The Church as Christ's Body

By saying we are Christ's body, we acknowledge that everything we are and have derives from him, and of course, expresses him. Paul is eager to show that there are no 'special' people in the Church, or rather, that all are special. All have been baptized into Christ by the Spirit. Each one is particularly placed or appointed as part of this body by God the Father. Those who think they are not as spiritual as others need to remember how important every part of a physical body is. If all you can do is see, how important is that? Then again, those who feel confident of their spiritual status may think they do not need the help of others with less spectacular gifts. They should think about the honour they give to their own bodies, every part of them.

Paul re-defines the word 'important'. It is not what sets us apart from others that makes us significant but what best serves others, whatever it is that we have been given to do. This is being truly spiritual. Inferiority and superiority have died in the body of Christ. In fact, everyone should seek the best gifts, particularly those by which others hear the word of the Lord.