At His Disposal
The body has many members. We are to present our individual members to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13 bibrefromans6 bibrefromans6v13), our whole bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v1). This is every Christian’s call, and this is the entire assembly’s call.
Clearly in Romans 6:13 bibrefromans6 bibrefromans6v13 Paul refers to “members” as body parts, but if we connect that with the church as Christ’s body and church members as different body parts (1 Corinthians 12:12 bibref1corinthians12 bibref1corinthians12v12), we could relate that to our corporate (from the Latin corpus meaning “body,” so corporate is “body-formed“) worship, especially in communion.
When we eat the bread and drink the wine we are “proclaiming Christ’s death until He comes.” This is a corporate statement, all the parts combined into one voice.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26 bibref1corinthians11 bibref1corinthians11v26, ESV)
This belongs with the church’s statement to the spiritual forces about God’s wisdom.
so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:10 bibrefephesians3 bibrefephesians3v10, ESV)
Together, the many parts, “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,” bear with one another, forgive each other, love each other, are ruled by the peace of Christ “to which indeed you were called in one body,” are thankful, are richly indwelt by the word of Christ in order to be thankful in communion (Colossians 3:12-17 bibrefcolossians3 bibrefcolossians3v12 bibrefcolossians3v13 bibrefcolossians3v14 bibrefcolossians3v15 bibrefcolossians3v16 bibrefcolossians3v17).
Because we are under grace we are one with our Head, one as His Body, and the whole church is at Christ’s disposal.