1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Ps Paul Cheng
~8 min read
Dear Bethelites,
In this passage, the Apostle Paul was using the analogy of a physical body to illustrate the church, the Body of Christ, of which every believer was a member. The human body is made up of many parts, e.g. visible features and limbs, and “invisible” vital and sensory organs, etc. When everything is working in harmony, the body functions well. But when one part is injured or paralysed, the whole body suffers.
What is true of the human body is also true of the church, the body of believers. Some of our ministries may be more public than others, and others work behind the scene and are practically unknown. However, there is no such thing as an unimportant or worthless believer!
God has made us and gifted us very differently, and it is not who is more important but everyone is important and has a responsibility to exercise his or her spiritual gifts. That is the way the church ought to function. Thus, in considering this matter of spiritual gifts, it is vital to touch on this topic of unity in diversity.
I. How Are We United?
1 Corinthians 12:12, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Just as a physical body has many members or parts, so also is Christ. Christ has only one body, that is the church, and within this body of Christ, there are many members. And how did we become part of this body of Christ, the church?
1 Corinthians 12:13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
This is not a reference to water baptism, and we did not become part of Christ because of water baptism. Water baptism does not save a person; it is an outward sign of an inward faith, and it is a testimony to the church and to the world of someone who is already saved.
This is a reference to the spiritual baptism which occurs at the point of conversion. When a person hears and believes in the gospel of salvation, he is baptised by Christ with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the agent of baptism, and Christ is the baptiser. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said about Jesus Christ, He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Thus, Romans 8:9 said, Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The word one and all speaks of all the believers coming to the body of Christ in the same way. In other words, the Corinthians should not be arguing amongst themselves as to who was better or more important, in regards to his spiritual gifts. They should not do that because they had come to the body of Christ in the same way.
II. How Are We Diverse?
1 Corinthians 12:14, For the body is not one member, but many.
Someone likened the analogy of a body to an orchestra which is made up of many people playing different instruments and making beautiful music. Similarly, believers are given different spiritual gifts to perform the work of the ministry beautifully.
One theologian explained the problem with the Corinthians in this way, “They were divided where they should have been unified and then they tried to be unified where they should have been diversified. For example, they were divided when it came to leadership, whether to follow Paul, Apollos or Peter, but actually they should be unified as these leaders were all following the Lord Jesus ultimately. On the other hand, they tried to be uniform when it came to spiritual gifts. Those believers who did not have certain gifts desired to have those gifts that others have, and others who did have those gifts, expect everyone to serve like the way they serve.”
In other words, when it comes to spiritual gifts, they should have been diverse, but instead they tried to be uniform! That was the reason why Paul said, If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not the body; is it therefore not of the body? Verse 16, And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (1 Corinthians 12:15-16)
To put it in perspective, it is very easy for anyone in the church to think, “I am not the pastor, elder, deacon or Sunday school teacher. I am just serving in the refreshment team, so maybe I do not belong here.” But that is not how the body is, each member belongs to the body whether it is the foot, hand, ear or eye. The body (church) needs you!
1 Corinthians 12:17, If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
Let us say, “If everyone is an usher, what happens? Everyone will crowd around the foyer and nobody will be able to enter into the church. If everyone is a choir member, what happens? They will be singing to empty pews. When that happens, what about the other ministries?” God has designed us to work uniquely and harmoniously in His body (church) just like the way the different parts of the physical body functions.
1 Corinthians 12:18, But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. God, in His wisdom, has placed us in His body, exactly where He wants us to be and equipped us to do exactly what He wants us to do. By desiring those gifts that are not given by God, one is questioning His wisdom (c.f. Romans 9:20-21).
1 Corinthians 12:19-21, And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Some Corinthians who were prominent and gifted would act as if they were sufficient and they alone could perform the work of ministry all by themselves. They had this attitude, “I don’t need you. You do not belong here.” They were proud and overestimated their own importance, and underestimated the importance of others.
On the contrary, Paul said, Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (v.22).
As discussed previously, there is no such thing as an unimportant believer, just as there is no such thing as an unimportant organ in the physical body. There are those “invisible” organs like the heart, liver and kidney working behind the scenes, which may seem feeble but in reality they are not. They are both vital and necessary.
What is the spiritual lesson we can learn here? There are some ministries which may not be visible and prominent, but they are most necessary. Many who worked quietly behind the scenes like formatting the bulletin, and preparing the church premise for the Lord’s Day worship, though their ministries may not be visible but they are absolutely vital and necessary.
1 Corinthians 12:23, And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Most likely less honourable refers to the parts of our body that are not particularly attractive. It could be the thighs or bulging stomach. The word bestow suggests the idea of clothing the body. People spend more time and effort to clothe those parts of their body that are less presentable, and in doing so, they are giving those members more abundant honour.
The word uncomely means shameful or indecent, and therefore it may refer to parts of the body that are considered private. It is not those parts of the body themselves that are shameful, but it is the display of them that is shameful. That is why one should be careful to cover these uncomely parts because modesty would dictate that is the proper thing to do.
1 Corinthians 12:24, For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
Those parts of the body that are more visible and attractive need not be covered, or extra care and attention. What was Paul trying to teach here? Those believers in positions of leadership and believers who are gifted with visible and prominent gifts, not only should not look down on those whose gifts are less noticeable but they should take special care to encourage and protect them when necessary (c.f. 1 Thessalonians 5:14). Sadly, this is not happening in most churches, and in fact, the opposite is true. People would seek out those members who are seemingly gifted, prominent and influential, while neglecting those who are lacking.
1 Corinthians 12:25, That there should be no schism (or division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
We are all different and when we compete with one another as to who is better, our diversity will lead to disunity. But when we care for one another, our diversity will lead to unity. When we go around and behave as if we are better than the rest, and look down on people who are not serving the way we are serving, we are creating schism or division. But when we show concern and care for a weaker brother or sister, and encourage him or her to serve the Lord with whatever gifts God has given to them, we are creating unity.
Finally, 1 Corinthians 12:26, And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Some of us here love to run marathons. If someone asks, “How was your race?” You would not say, “My race was great, but my foot’s race was not so good. Because I had a good time, but my foot really hurts.” We would simply say, “I hurt.” Or let’s say, you got an award for the race, you would not say, “My foot won an award.” Since we are all related and united, when one part of the body suffers, the rest of the body suffers with it. The same is true with the church, when one member is stumbled and fallen, the whole church suffers.
If Bethel is the church that God has called you to worship and serve, then this is the place for you to exercise your spiritual gift to glorify God. The church is no place for lone-rangers, or for people to create divisions. Bethel is the church where we need one another, and everyone is vital, important and necessary!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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