Unity and Diversity in the Body - 1Cor. 12:12-31

I Corinthians 12:12-31

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Romans 12:5  ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (The Holy Spirit completely fills our innermost being.  Different gifts and interests but a common goal.) (And, as Paul will discuss, the Holy Spirit is poured into us that we might pour into other’s lives.  How cool it is to go completely on the other side of the world and share this common bond and Spirit.)

 ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Ephesians 2:18  ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28   ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11   ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

John 7:37-39  ³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Kind of a radical concept here; remember in Corinth were the people of status and renown, and if they didn’t have any then you make up some.  Paul’s already talked about how they would exclude the ‘lesser’s’ in their celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  Now to say the weaker, lesser parts are indispensable?!

I’ve had the misfortune, over my years, to have managed to break a great deal of the different bones in my body, and it seems some of them were my favorites, so I have broken them 2 or even 3 times!  I’ve learned the value of not being restricted by slings, casts and canes and not having to write or eat with your off hand)

(I’ve heard that one of the seemingly lesser parts; the big toe, if you lost it suddenly, you would have trouble standing and have to learn how to walk, run and stand all over again; so much for the Olympic track star!)

²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

2Corinthians 12:9  ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ”

²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 

Time out!! Now that’s not a John Wayne model!  We men don’t like to share in our sufferings, at least not until it’s too late.  When, if we were open and accountable to our trials with other men, they might encourage us, pray for us, and help strengthen us.  What a concept!

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Ephesians 1:23  ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 4:12  ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Colossians 1:18, 24  ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.   ²⁴ Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles (messenger or sent one), second prophets (not just a prediction about the future; it can also mean preaching God’s Word), third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able of helping (the gift of helps), those with gifts of administration (or of guidance, leadership), and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (notice this is a normal sequence of events, not meant to be a hierarchy.)

Ephesians 4:11-12  ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Romans 12:6-8  ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully

²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 

The greater gifts are those that are more beneficial to the body of Christ.  Paul has already made it clear that one gift is not superior to another, but he urges the believers to discover how they can serve Christ’s body with the gifts God has given them.  Your spiritual gifts are not for your own self-advancement.  They were given to you for serving God and enhancing the spiritual growth of the body of believers.

Ed has said in the past something that really struck me.  Talking about men who have missed a few meetings for some reason or another, or just plain ‘sissied up to the pillow’; he said that you should take care and be consistent in coming so that someone here should not miss the blessing that the Lord wants to deliver thru you.  Interesting, we all have a responsibility to each other; the body. Otherwise the body of believers will be less effective.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.  Paul sets us up for the great ‘Love’ chapter; chapter 13.

1Corinthians 14:1, 39  ¹Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  ³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS

1.      WHAT’S YOUR GIFT ENVY?  WHAT DO YOU EAGERLY DESIRE FOR A GREATER GIFT?

2.      DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

3.      HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE THEM TODAY?  GET IN THE GAME!!!!