FEBRUARY 7, 2021
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (PART II)
INTRODUCTION:
1. In this chapter, and the two which follow, the Apostle addresses the matter of spiritual gifts, which were plentifully poured out on the Corinthian church. (Ch. 1:5, 6)
2. Among the many concerns that some in Corinth had expressed to Paul in a letter, three of them involved disorders in the public assembly. Two of these disorders were addressed in Chapter 11, namely, women appearing unveiled, and improper observance of the Lord’s Supper. In Chapter 12 he takes up the third of these disorders: “Now concerning spiritual gifts…”
3. In our last lesson (Verses 1-11), the Apostle established the origin of spiritual gifts, that they are from God; and that their variety and use He intended for the same general purpose, the advancement of Christianity and the edification of the church.
4. This end was being lost for a number of reasons. Clearly, some exercised their gifts with a fleshly pride. Others apparently exercised their gifts in an improper way, making it impossible for the church to profit. Many, it seems, were envious of those whose gifts they thought to be better and more glamorous than their own. This explains the Apostle’s approach in the following verses.
I. THERE IS A STRIKING ANALOGY BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE HUMAN BODY. (VERSES 12-26)
A. AS THE BODY IS ONE ORGANIC WHOLE ANIMATED BY ONE SPIRIT, SO THE CHUCRH IS ONE, THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT BEING THE PRINCIPLE OF LIFE. (VERSES 12-13)
1. This body is made up of many parts (members), yet it is one body. (Verse 12) The church is the body of Christ, Christ Himself being the Head. The church is one, yet it consists of many members, each having his own gift and office. (Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 1:23; 4:4, 16)
2. The church is one, “for by one spirit are we all baptized…”; or were we all baptized into one body. (The verb is not present tense, but aorist.) We were by the baptism of the Spirit, constituted one body. (V. 13)
a) Incidentally, this goes to prove that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a second work of grace.
It is by regeneration, that is, by the baptism of the Spirit that we are made one with Christ. (Tit. 3:5)
b) Clearly, a second error is also refuted here, that being that this is referring to the ordinance of baptism (water baptism), or as those who hold this view call it, the sacrament of baptism. The Bible clearly distinguishes between baptism with water, and baptism with the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 3:11; John 1:33; Acts 1:5)
3. Both water baptism and communion are outward ordinances which symbolize an inward and spiritual work. We are not only said to have been baptized by one Spirit, but were “have been made to drink into one Spirit.” (Verse 13b)
B. AS IN THE HUMAN BODY, THE MEMBERS ARE MUTUALLY DEPENDENT AND ALL EXIST FOR THE BODY AS A WHOLE, SO IT IS WITH THE CHURCH. (VERSES 14-26)
1. The diversity of gifts and members is necessary to the unity of the church. (Verse 14)
a) The word member means a constituent part having a function of its own.
b) The body is not merely a multiplicity of parts, but a multiplicity of constituent parts in which the function of each is necessary to the unit, or the whole.
c) The various gifts are not designed for the exclusive benefit of those who possess them, but for the edification of the whole church.
2. It is therefore absurd and unreasonable for one member of the church, who has a particular function for the good of the body, to complain that he is not as another member who performs another function for the benefit of all. (Verses 15-17)
3. Any such complaining would be to call into question the wisdom and purpose of God, Who forms the church with its many members, just as He formed the human body with its many members. (Vrs. 18-21)
a) We cannot conceive of the foot being jealous of the hand, or of the ear the eye.
b) Yet, just as the Creator God formed our bodies as it pleased Him, the same is true of the church and the placement and function of its various members. (Verse 18)
4. In the body, the least attractive parts are those which are indispensable to its existence. So it is with the church. It is not necessarily its most noticed gifts that are the most useful. (Verses 22-24)
5. There must be mutual appreciation and sympathy between the members of the church, just as there is between the members of the body. (Verses 25, 26)
6. It is inferred from this analogy that everyone must and should be content with the gift and roll which the Lord has given him. There should be no exaltation of one member over another on the ground of the supposed superiority of his gifts.
II. THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST AND ITS MEMBERS ARE VARIOUSLY GIFTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE BODY. (VERSES 27-31)
A. THE RELATION IN WHICH CHRISTIANS STAND TO CHRIST IS AS THE BODY TO ITS HEAD. (VERSE 27)
1. We are collectively the body of Christ.
2. We are individually members in particular.
3. Each is a member of the body, not the whole body. Each stand related to the body as a part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, and therefore have a mutual care and concern.
4. How unnatural in Christians then is indifference, contempt, hatred, envy, and strife. The natural body is not so, and neither should the spiritual body be.
5. The Apostle hereby hoped to quell the proud, contentious spirit that was so prevalent among the Corinthians.
B. GOD HAD PLACED IN THE CHURCH A VAIRETY OF GIFTED OFFICERS AND INDIVIDUALS. (VERSE 28; EPH. 4:11)
1. First, Apostles. The chief ministers who were entrusted with the powers and gifts necessary to found a church and fully instruct it in doctrine.
2. Second, prophets. These were persons enabled by inspiration to prophesy, interpret Scriptures, write by inspiration, etc.
3. Thirdly, teachers. These labored in the Word and doctrine, some with pastoral charge.
4. After that miracles, i.e. miracle workers.
5. Then gifts of healing. These had power to heal diseases.
6. Helps. These were given a heart of compassion for those in need, and a special understanding what to do to be of help.
7. Governments. Such as had the disposal of the practical ministry of the church in the care for widows and the poor, etc.
8. Diversities of tongues. Such as could by the Spirit speak languages which they had not learned.
9. These gifts are mentioned in order according to importance and value.
a) Without minimizing the worth of any spiritual gift, we must realize that God places a premium of the ministry of the Word.
b) Those gifts which many in our day prize the most, and are determined to hold on to, were clearly secondary.
c) Among the Corinthians, the gift of tongues seems to have been most coveted, yet it ranked last of all in importance. (Compare Ch. 14:4, 5, 18, 19)
C. SINCE THE CHURCH FUNCITONS AS A BODY, IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE IF ALL ITS MEMBERS POSSESSED THE SAME GIFTS. (VERSES 29, 30)
1. The human body would appear monstrous if it were nothing but eyes ears, hands, etc.
2. It would be no less preposterous if the church were made up of many members with identical gifts. Not only so, but God, Who’s the church is, would appear foolish.
D. PAUL WOULD HAVE THEM TO DESIRE THE MORE USEFUL GIFTS, RATHER THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE MORE GLAMOUROUS ONES. (VERSE 31)
1. Instead of their coveting such gifs as would draw attention to themselves, they should desire gifts by which they could be a blessing to others.
2. Those gifts by which they could minister to the sick, or be of help to the needy were better than the kind they strived for.
3. Certainly, those gifts by which they could edify the church and promote its sanctification by the ministry of the Word were better still. (Compare Ch. 14:1)
4. “Yet, I show you a more excellent way.” (Verse 31b) Charles Hodge explains as follows:
a) The expression is not in itself comparative as “more excellent” suggests. It is simply to be under-stood as “a way according to excellence,” or “an excellent way.”
b) He is not showing them a way more excellent than desiring gifts, but a way par excellence to obtain those gifts.
c) The sense is, “Seek the better, more useful gifts, and moreover, I show you an excellent way to do it.”
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