The BODY Of CHRIST-II—1Corinthians 12:12-31
Attention:
Sour Cream Pound Cake
from: The Pirate’s House Cookbook(1982)
1 C Butter
3 C Sugar
6 Eggs
3 C Sifted Flour(White Lily is best)
1 C Sour Cream
½ tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
½ tsp. Almond Extract
Have butter & eggs at room temperature. Grease & flour a 10-in. pan.
Preheat oven to 325°.
Cream butter until soft. Beat in sugar & beat until light & fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift together flour & baking soda. Add flour & sour cream alternately to creamed mixture, starting & ending with flour.
Add flavorings and beat until smooth.
Pour into pan, smooth top & bake for 1 ½ hours or until golden brown, top springs back when touched, cake shrinks from sides of pan & a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack before turning out. Slice thin to serve.
All of the above ingredients, when applied properly according to direction, will produce a memorably delicious Pound Cake!
If even one ingredient is missing, substituted, not measured correctly, or is mis-applied, then there is no cake(or at least not a memorable one). It’s texture & flavor will be off & at best it will only be mediocre.
*Likewise, the gathered Church working in unity will produce the full ‘texture & ‘flavor’ of the Body of Christ. The church is to be the embodiment of Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:24-25—“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, & fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,”
The apostle Paul maintained the significance of the Church's being the Body of Christ.
What is exhibited by that entity known as the Body of Christ?
Last week we found that ‘The Body Of Christ Exhibits...’
1. An IDENTIFIABLE COMPOSITION(:12)
2. A WILLINGLY EMPOWERED INVITATION(:13)
3. BELONGING(:14-17)
Today we’ll find that:
The Body Of Christ also Exhibits...
4—A DIVINE PLACEMENT(:18) The Body Of Christ Exhibits...
4—A DIVINE PLACEMENT(:18)
:18—“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
God’s Choice’—“God has set the members”...“just as He pleased”
*See also...
:28—“God has appointed...”
:4—“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
:11—“But one & the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
•FYI—This also clarifies that The Holy Spirit is Himself God, as are the Father & the Son.
Likewise, God is the Author & Finisher of your faith thru Christ Jesus(Heb. 12:1-2).
•Heb. 12:1-2—“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which so easily ensnares us, & let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, & has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The following is something to help us reason thru the Scriptures & particularly as we look at the reality that God Himself places the gifts of the Spirit by His own will.
There is a little book titled ‘Why Tongues’ by Kenneth E. Hagin(Ken Hagin’s Daddy), printed in 1975. Kenneth E. Hagin is credited with pioneering the ‘Word Faith’ movement, as well as being a ‘Prosperity Gospel’ proponent.
In Part II under the heading, ‘Ten Reasons Why Every Believer Should Speak In Tongues’ is a paragraph stating, “The Word of God teaches that when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. It is the initial evidence or sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the first reason people should speak with other tongues is—this is supernatural evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling.”
Now IF I understand Kenneth E. Hagin correctly, then the spiritual gift of ‘tongues speaking’ is for ‘every’ Christian of every era. Thus there never have been, nor ever will be Christians who do not have that particular gift of the Holy Spirit....
*Such belief flies in the face of Paul’s arguments here in chapter 12!...
•1Cor. 12:4-11—“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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. But one & the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
“Set/Placed/Arranged”—tiyhmi—Verb—1) To set, put, place—1a) To place or lay, 1b) To put down, lay down—1b1) To bend down, 1b2) To lay off or aside, to wear or carry no longer, 1b3) To lay by, lay aside money, 1c) To set on(serve) something to eat or drink, 1d) To set forth, something to be explained by discourse; 2) To make—2a) To make (or set) for one's self or for one's use; 3) To set, fix establish—3a) To set forth, 3b) To establish, ordain. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary yew(which is used only as alternate in certain tenses); To place(in the widest application, literally & figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, & thus different from isthmi, which properly denotes an upright & active position, while keimai is properly reflexive & utterly prostrate).
“Members”(See :12, 14, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27)—melov—Noun Neuter—1)A member or limb--A member of the human body—1a) Of bodies given up to criminal intercourse, because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot's body. Strong—of uncertain affinity; A limb or part of the body.
“Just As/As/According As”—kaywv—Adverb—1) According as—1a) Just as, even as, 1b) In proportion as, in the degree that; 2) Since, seeing that, agreeably to the fact that; 3) When, after that. Strong—Just (or inasmuch)as, that.?From—kata—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).—&—wv—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).
“Pleased/Desired/Wanted/Would”—yelw OR--eyelw; in certain tenses--yelew AND--eyelew—1Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To will, have in mind, intend—1a) To be resolved or determined, to purpose, 1b) To desire, to wish, 1c) To love—1c1) To like to do a thing, be fond of doing, 1d) To take delight in, have pleasure. Yelw denotes the active resolution, the will urging on to action. Strong—apparently strengthened from the alternate form of aireomai[To take to oneself or prefer]; To determine(as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas boulomai properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. Choose or prefer(literally or figuratively); by implication--To wish, i.e. Be inclined to(sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense--To be about to; by Hebraism--To delight in.
