed. (NASB95)

Unfortunately, the western mindset largely focuses upon the individual as the most fundamental unit of society. There’s something in the U.S. called “rugged individualism,” which is the philosophy that any strong person can get along in life by himself, without the help of others. But such a notion is an utter lie, and a complete rejection of one of the foundational elements of Christianity. As Christians, we weren’t merely saved as individuals, but as an entire body of redeemed humanity, of which each member is an essential part. As proof of this, consider Paul the apostle’s magnificent description of the redemption and reconciliation of God’s people in Jesus given in Ephesians 2:13-16:

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both . . . one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”

Notice the corporate nature of this explanation of our reconciliation to God. It’s not as individuals that we were reconciled, but “in one body.” Even before we were saved individually in time, then, God ordained that we would be united first to Messiah, and then to one another, so that our reconciliation would be accomplished as the body of Messiah, and not just as individual persons.

If from God’s very decision to save us, He considered us not just as individuals, but as members of Messiah’s body, then we need to see ourselves as such. In Jesus, we are united, since we share in the same redemption, salvation, and reconciliation. And the goal of this reconciliation is that God would “redeem a people for Himself,” not persons for Himself (Titus 2:14).

With reference to our oneness as members of the Lord’s body, Paul paints a vivid picture of our mutual importance in his first letter to the Corinthians, and verses 13-27 of chapter 12:

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body . . . On the contrary , it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Paul’s metaphor is clear. No one part of the Lord’s body is more important than any other. Thus, we ought to learn from this that every believer is needed in the life of God’s people. Further, just as all our body parts work together to accomplish a single purpose, so also Christians need to.

As members of the Lord, what description also fits us? Since we share in the life of Jesus, we also share in His sonship. Now that we’ve been reconciled to God, we’re His children. Therefore, all believers are brothers and sisters in God’s family. And this family bond doesn’t only consist of shared beliefs, in shared commitments, in devotion to the same organization, or to the same activity. It goes far, far, deeper than these common human bonds. Our deepest bond is sharing in the divine life of the Lord Jesus by the will of the Father, and through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within each of our hearts. In other words, all Christians have the same heavenly Father, the same heavenly life, the same heavenly affections, and the same heavenly destiny. These are things we don’t share with anyone – including our own natural family – besides those who have also been born again through the Spirit, and made children of God. Hence, it’s essential that we don’t just call ourselves brothers and sisters, but actually treat one another as such.

Again, Paul provides us with many instructions to live out this familial unity. In his letter to the Romans, he urges,

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love . . .” (Ro. 12:10a)

Likewise, Peter explains,

“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart . . .” (1 Pe. 1:22)

And most foundationally, our Lord Himself enjoined His apostles:

“’A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.’” (Jn. 13:34)

This command is the most demanding one handed down to us in the entire Bible. We are to not just love our brethren, but love them as the Lord has loved us. And how did He love us? By laying down His life for us. This is exactly what John the apostle gives as a requirement for His followers in 1 John 3:16. The only way we can possibly imitate the love of Jesus for others is if we see them the way that He does. And how does He treat them? As His own brothers and sisters in God’s family. We’ll next work out what such a love looks like in everyday life.