God has called us in one body.  The body of Christ.  While men make denominations and various religious sects, God made only one group: the Body of Christ.

Romans 12:3-5
   For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
   For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
   So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

   God dealt to every man THE measure of faith.  When we believed Romans 10:9-10 we received God's gift of holy spirit.  God's gift is a complete package.  It is a full measure.  This is the standard by which we are to think of ourselves.  "according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith."  To think otherwise is to elevate your own opinion above the Word of God.  We are individual members of the body of Christ, each having a full measure of the gift of holy spirit.  We each have a part in the one body of Christ and the ability to carry out that which God would have us to do.

1 Corinthians 12:13-27
   For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
   For the body is not one member, but many.
   If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
   And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
   If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
   But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
   And if they were all one member, where were the body?
   But now are they many members, yet but one body.
   And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
   Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
   And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
   For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together [sugkerannumi], having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
   That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
   And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
   Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

   God has tempered the body together.  The Greek word for tempered is sugkerannumi which means "to mix, mingle or pour out together."  God set the members in the body as it pleased Him!  He made the mix.

Hebrews 4:2
   For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with [sugkerannumi] faith in them that heard it.

Ephesians 4:15-16
   But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
   From whom the whole body fitly joined together [sunarmologeo] and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

   The one body is fitly joined together as each member supplies his or her part to the growth of the body as directed by the head - Christ.  The words "fitly joined together" are the Greek word sunarmologeo which means "to join or joint together as the joints of the physical body fit together."
   Once again the standard for that which we supply is "the effectual working in the measure of every part."   We each have a full measure of the gift of holy spirit.  When we walk according to the Christ in us, we supply that which is needed to keep the body together and growing.  We each supply our part and the body increases with the increase of God as He adds believers.

Ephesians 2:19-22
   Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
   And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone [foundation stone].
   In whom all the building fitly framed together [sunarmologeo]groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
   In whom ye also are builded together  for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

   In Ephesians 2 the one body of Christ is compared to the temple.  Christ is the foundation stone on which the temple is built.  The parts of the building are fitted together to make a house for God.  Each of us is an important piece in the temple of God.  We each fit perfectly in that building.  The building fits together and grows when it is "in the Lord."  Once again Christ directs, just as the architect or contractor places the parts of the building together.

Ephesians 4:15-16
   But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
   From whom the whole body fitly joined together [sunarmologeo] and compacted [sumbibazo] by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

   The body of Christ is like a puzzle.  Each piece fits in to make the whole picture.  Outside of the body the individual piece is not recognizable as a part of the whole picture.  But when the individual supplies his or her part to the body it is clear what that individual piece represents to the whole picture.  You may be (figuratively) "a shoulder" in the body of Christ.  Outside of the body you may simply appear to be a curved line; but when you are fitted into the whole and functioning as God set you, it is clear that you are a shoulder and that your part is vital.
   The word compacted is the Greek word sumbibazo which means "to join, knit, or drive together."  Each piece of the puzzle fits together and then is "pressed into place" by that which the individual supplies.

Colossians 2:2
   That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together [sumbibazo] in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

   We acknowledge the mystery of the one body of Christ when we are knit together, compacted in love, understanding the mystery of the one body.

The Mystery
Ephesians 3:6
   That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs [sugkleronomos], and of the same body [sussomos], and partakers [summetochos] of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

sugkleronomos = heirs together
sussomos = body together
summetochos = share together - joint sharer

Colossians 2:18-19
   Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
   And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together [sumbibazo], increaseth with the increase of God.

   This verse is similar to Ephesians 4:16.  The source of our togetherness and nourishment is the Head - Christ.  Each joint and band receives from the head and helps knit the body together and supplies nourishment.   God gives the increase.  This is the one body of Christ as God designed it.  He set each member in the body as it pleased Him.  He made Christ the head and gave each of us holy spirit and a function in the one body.  As we do our part in the body, the body fits together and is nourished.  You will understand your part in the body as you act.   Manifest holy spirit, speak in tongues, and get busy serving one another and God will supply the increase.

sussomos - a body together - same body - Ephesians 3:6
sugkerannumi - mixed or mingled together - 1 Corinthians 12:24
sunarmologeo -  joined together as the joints in the physical body - parts fitted to each other - Ephesians 2:21, 4:16
sumbibazo - knit together - driven together - taught together - Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:2, 2:19
sunoikodomeo - builded together as a house is put together  - Ephesians 2:22
sundesmos - banded or bound together - Colossians 2:19

Together With
Our Identification with Christ

sumpasko - suffered together with Christ - Romans 8:17
sustauroo - crucified together with Christ - Galatians 2:20
sunapothneekso - dead together with Christ - 2 Timothy 2:11
sumphutos - planted together with Christ in the likeness of his death - Romans 6:5
sunthaptomai - buried together with Christ - Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12
suzoopoyeo - quickened together - made alive together with Christ - Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13
suzao - alive together with Christ - Romans 6:8, 2 Timothy 2:11
sunegiro - raised together with Christ - Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12, Colossians 3:1
sunkathizo - seated together with Christ in the heavens - Ephesians 2:6
sunleeronomos - heirs together with Christ - Romans 8:17,
sundoxazomai - glorified together with Christ - Romans 8:17
sumbasiluo - reign together with Christ - 2 Timothy 2:12

Together With
Walking with One Another

suneklektos - called or elected together with - 1 Peter 5:13
suzugos - yoked together with - Philippians 4:3
sumpolitees - citizens together with - Ephesians 2:19
sustratiotees - soldiers together with - Philippians 2:25
sunergeo/sunergos - workers together with - 2 Corinthians 6:1/1 Corinthians 3:9
summimeetees - followers together with - Philippians 3:17
sumpsukos - souls together - one accord - Philippians 2:2
sunathleo - striving together with - in the contest together - Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:3
sunagonizomai - striving together with - exerting effort /competing together  - Romans 15:30
sunanamignumi - refreshed together with - Romans 15:32
sumparakaleomai - comforted together with - Romans 1:12
sunupourgeo - helping together with - 2 Corinthians 1:11
sunkairo - rejoicing together with - 1 Corinthians 12:26
sunkoinonos - share together (the grace of God) - Philippians 1:7

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© Copyright July  2003 Michael Cortright