I Cor 12I Cor 12 is one of the key chapters about spiritual gifts, however for the purposeof this study, we will not concentrate on the nature of spiritual gifts as we had aseries of sermons about that topic. Instead we will talk about “Being the body of Christ”In this chapter, Paul uses the analogy of the body to talk about our relationshipwith each other. The body perfectly illustrates certain points;Unity in Diversityv.12 “Just as the body is one and has many members…so it is with the church”.We are all members of one body. The reference in verse 13 to Jews and Greeks,slaves and free, reminds us of the many coloured diversity of the body of Christ.Corinth was a cosmopolitan seaport full of people from many different cultures. That presented difficulties, but it offered immense potential for a full-bloodedtestimony to Christ.1.We are Christ’s and one another’s (v. 14-27)
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We need one another. There are two sides to this particular coin. Thestress in verse 15-16 is on a wrong kind of independence which could bebased either on feeling not needed and unimportant, or on resenting nothaving made or gifted differently. The other aspect (v.21) is an attitude of superiority on the part of some members towards others. Both anindependent spirit and a superior attitude bring atrophy and paralysis tothe body as a whole, because it is deprived of certain contributionswithout which it must degenerate. If we are together the body of Christ,we need one another, not only for the health of the body as a whole, butalso to enable each individual to operate at full potential. Any Christianwho operate independently is reducing his own effectiveness and that of the body as a whole.
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We differ from one another (17-20). A body that is all eyes and ears is nota body. Each member is unique, distinctive, irreplaceable andunrepeatable. Instead of allowing ourselves to be cast in any one mould,we ought to relish the differences and learn to capitalise on them.
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We are to care for one another (22-26). This mutual care is also intrinsic tothe body. The word “compose” in verse 24 where it says “this is the wayGod so composed the body” has the basic meaning of mixing differentparts together with a specific purpose in mind. The word may be used of mixing colours. Paul gives two suggestions: to give special care to thosewho are weak and to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with thosewho weep.
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