For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Romans 12:4-5
Last Sunday we began a discussion about spiritual gifts. We learned that every born again believer is given 1 or more spiritual gifts to be used in the ministry of the LORD. These gifts are bestowed by the Holy Spirit in accordance with God’s will. There are a variety of spiritual gifts which include wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy, healings, miracles, discernment, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, and more.
In today’s sermon, Paul will use an analogy to help further explain the subject of spiritual gifts. He uses this same analogy in a few of his other epistles as well. I have titled this message, “The Body of Christ”. It is the 21st installment of our current sermon series through the Corinthian letters.
I. ONE BODY (1 Cor. 12:12-14)
Paul stated that all believers - whether they be Jew or Greek, slave or free - are baptized by 1 Spirit into 1 body. When a repentant sinner receives Jesus unto salvation they are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. We recognize and understand this body to be the universal (worldwide) church. Every individual Christian is a member of this body, and thus there are many members, yet there is just 1 body or church. Jesus is the head of this magnificent body.
II. MEMBERS OF THE BODY (1 Cor. 12:15-26)
Using this imagery, Paul made several distinct observations about the body and its members.
First, regardless of how an individual member might feel about itself, it is still part of the body. Paul wrote, for example, that a foot would still be a part of the body even though it wasn’t a hand. An ear would still be a part of the body even though it wasn’t an eye. The point is that every member is a part of the whole, without exception, whether or not they think they are or even want to be. We simply cannot function appropriately as individual appendages or organs detached from the body. We as Christians are intended to be part of the church - to be in fellowship with one another and to use our spiritual gifts in conjunction with each other.
Second, each member of the body needs the other members. There is an interdependency among the various members of the body. Paul explained that the eyes need the ears, just as the ears need the eyes. The hands need the feet, just as the feet need the hands. If every member was the same, the body could not function properly. The point is that every member of the church is different by design, according to God’s sovereign will, and is reliant on one another. We are a family - a community - that have been called and equipped to work together.
Third, each member of the body should be ascribed significance and worth. Paul stated that some members may seem weaker, less honorable, or less presentable than others - especially from an earthly perspective - but all are extremely important. God has esteemed each member so as not to create division within the body. The point is that the contribution and service of every member of the church is valuable. We as members of the Lord’s church should not be comparing ourselves with other Christians and making judgments about who is greater and who is most needed. Instead, we should practice our spiritual gifts with humility by showing sincere care and concern for one another. It's not a competition!
Fourth, the condition of each member of the body affects all of the others. Paul observed that if 1 member suffers, all of the other members suffer with it. Likewise, if 1 member rejoices, all the other members rejoice with it. For example, when I have a headache, my whole body is pretty much out of commission. When I stub my toe, pain shoots all the way up through me. The point is that when we hurt one another as Christians, we hurt ourselves. When we nurture and strengthen one another as Christians, we nurture and strengthen ourselves. We tend to rise and fall together. Our participation and behavior in the church - whether for good or for bad - has a direct and meaningful impact on the body as a whole.
III. INDIVIDUAL GIFTS (1 Cor. 12:27-31)
Again Paul repeated the analogy - just as our physical body is made up of many individual parts, so also the Body of Christ (ie, the church) is made up of many individual members (ie, Christians). Each of these Christians had been gifted differently to serve the LORD in a variety of ways. Paul asked a series of questions to point out this diversity.
Some were called to be apostles who led and firmly established the burgeoning Christian church. Some were called to be prophets who publicly declared the revelations and truth of God. Some were called to be teachers who carefully explained the LORD’s word and helped disciple His followers. Some were gifted with supernatural abilities to heal, perform miracles, or speak in or interpret tongues (languages). Some were called to be helpers who performed the mundane, ongoing tasks of the church with humility and grace. Some were called to be administrators who worked to ensure that the church was organized and functioning properly. Everyone was gifted, but not in the same way.
Paul urged the Corinthians to earnestly desire the “greater gifts”. Having just spoken at length about the importance of all spiritual gifts and how God ascribes value to each of them in order to eliminate division in the body, it seems odd that Paul would now describe some gifts as greater than others. This would undermine his previous teaching and exacerbate their competitive approach toward spiritual giftedness. Instead, Paul seemed to be urging the Corinthians to utilize their varied gifts in a “greater” or more effective manner. He stated that he would, in the verses to come, show them a more excellent way of utilizing their spiritual gifts.
CONCLUSION
As Christians, we collectively make up the Body of Christ - the church of God. Each of us are individual members of the body who have been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord in some capacity. We share a mutual responsibility to one another and all of us are necessary for the proper functioning of the whole. Every Christian matters to the church, and it cannot operate at its peak effectiveness unless every member participates and is engaged. My friends, this is a team sport. We need each other and should show due honor and appreciation for one another. We are all co-labors in Christ, branches of the same Vine, and siblings in the family of God.
Last Sunday I closed the message by asking us to consider the question, “What are my spiritual gifts?” This morning, I want us to go a step farther and ask, “How am I using my gifts to serve the body of Christ?” Beloved, your contributions to the church are critically important - your prayers, your attendance, your service, your giving, your input, your encouragement - all of it. Don’t withhold the gifts that God has blessed you with - use them to strengthen and edify the body!
