God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 12:12-31[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, June 17th, 2012
When each part of the human body is healthy and functioning properly, we do what we do without giving much thought to specific parts. But that can change rather quickly…
One little eyelash in the eye. Even a grain of sand in the eyeball. I missed a Stryper concert in '84 because of a grain of sand that landed dead-center on my pupil when I was taking my t-shirt off. While my buddies were driving to Kaiserslautern I was getting my eye hosed down with a tiny, high-pressure hose. One grain of sand.
One little rock in the running shoe.
That can stop an entire body from functioning properly, right? Drop a strong man or woman in their tracks until it's dealt with.
One little swollen bursa under the shoulder joint.
One torn labrum in a hip joint.
One torn medial collateral ligament in a knee joint. Arthritis in two finger joints. Or as Bryan Paulsen can attest, two nerves in a hip joint – all can severely hinder the function of the rest of the entire body. Here is why I'm talking about this; each part of the body is important to the whole. Furthermore each part has been gifted to benefit the whole. In this text we're studying today Paul uses the human body as an analogy of the body of Christ. Folks, we are a unique bunch of individuals who have been called and gifted by God to display His love and share His gospel with hell-bound people in this world. Let's read the passage.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 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,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
We are a unique and united church, each part making the whole better.
Let's look at this from this perspective. What God has done, and what can we cannot deduce from that work.
What God has done for His body
Set Christ as head of the body (v 27). We MUST hold that outside of Him we are nothing, and we are not to function as if He were somehow disconnected. He is not, church!
Made us one by His Spirit (v 13). The Spirit's work of regeneration, conviction, drawing, and baptizing us into Christ is incredible. Look at this wording; baptized into, made to drink from. We are in Him, and He is in us. Church, Christ is with us by His Spirit! Christ in us, the hope of glory, the seal of our salvation, the power for living this impossibly holy life!
Arranged and composed the members in the body as He chose (v 18-25). He gave us life, called us to faith, and put us together as He chose. I often say the church is a tapestry and He weaves us together as He sees fit for a picture we can't even see yet! But aren't we glad He has chosen to weave us together for this time, in this place, and for His purpose? Look around – God makes no mistakes; He does no random. He has composed the body as to give greater honor (modesty) to the part that lacked it - this He did for unity.
Appointed gifts in the church (v 28-31): 1) apostles, 2) prophets, 3) teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helping, administration, various kinds of tongues. There is a greater and a lesser when it comes to gifts, and we are clearly to seek the greater.
What we cannot deduce His work:
I do not belong to the body (vs 15-20). You are not less a part because you're different from other parts! If you feel like you don't fit, realize that you have a hand in that feeling.
I have no need of you (v 21-24). It's contribution is indispensable! The contrast is more honor, more modesty.
WE DO NOT EXALT ONE GIFT/PERSON ABOVE ANOTHER. Some would then think they don't belong, some would think others don't belong. If you feel like others don't fit, you have a hand in that feeling. For either feeling or thought, truth must strike it down.
We are one. God made this mess for His glory and for our good and for the lost to see Jesus His Son through us.
The use of the gifts is meant to bless the one body and bring praise to the One Gift Giver. It is not meant elevate the recipient!
Church, your placement is not random nor is your gifting accidental. Your work is not for you, but for others. Your reward isn't given based on performance compared to others, but based on what God has given you to work with. So
Is your personal, unique, contribution making the whole body better? We are a unique and united church, each part making the whole better. Eyelashes and shoe-rocks aside, we have to care for each other and work together. And we must bring glory to the gift giver!
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
No comments:
Post a Comment