:19—“And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”
IF you & I choose the manifestations of the Holy Spirit by our own ‘preference’ or by our own flesh driven volition/choice, then there is NO recognizable Body of Christ!...Because the ‘attempted’ representation of that Body derived from man rather than from & by God.
•Those ‘preferential choices’ are limited to the realm of the ‘natural’ rather than the supernatural(by the Holy Spirit). Those choices are ‘limited’ because we ourselves(even saved people) are unavoidably limited, to some degree, by sin’s influence.
Therefore there must, first of all, be diversity of giftedness(:21-22)...And that diversity must come by God’s omniscient(all knowing) placement(:18, 28, :4, 11).
*Thus the Unity of the existing Diversity in the Church is entirely Reasonable! It is entirely reasonable for the sake of our bodies & for the sake of the Body of Christ!
“And/But”—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—But, and, etc.; a primary particle(adversative or continuative).
“If”—ei—Conditional Particle/Conjunction—1) If, whether. Strong—If, whether, that, etc.; a primary particle of conditionality.
“They”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Definite Article Nominative Plural Neuter—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—the definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Were”—hn—Imperfect -X- Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) I was, etc. Strong—I(thou, etc.) was(wast or were).
“All”—pav—Adj.—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“One”(See :12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 26)—eiv(including the neuter[etc.] en)—Noun Accusative Sing. Masc.—1) One. Strong—One; a primary numeral.
“Member”(See :12, 14, 18, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27)—melov—Noun Neuter—1)A member or limb--A member of the human body—1a) Of bodies given up to criminal intercourse, because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot's body. Strong—of uncertain affinity; A limb or part of the body.
“Where...Be”—pou—Adverb—1) Somewhere; 2) Nearly; 3) with numerals--Somewhere about, about. Used 47X.?Genitive case of an otherwise obsolete interrogative pronoun—pov—What.
“The”—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Definite Article Nominative Sing. Neuter—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—the definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Body”(See :12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27)—swma—Noun Neuter—1) The body both of men or animals—1a) A dead body or corpse, 1b) The living body—1b1) Of animals; 2) The bodies of planets & of stars(heavenly bodies); 3) Is used of a (large or small)number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body—3a) so in the NT--Of the church; 4) That which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself. Strong—The body(as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.
:20—“But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”
Again...God’s intention is, that there be “one” unified body/Body. And that unified recognizable body/Body consists of “many” separately identifiable “members”(recall :12—An IDENTIFIABLE COMPOSITION). These separately identifiable “members” all work together in unison for the sake of animating an individual human body, & for the sake of an animated Body of Christ!
*The Corinthian Christians were plagued with the temptation to limit the privileged giftedness, which came to them thru the Holy Spirit. They were tempted to limit themselves to certain gifts which they themselves preferred.
Php. 2:12-13—“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear & trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure.”
“But” -&- “Yet”—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—But, and, etc.; a primary particle(adversative or continuative).
“Now”(See :18—nuni)—nun—Adverb—1) At this time, the present, now. “Now”, marks a definite point or period of time, the (objective)immediate present. Strong—a primary particle of present time; “Now”(as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective--Present or Immediate.
“Indeed”—men—Particle—1) Truly, certainly, surely, indeed. Strong—a primary particle; properly--Indicative of affirmation or concession(in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with de(this one, the former, etc).
“Are”—Added for English clarity.
“Many”—poluv—Adj.—1) Many, much, large. Strong—singular--Much(in any respect) or plural--Many; neuter(singular) as adverbial--Largely; neuter(plural) as adverb or noun--Often, mostly, largely.
“Members”(See :12, 14, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 27)—melov—Noun Neuter—1)A member or limb--A member of the human body—1a) Of bodies given up to criminal intercourse, because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot's body. Strong—of uncertain affinity; A limb or part of the body.
“One”(See :12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 26)—eiv(including the neuter[etc.] en)—Noun Accusative Sing. Masc.—1) One. Strong—One; a primary numeral.
“Body”(See :12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27)—swma—Noun Neuter—1) The body both of men or animals—1a) A dead body or corpse, 1b) The living body—1b1) Of animals; 2) The bodies of planets & of stars(heavenly bodies); 3) Is used of a (large or small)number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body—3a) so in the NT--Of the church; 4) That which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself. Strong—The body(as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.
Illustration:
If We Are The Body
By: Casting Crowns
It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way, there is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus is the way
Jesus is the way
we are His hands
We are His feet
We are His body
Jesus is the way
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Mark Hall
If We Are the Body - Demo (Performance track) lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Capitol Christian Music Group
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
As a delicious Pound Cake depends upon specific ingredients combined in a specific way. So the Church is the embodiment of Christ.
Action:
The Body Of Christ Exhibits...
4—A DIVINE PLACEMENT(:18)
5—A REASONABLE UNITY(:19-20)
1. An IDENTIFIABLE COMPOSITION(:12)
2. A WILLINGLY EMPOWERED INVITATION(:13)
3. BELONGING(:14-17)
Pt#s 4-5 Presented 06/14/2020am to:
First Baptist Church Cbelle
206 SE Ave. A(206 Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
