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This co-operation in the church can only come about if we recognise that Jesus is the head. The human body is controlled by the brain. It is the mind which makes decisions and controls all our speech and actions. Therefore in the church it is Jesus who must be in control. Each individual must be responsive to the call of Jesus, and be obedient to do the work which Jesus requires of him or her. The church is the body of Christ on earth. The mind of Christ has to be sought and discovered. Although the church leadership has special responsibilities in this area, each individual has to be open, responsive and obedient to the will of Christ, who is the head.

It is interesting to see how the needs of the human body are matched by the needs of the body of believers. As a primary need for the human body is oxygen, so life is breathed into the church by the Holy Spirit. As the body needs food, so the word of God nourishes every part of his church. It can be worthwhile to consider different parts of the natural body and their function. Bones give strength, shape and protection. Skin also protects and regulates temperature. Blood is a servicing agent, nerves are means of communication, the senses inform of opportunities and warn of danger, and muscles enable movement. You will see that similar functions are, or should be, undertaken in a church fellowship. You may know some of the people whose function or calling it is to perform the different tasks.

Picture 4 Read Revelation 19 verses 7 and 8.
This is another of the pictures of Jesus in which he describes himself as the bridegroom. One example is in Matthew 9 v.15. "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast." Another example is the parable of the ten virgins. However Revelation 19 speaks not just of Jesus as the bridegroom; it speaks of the church or the body of believers as the bride. Other references with similar implications are 2 Corinthians 11 v.2, Revelation 21 v.2, and Revelation 22 v.17. Here the whole company of believers, from every place and every generation, that is past, present and future, is being considered as a singular entity, that is as the bride. There is one bridegroom, Jesus. There is one bride, the church. In this example, as in none of the others we are seen as a collective unit in which our individual identities are completely submerged.

Unity of Believers

These four images give us a pictorial representation of the unity of those who believe in Jesus. Let us try to find what else the Bible has to teach us on this subject. A good starting point is the biblical concept of covenant.

A covenant is an agreement, rather like a contract or treaty. There are two sides, individuals or parties to a covenant. The agreement is voluntary; no force is used, and neither side coerces the other. A covenant involves promises. Benefits are promised, but conditions are laid down. A covenant may have a mediator who comes between the two parties. There may be a document which is signed and sealed, and there may be a public ceremonial performed before witnesses. A covenant can be broken; a human one by either side. The most common form of human covenant is the marriage ceremony.