Valuing One Another Series

Intro

In our study of 1 Corinthian 12, we have discussed the nine gifts of the Spirit listed by Paul in the first part of that chapter. Our study has focused on understanding what these gifts are. Using Paul’s terms in the first eleven verses, we see that these activities are called gifts because they come to us by grace; we do not earn them, but they are given to us by the Lord. They are spiritual rather than natural abilities. They come to us “by the Spirit.” In fact, they are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. They are expressed “as He wills” to meet the need of the occasion. We make ourselves available to be used by God; we desire spiritual gifts, and we must step out in faith when the Spirit prompts us to do so. But the Holy Spirit decides when and through whom He will manifest Himself and meet a need. That answers the question as to WHAT the gifts of the Spirit are.

But we also need to understand HOW God wants us to function in these gifts. In fact, that is the thrust of Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. The Corinthian believers were operating in the gifts of the Spirit,i but they were making some serious mistakes in the process. Paul addresses these mistakes in his letter. 1 Corinthians is a pastoral letter addressing practical issues.

There is one basic problem that surfaces throughout the epistle: the conflicts these Corinthians were having with each other. This lack of unity quickly becomes evident in the first chapter. First Corinthians 1:10-13 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”ii

Let me just highlight a few examples of the conflicts mentioned in the letter.

In chapters 1 and 2, Paul seems to argue against the arrogance of human wisdom, which may have been an undercurrent of their agreements. In chapter 3, Paul tells them all this strife they are having is evidence of their carnality and immaturity. In chapter 6, they were taking fellow believers to the secular courts. In chapter 8, conflicts were going on over issues of conscience. In chapter 11, Paul addresses the disunity and disregard for one another at the Lord’s Table.

Throughout chapter 12, Paul is again dealing with their attitudes toward one another and the importance of unity. Notice how he often approaches the subject of unity with diversity in this chapter. Verses 4-7: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” We have already looked at these verses in previous messages. But this time, we want to see the heavy emphasis Paul is placing on diversity within unity. He even alludes to the ultimate example of the Trinity. Notice in verses 4-7: the Spirit, the Lord (Son), God (the Father): three persons but one God. He also emphasizes unity by pointing out that every gift, every manifestation, and every ministry flows from only one source: God. As he lists the nine different gifts of the Spirit, he is very careful to add something like “through the same Spirit” or “by the same Spirit.” Then, for good measure, he concludes the list of the nine gifts by reiterating something he has been saying all along. Verse 11: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Paul’s concerns about their attitudes toward one another take on greater focus in verses 12-31. There, he teaches them to esteem and appreciate one another rather than fight with one another. Using the analogy of the human body, he gives them four good reasons to properly value and care for one another.

I. THEY ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES.

Follow with me as we read 1 Cor 12:12: “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. 13 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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 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?”