In this section, we find Paul’s extended teaching on the Body of Christ, especially the unity of that body. How does a person get into this body? What enemies did the Corinthians face regarding this unity? How should we live in the body so that we actively promote this unity? These are some of the questions that we seek to answer from this message.
Teaching Notes:
The Unity Of The Body
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Intro: Paul is in the midst of a discussion of spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14). He has just been describing the great diversity of gifts in the body, and then has listed 9 of them. These gifts are not given for our good, but the common good. Further, they are distributed to us according to the sovereign will of God. At vs. 12, although he is still discussing Diversity, his focus shifts to Unity. His Theme in this section is “One Body, Many Members.” When Jesus lived on earth, He expressed Himself through His physical body. He was limited to being in 1 place at 1 time; wherever His body was. Now that He has ascended to heaven, He comes to dwell within His members by His Spirit. How does Jesus express Himself now? Through His body! The life, and character and power of Jesus are expressed through His Church, His Body. We are His hands and His feet!
1. The Agent Of Our Unity: 12:12-13 The One Spirit
Vs.12: Paul begins with the analogy of a physical body. No matter how many members of a physical body you have, you never have more than 1 body. The same is true of Christ and His body. Throughout the rest of this chapter Paul is going to develop the theme of the body of Christ. Body = 18x. Member(s) = 17x. It is worth noting that the NT never refers to believers as “Church Members.” The only sense in which believers are “members” is that they are members of the body of Christ, not a human organization. The word member is not used in a formal sense, but in an organic sense.
Vs.13: How do the members become part of the body? Vs.13 answers that question. The Spirit does it! He unites believers to Christ, thereby incorporating them into Christ’s body. The Biblical word used to describe this process is “baptism.” It means “immersion.” The Spirit unites us to Christ, and immerses us into His body. Notice it is into one body. It doesn’t matter what race, or social status you come from – all become equal participants in the 1 Body. Further, all are given equal privilege – to drink of the 1 Spirit. We’ll speak more about that when we come to apply this teaching.
2. The Enemies Of Our Unity: 12:14-31
A. Self-Pity: 12:14-20; 27-31. In vs.14-20, Paul is addressing those who were full of self-pity, saying “You don’t need me!” They were feeling useless and unimportant because they didn’t have the gifts that others had.
Vs.15-17: the foot wants to be the hand; the ear wants to be the eye. If they can’t be the other, then they feel they might as well give up and go home. Can you imagine how grotesque a person would like if he were just 1 Giant Eyeball! The Point: yes, the body needs hands and eyes, but it also needs feet, ears, and a nose. Imagine trying to live with hands and eyes, but no feet, ears, or nose. Your eyes see that hot fudge sundae, and your hands want to pick it up to eat it, but you have no feet to carry you over to the table to get it!
Vs.18: the sovereignty of God is the death blow to self-pity. If you really get that God is the one who has wired you the way you are, and given you the gifts you have, then if you continue in self-pity, you are doubting God’s goodness or wisdom. You are saying either, “God was not being good to me when He gave me these gifts, or He didn’t really know what He was doing!” Who wants to accuse God of that? You see, every sin we commit can be traced back to believing a lie about God! The sins of grumbling, comparing, and self-pity can be traced back to believing the lies that God is not good, and He is not wise.
Vs.19-20: There would be no body, if every believer was the same. But the truth is, that there is 1 body, made up of many members, each special, and different, and making their own contribution.
B. Self-Sufficiency: 12:21-26. Here Paul is addressing another crowd – the self-sufficient who were saying “I don’t need you!” These were the people who felt superior because they had certain gifts that others didn’t have.
Vs.21-22: None of the members of the body can live independently from one another. We are to live interdependently. Notice “need” and “necessary.” Some members seem to be weaker. Some don’t have spectacular gifts like miracles, healings, tongues, but instead have more ordinary gifts like serving, mercy, or helps. We can live without arms, but not without a heart, although the heart is never seen, is not in the limelight.
Vs.23-26: here Paul is describing a person’s private parts. The ESV says: “and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
which our more presentable parts do not require.” Those are “less honorable”; and are less presentable. So what do we do for them? We clothe them; we cover them up. Why? We are protecting them from shame and indignities, so as to provide respect. God does the same thing for the “weaker, unpresentable” members of the body. This might be the down and outer, the poor or homeless, or ugly or fat person. How does God honor them? Vs.25: He causes the body to have the same care for that person as for all the rest! Vs.26: He causes the body to suffer with this member, and rejoice over its being honored. If you throw a touchdown pass to win the game, does your left arm get upset because your right arm threw the ball? The thought is ridiculous. The other members don’t need to be honored – their gifts give them plenty of honor. So God compensates for this by causing the body to rally around the “weaker” member and honor them all they can.
Vs.27-30: What is Paul doing in these verses? He is providing more ammunition to destroy the enemies of self-pity and self-sufficiency.
Self-Pity: “God has appointed” – if it is really God who has appointed all the members to do what they are doing, then I can’t moan and groan and throw a pity party. All are not… are they? Paul’s point is clear. God doesn’t give the same gift to everyone! If they were depressed because they don’t have the gift of tongues, they shouldn’t be. God decides to give that gift to some and not to others. BTW, if someone ever tells you that you need to speak in tongues in order to really be filled with the Spirit, take them to 12:30.
Self-Sufficiency: it’s not just my gift that is important. God has appointed a multitude of gifts. All are needed in order to express Jesus Christ. I need the gifts of all God’s people!
Why does Paul rank the gifts 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.? Is it chronological? It can’t be, because tongues are last, whereas they were given 1st to the church. 14:5 provides us with a clue. Prophecy is greater than tongues because it edifies the church. The gifts are ranked in order of their ability to edify and benefit the church.
Vs.31: “but earnestly desire the greater gifts.” Desire those gifts which will build up the church; not the ones which will exalt you! “And I show you a still more excellent way” – this segways into Ch.13 where Paul emphasizes Love.
Life Application:
DON’T
- Despise your gifts or the gifts of others: In this new church plant we need everyone’s contribution! We need the “out front” guys, and the “behind the scenes” people. We need servers, givers, teachers, exhorters, evangelists, and leaders. We need them all. Step up!
- Compare yourself with others: Gal.6:4. The only one you can compare yourself with is Jesus! If you compare yourself with others, you’ll either exalt yourself in pride, or be depressed and be tempted to withdraw. Both are sin. Satan was lifted up with pride on account of his beauty (Ezek.28:12,17). Before Paul begins his discussion of spiritual gifts in Rom.12 he tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Rom.12:3).
- Presume that all believers should have the same gift (esp. tongues): 12:30.
DO
- Drink deeply and frequently of the Spirit: Jn.7:37-39; Jn.4:13-14.
- Trust God’s goodness and wisdom in His distribution of spiritual gifts: 1Cor.12:11,18.
- Have the same care for all God’s people: Rom.12:16; James 2:1-7. We should treat all the members the same, no special treatment, no favorites, no partiality.
- Suffer and Rejoice With All God’s People: Rom.12:15. Enter into the griefs and sufferings, as well as joys and honors of all. Treat their griefs as if they were your own. Treat their joys as if they were yours.
- Earnestly Desire the Greater Gifts: ask God to give you what you will need to build up His church. Spend time on your knees, asking Him to make you useful. God wants to do that. He’ll answer that prayer!
______________________________
© The Bridge
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Bridge.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Brian Anderson. © The Bridge. Website: www.TheBridgeOnline.net
Follow Us!