Verse 3  "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."

One of the first things that we must do in order to transform our walk before God is to get the right opinion of ourselves in our own mind. If we are filled with pride in our mind, then we will not transform ourselves into a proper walk with God.

 

There was a time when the disciples argued among themselves who should be the greatest in the kingdom of God: Matt.18:1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." The Lord told us that if we have the wrong opinion of ourselves and sought greatness for ourselves then we could not enter the kingdom of heaven (church).

Paul's attitude about himself is one that we should all follow:

   1. 1 Tim 1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

   2. 1 Cor 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

   3. Eph 3:8 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

Thus, Paul considered himself the chief of sinners. He considered himself the least of the apostles. He considered himself less than the least of all saints. Likewise, should we also reckon ourselves the least.

Paul wrote in Phil. 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." We see the great humility of Christ even though he is the God of heaven and created all things, yet he humbled himself by making himself of no reputation, and taking upon himself the form of a servant. Further, he humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross. We need the same mind concerning ourselves that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.

Through the measure of faith that God has dealt unto us, we should humble ourselves and see that we were condemned ruined, hell deserving sinners, saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were not worthy of God's grace, but he bestowed it upon us anyway. Thus, we have no right to exalt ourselves above anyone. When we have this attitude in our mind we can began to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God.

Verses 4, 5   "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

 

Christ is the head of the church.

 

One of the recurring themes in the scriptures is that the church is the body of Christ. In addition, Christ is the head of the church:

   1. Mat 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

   2. 1 Cor. 12:12 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 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. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 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. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 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. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

   3. Eph. 1:22 "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

   4. Eph. 4:12 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together 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."

   5. Eph 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

   6. Eph 5:30 "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

   7. Col 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

   8. Col 2:19 "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

   9. Heb 13:3 "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."

The use of the body as a symbol of the church and the head to represent Christ as the head of the church has many lessons for us:

   1. First, it shows us that we have a vital relationship with the Lord and that he is the ultimate authority, control, and governor of our actions. This is true of both individual members and the body or church as a whole.

   2. Second, Christ is to have the preeminence in all things.

   3. Third, the Head nourishes the body even as Christ nourishes the Church.

   4. Christ as the head is the savior of the body. He gave his life for the church.

   5. Christ as the head loves the body, the church.

  6. The body has a great dependence upon the head to provide for its needs and its instructions, yet the members themselves also have a relationship with one another.

   7. For a body to properly function, each member has a responsibility to accomplish its designed purpose.

   8. Each member has its own gifts and responsibilities.

   9. Each member is to function in harmony with the other members.

   10. If one member is in pain, then all the members of the body feel the pain of the member that is hurting.

   11. Not one of the members can say that it does not need the other members to have a fully functional body.

   12. All of the members are important to the body.