One Body Many Parts 1 Corinthians 12 12

One Body, Many Parts 1 Corinthians 12: 12 -31

1 Corinthians 12: 12 -31 “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free.

But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. ”

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand, ” that does not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye, ” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear?

Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it.

How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you. ”

The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you. ” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.

So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care given to those parts that have less dignity.

This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

“I want every member of this church to be a worker. We do not want any drones. If there any of you who want to eat and drink, and do nothing, there are plenty of places elsewhere, where you can do it; there are empty pews about in abundance; go and fill them, for we do not want you.

Every Christian who is not a bee is a wasp. The most quarrelsome persons are the most useless, and they who are the most happy are peaceable, are generally those who are doing most for Christ. ” C. H. Spurgeon

Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: First are apostles, Second are prophets, Third are teachers, Then Those who do miracles, Those who have the gift of healing,

Those who can help others, Those who have the gift of leadership, Those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers?

Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!

1) Members of the Body of Christ are joined to Christ in salvation Ephesians 4: 15 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ”

2) Members of the Body of Christ follow Christ as their Head Ephesians 1: 22 -23 “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. ”

3) Members of the Body of Christ are the physical representation of Christ in this world. The Church is the organism through which Christ manifests His life to the world today. Matthew 5: 44

Matthew 5: 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ”

4) Members of the Body of Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Christ. Romans 8: 9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ”

How does one know that they have the Spirit? Ask these questions: – Has the Spirit led you to Jesus? – Has the Spirit put in you the desire to honor Jesus? – Is the Spirit leading you to be more like Jesus? – Is the Spirit at work in your heart?

5) Members of the Body of Christ possess a diversity of gifts suited to particular functions, (1 Corinthians 12: 4 -31). v 12 "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ".

6) Members of the Body of Christ share a common bond with all other Christians, regardless of background, race, or ministry. 1 Corinthians 12: 25 "There should be no division in the body, but. . . its parts should have equal concern for each other. "

7) Members of the Body of Christ are secure in their salvation. For a Christian to lose his salvation, God would have to perform an "amputation" on the Body of Christ! John 10: 28 -30 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. "I and My Father are one. " one

8) Members of the Body of Christ partake of Christ's death and resurrection. Colossians 2: 12 “…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ”

9) Members of the Body of Christ share Christ's inheritance Romans 8: 17 “…and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ”

10) Members of the Body of Christ receive the gift of Christ's righteousness. Romans 5: 17 “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ”

1 Corinthians 12: 31 “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. ”