I Corinthians 12
Last time we studied the last half of
I Corinthians 11 and concluded with these thoughts:
Paul’s Conclusion:
(1 Cor 11:33) Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. {34} But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
Not a condemnation of eating in the building, but a condemnation of their abuse of the Lord’s Supper and the so-called “agape” meal, or “love feast.”
In this part of the chapter, Paul dealt with:
Division in Church
And the Lord’s Supper
as Serious Matters.
I Corinthians 12
(1 Cor 12:1 NKJV) "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:"
So it’s pretty clear what this chapter, and the next three for that matter, are all about: spiritual gifts!
Now for a word about their background:
(1 Cor 12:2 NKJV) "You know that you were Gentiles, carried away1 to these dumb [mute] idols, however you were led."
1ἀπάγω apagō ap-ag'-o
to take off (in various senses): - bring, carry away, lead (away), put to death, take away.
It carries the idea of being taken captive: lead away; swept away without your will. Very little thinking or deciding was done by those in the “grasp” of the idol.
“these dumb [mute] idols,” Obviously, they were “dumb” in the sense that they could not speak. To say something is the lowest level of authority. The next question is, can you enforce what you say? These idols could not speak, much less do anything about what they said. This is not a complimentary statement.
Now we come to Jesus:
an entirely different case!
(1 Cor 12:3 NKJV) "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit."
It is through the Holy Spirit that we know Who Jesus is. Through the inspired words of the prophets, we know Who He is.
Now a very Important Point:
(1 Cor 12:4 NKJV) "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
Related thoughts:
(1 Cor 12:5 NKJV) "There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord."
(1 Cor 12:6 NKJV) "And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."
The Holy Spirit, Christ, and God the Father are the ones who work all in all." They are the Ones Who make it all possible. It is by Their power and Their authority, and by Their decision that everything happens. This is very important because the Corinthians lost sight of this. To them, the main thing is “Me.”
(1 Cor 12:7 NKJV) "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:"
for the profit of all:" This was of little importance to the Corinthians. They wanted whatever would make them look the most impressive.
Remember:
It is God’s plan to accomplish His purpose,
so here is how it all works out:
(1 Cor 12:8 NKJV) "for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,"
(9) "to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,"
(10) "to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues."
Now the important point that they missed:
(1 Cor 12:11 NKJV) "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
“As He wills."
For the Corinthians, this was all in reverse. They wanted the gifts they wanted, and they wanted them for their own glory.
Now the analogy of the body
To the church
(1 Cor 12:12 NKJV) "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."
Paul next point of emphasis: “ . . . being many, are one body so also is Christ."
Again, the Corinthians were “Carnel.”
They were selfish.
They cared mainly about themselves.
The church was secondary to them in their thinking.
But Paul emphasizes unity!
(1 Cor 12:13 NKJV) "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
There is not one member who is
MOST IMPORTANT!
(1 Cor 12:14 NKJV) "For in fact the body is not one member but many."
Each part is important, even if it is
AN HUMBLE PART:
(1 Cor 12:15 NKJV) "If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?" (16) "And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?"
(17) "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?"
Now the Lesson!
(1 Cor 12:18 NKJV) "But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased."
“Just as He pleased." He asked permission of no one because He is God!
Paul continues His analogy: Each member is important, and we cannot all be the same member and have a body.
(1 Cor 12:19 NKJV) "And if they were all one member, where would the body be?" (20) "But now indeed there are many members, yet one body." (21) "And 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.""
His argument continues,
but he becomes more general:
(1 Cor 12:22 NKJV) "No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." (23) "And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,"
(24) "but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,"
Why?
(1 Cor 12:25 NKJV) "that there should be no schism [division] in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." (26) "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
“if one member is honored,”
How does this happen in real life?
How many examples do we need to give?
The football receiver made a great catch!
Which member of his body do we honor?
Was it his great hands?
Were his legs involved?
Did he need his eyes?
Did he need a brain?
Now the great moment!
What is the lesson we are to learn?
(1 Cor 12:27 NKJV) "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."
Now the examples:
(1 Cor 12:28 NKJV) "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues." (29) "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?" (30) "Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"
Hopefully, Paul has made his point:
Just as it takes all the various body parts for our physical bodies, The same is true of the church.
The point is this: God intends for us to work together for the good of all.
(1 Cor 12:31 NKJV) "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." -- The way of love!
We are ready for the great 13th Chapter!
The love Chapter -- Sandwiched in between two chapters on Spiritual gifts.
My Sunday Evening Lessons Welcome to Bible Study