Worship in Spirit and Truth 23 - You Are the Body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Worship In Spirit and Truth • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:40
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44 He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. 45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labour to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. 48 He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts.
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 honourable we bestow the greater honour, 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 honour 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 honoured, 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.
Introduction
Last time we saw that it was Paul's aim and purpose to teach the Corinthian believers to worship correctly in a God honouring fashion making proper use of the gifts God has given to the Church. There are many such gifts given to the Church, some temporary, some permanent but all are given to whom God wills.
Paul does not go on immediately to say more about these gifts but rather gives an amazing description of what the true Church is the Body of Christ. The creation of man and woman is the pinnacle of creation. Even after 6000 years we have not plumbed the depths of the wonder of the human body. The wonder of the church is even greater.
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1. The Spiritual Body v12-13
1. The Spiritual Body v12-13
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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.
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a. One Body Many Members v12
a. One Body Many Members v12
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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.
The Church is the one body with Christ as head.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The human body is a highly diversified organism. Each member has its own distinct function but also contributes to the working of the entire body. So it is with the body of Christ, in which every member has received some spiritual gift. In this body, the employment of each gift is designed to serve not the individual member but the entire church. Kistemaker, S.
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b. By One Spirit v13
b. By One Spirit v13
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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.
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i. One Spirit v13
i. One Spirit v13
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
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ii. Baptised v13
ii. Baptised v13
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.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The flow of this verse intimates that to be baptized means to become a living member of the church upon conversion. When spiritual regeneration takes place in individuals, they enter the body of Christ, that is, the church. Not the external observance of water baptism but the internal transformation by the Holy Spirit brings people into a living relationship with Christ. Kistemaker, S. J
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iii. Into One Body
iii. Into One Body
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.
Here Paul stresses the unity of the church in its diverse forms. He notes the racial, cultural, and social differences that existed in the Corinthian church: there were Jews and Greeks, slaves and free. Regardless of their status and position in life, these people came together to worship God in one church. If the church should practice discrimination, it would be in direct conflict with the law of love. All people who are spiritually renewed in Christ are equal to one another. Kistemaker, S.
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iv. Drink of One Spirit v13
iv. Drink of One Spirit v13
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.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
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2. The Physical Body v14-20
2. The Physical Body v14-20
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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.
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a. Beautiful Diversity v14
a. Beautiful Diversity v14
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
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“As the beauty of the human body is brought out by the variety of its parts, so the glory of the body of Christ appears in the diversity of its members.” Kistemaker, S.
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b. Do Not Be Envious v15-16
b. Do Not Be Envious v15-16
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.
Paul’s implied application for the Corinthians is to eradicate all envy with respect to a particular spiritual gift that a member has not received. This one church member ought not to feel inadequate because of a lack of some spiritual gift. Kistemaker
To function properly, the body needs all its members. Kistemaker
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c. Absurd Jealously v17
c. Absurd Jealously v17
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?
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The recipient of any gift must understand that all the members of the church depend on him or her to exercise that spiritual gift. When all the members employ the talents the Holy Spirit has distributed to God’s people, then the entire church functions efficiently for the benefit of all. Kistemaker, S. J
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d. God Designed Body v18
d. God Designed Body v18
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
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e. Many Parts, One Body v19-20
e. Many Parts, One Body v19-20
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
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3. Presentable and Unpresentable Parts v21-26
3. Presentable and Unpresentable Parts v21-26
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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 honourable 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 honoured, all rejoice together.
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a. Different but Essential Roles v21
a. Different but Essential Roles v21
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.”
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The members of the church need each other to do the Lord’s work effectively. The person who has received the gift of teaching is in great demand for instructing children, youth, and adults. The preacher must heed the spiritual needs of everyone in the congregation. Persons who have the qualifications to govern the church in its various ministries are indispensable. Kistemaker
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b. Dependency v26
b. Dependency v26
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26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.
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This is one of the most beautiful texts in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. It describes the effect genuine care can have on the members in the Christian church. When love prevails, we see the church as a live physical body. Kistemaker
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4. Members and Gifts v27-31
4. Members and Gifts v27-31
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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.
Conclusion
The Unity of the body is essential for the proper worship of the Church.