Last Sunday we began a discussion about spiritual gifts. We learned that every born again believer is given 1 or more spiritual gifts to be used in the ministry of the LORD. These gifts are bestowed by the Holy Spirit in accordance with God’s will. There are a variety of spiritual gifts which include wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy, healings, miracles, discernment, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, and more.
In today’s sermon, Paul will use an analogy to help further explain the subject of spiritual gifts. He uses this same analogy in a few of his other epistles as well. I have titled this message, “The Body of Christ”. It is the 21st installment of our current sermon series through the Corinthian letters.
I. ONE BODY (1 Cor. 12:12-14)
Paul stated that all believers - whether they be Jew or Greek, slave or free - are baptized by 1 Spirit into 1 body. When a repentant sinner receives Jesus unto salvation they are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. We recognize and understand this body to be the universal (worldwide) church. Every individual Christian is a member of this body, and thus there are many members, yet there is just 1 body or church. Jesus is the head of this magnificent body.
II. MEMBERS OF THE BODY (1 Cor. 12:15-26)
Using this imagery, Paul made several distinct observations about the body and its members.
First, regardless of how an individual member might feel about itself, it is still part of the body. Paul wrote, for example, that a foot would still be a part of the body even though it wasn’t a hand. An ear would still be a part of the body even though it wasn’t an eye. The point is that every member is a part of the whole, without exception, whether or not they think they are or even want to be. We simply cannot function appropriately as individual appendages or organs detached from the body. We as Christians are intended to be part of the church - to be in fellowship with one another and to use our spiritual gifts in conjunction with each other.
Second, each member of the body needs the other members. There is an interdependency among the various members of the body. Paul explained that the eyes need the ears, just as the ears need the eyes. The hands need the feet, just as the feet need the hands. If every member was the same, the body could not function properly. The point is that every member of the church is different by design, according to God’s sovereign will, and is reliant on one another. We are a family - a community - that have been called and equipped to work together.
Third, each member of the body should be ascribed significance and worth. Paul stated that some members may seem weaker, less honorable, or less presentable than others - especially from an earthly perspective - but all are extremely important. God has esteemed each member so as not to create division within the body. The point is that the contribution and service of every member of the church is valuable. We as members of the Lord’s church should not be comparing ourselves with other Christians and making judgments about who is greater and who is most needed. Instead, we should practice our spiritual gifts with humility by showing sincere care and concern for one another. It's not a competition!
Fourth, the condition of each member of the body affects all of the others. Paul observed that if 1 member suffers, all of the other members suffer with it. Likewise, if 1 member rejoices, all the other members rejoice with it. For example, when I have a headache, my whole body is pretty much out of commission. When I stub my toe, pain shoots all the way up through me. The point is that when we hurt one another as Christians, we hurt ourselves. When we nurture and strengthen one another as Christians, we nurture and strengthen ourselves. We tend to rise and fall together. Our participation and behavior in the church - whether for good or for bad - has a direct and meaningful impact on the body as a whole.
III. INDIVIDUAL GIFTS (1 Cor. 12:27-31)
Again Paul repeated the analogy - just as our physical body is made up of many individual parts, so also the Body of Christ (ie, the church) is made up of many individual members (ie, Christians). Each of these Christians had been gifted differently to serve the LORD in a variety of ways. Paul asked a series of questions to point out this diversity.
Some were called to be apostles who led and firmly established the burgeoning Christian church. Some were called to be prophets who publicly declared the revelations and truth of God. Some were called to be teachers who carefully explained the LORD’s word and helped disciple His followers. Some were gifted with supernatural abilities to heal, perform miracles, or speak in or interpret tongues (languages). Some were called to be helpers who performed the mundane, ongoing tasks of the church with humility and grace. Some were called to be administrators who worked to ensure that the church was organized and functioning properly. Everyone was gifted, but not in the same way.
Paul urged the Corinthians to earnestly desire the “greater gifts”. Having just spoken at length about the importance of all spiritual gifts and how God ascribes value to each of them in order to eliminate division in the body, it seems odd that Paul would now describe some gifts as greater than others. This would undermine his previous teaching and exacerbate their competitive approach toward spiritual giftedness. Instead, Paul seemed to be urging the Corinthians to utilize their varied gifts in a “greater” or more effective manner. He stated that he would, in the verses to come, show them a more excellent way of utilizing their spiritual gifts.
CONCLUSION
As Christians, we collectively make up the Body of Christ - the church of God. Each of us are individual members of the body who have been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord in some capacity. We share a mutual responsibility to one another and all of us are necessary for the proper functioning of the whole. Every Christian matters to the church, and it cannot operate at its peak effectiveness unless every member participates and is engaged. My friends, this is a team sport. We need each other and should show due honor and appreciation for one another. We are all co-labors in Christ, branches of the same Vine, and siblings in the family of God.
Last Sunday I closed the message by asking us to consider the question, “What are my spiritual gifts?” This morning, I want us to go a step farther and ask, “How am I using my gifts to serve the body of Christ?” Beloved, your contributions to the church are critically important - your prayers, your attendance, your service, your giving, your input, your encouragement - all of it. Don’t withhold the gifts that God has blessed you with - use them to strengthen and edify the body!