In 1 Corinthians 12:27, the inspired apostle Paul told the church at Corinth, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
Just as the physical body has a head that makes decisions for the rest of the body, the same is true with the church, which is the body of Christ. As our Head, Christ has full authority to direct us (Eph. 1:20-23). Our job is to submit to Him (Eph. 5:24).
While members of the body (Christians) have a variety of backgrounds and talents, all faithful members enjoy equal access to God and equal importance to Him.
1 Corinthians 12 teaches these principles. The context of this chapter deals primarily with a misunderstanding of miraculous gifts given in the 1st century before the written Word was complete. These gifts have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10), but the principles of 1 Corinthians 12 can relate to non-miraculous gifts that Christians have today. For instance, a Christian who can’t do something(s) another Christian can might be tempted to be discontented with his or her role in the body, or even envious of the person who has a “more desirable” role. To this attitude, one could respond, “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” (1 Cor. 12:15). While a foot cannot do much that a hand can do, the foot is just as much a part of the body as the hand is. Moreover, the foot provides unique value to the body. The point is that just because a Christian can’t do some things another Christian can, this does not make either one less a part of the body. Nor does it give the member who seems to be more important cause for haughtiness. All members of the body are necessary and crucial (1 Cor. 12:21-22).
The necessity of all members of the body infers that each Christian must do his or her share for the body to function as God desires. This is exemplified in the Holy Spirit’s teaching about local church growth. For the body to grow, each member of the body must be growing (Eph. 4:15-16).
The need for each member of the body to do his or her part is amplified by the fact that members have differing talents, functions, etc. (cf. Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:17). Though these differences exist, there is one body of Christ, which all members are united together in (Eph. 4:4). Unity with fellow members is thus something to strive for (Eph. 4:1-3), as is proper treatment of those Christ unites us with (cf. 1 Cor. 12:25-26).
– Michael Hickox