ONE BODY –
MEMBERS TOGETHER
1 Corinthians 12:1-26
Today we are looking at the third
foundation of discipleship found in the Alexander Mack seal which we accept as
Brethren. We are looking at Community in
the Body of Christ. What does it mean to
us to belong to the fellowship of believers?
The truth is that when we become connected to Christ through faith we
also are connected to all other members of the body. None stand alone. We belong to each other. There are no solitary Christians.
First, what is the one common bond for
us all in the body of Christ? What holds
us together? What, indeed, makes us one
body?
All believers receive
the Holy Spirit at the time they receive salvation through faith. This is primarily the one that makes us
one. What did Jesus’ disciples hear the
very night he was betrayed? In His
prayer of John 17 he prayed that we might be one, even as He and the Father are
one. It is the Holy Spirit that makes us
one. I remind you again that Romans 8
tells us that all believers have the Holy Spirit, and anyone who does not have
the Spirit does not belong to Jesus.
All believers are
bound together as one when they are born into the Body of Christ. What does it mean to us to be bound together
by the Holy Spirit?
Believers must love
one another without limit. Jesus had
much to say in His last hours about the love we are to share. Does it mean we don’t become upset from time
to time? No. But our love must not be diminished. It is a love that does not come from our
feelings, but it flows through our actions.
One church sign has the slogan, “A visitor is just a friend we haven’t
met yet.” That means we don’t wait until
they measure up to some arbitrary standard before we love them. We love each other because of our bond in
Christ. “We are one in the bond of love”
(#423 in Celebration Hymnal).
I want to consider
the Spiritual gifts, not as a main topic but as they help the body of Christ in
our community together.
Spiritual gifts are
given to every believer to profit the whole body. When our Spiritual gifts are used as they are
supposed to be the whole church benefits.
Christians cannot
stand alone. Together we complete the
body. Together we support one another.
Spiritual gifts
inventory – vs 11, gifts given to each one.
Spiritual gifts
include:
·
Wisdom There is a divine gift of wisdom
– Solomon was an example from Scripture.
But Jesus also said we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as
doves. That is we need to exercise great
wisdom in life. James 1 reminds us if
anyone lacks wisdom, we should ask of God who gives to all men generously… and
it will be given to him.
·
Faith
Divine faith is also a special gift given to some, but we are all to
exercise faith day by day because we have a God who is faithful and we can
trust Him even with our lives.
·
Teaching There are some who are especially set apart
to exercise the spiritual gift of teachers, but we are also to be teachers of
one another.
·
Helping
Some have and extraordinary measure of compassion and are used to help
those who may be in need of special help.
But we are all to be helpers of one another. The truth is we live in a spiritual welfare
system – majority of Christians are consumers only.
Suppose in your home
– half or more of your family members never lifted a finger to help around the
house – Andy Capp cartoon – I hope this doesn’t press your button – I hope you
don’t live in such a home.
But it is very true
for the church – remember, we are told over and over that we are members of the
body together – that’s the last half of our Scripture –
·
Exhortation The divine gift of giving urgent advice or
directions – especially urging righteousness in following God. The prophets of course would fit this as well
as those such as the Apostle Paul. But
again, we are all urged to instruct one another in righteousness. We are partners in accountability.
·
Giving
Some have a divine gift of making lots of money in order to be able to
give lots of money. LeTourneau was one
who made loads of money and gave much of it away, even building a college. But how many times are we instructed to be
givers – hilarious givers – God loves a cheerful giver.
·
Mercy
There are some who exude mercy – those who have experienced sin in their
lives will experience such a level of forgiving love that they are transformed
as a result. But again we are all urged
to show mercy and forgiveness. We are
instructed in Ephesians 4 to forgive even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven
us. This act of forgiving is the only
part of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus spoke extra words of instruction.
Every member of the
body of Christ is important for the body to function properly. We (the body of Christ) cannot do without
you. The church is unable to reach its
full potential if some members are not functioning.
Back to marriage
illustration – suppose your husband doesn’t do a thing to help you around the
house – and suppose he only comes home occasionally after work, you never know
when he’ll be there – there is little consistency – what would you think?
There is no plan for
retirement from discipleship. We don’t
reach a certain age when we can sit back and relax and say I have done my
duty. Let someone else do the work. Some people retire very young.
There is no room for
division in the body of Christ. Most
church I know anything about is experiencing some level of brokenness and
division. It is not something new. Some of the writings of Paul included
instructions to those who were experiencing broken relationships. Paul urgently urged everyone to put such
aside.
We must be united in
our purpose and goals. We are not
always fully agreed with each other in the church. There will be differences of opinion. But we do need to work together with the body
as we search for purpose that God has given to us.
We must serve
together for the glory of God. All of
this comes together as we seek to glorify God is all that we do in the
church. Again we need each other for
this.
Zechariah 8:16-17,
these are the things which you should do:
speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace
in your gates. Also let none of you
devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all
these are what I hate, declares the Lord.
Discover your place –
what can you do – one thing is to grow in God’s Word – study Bible together.
“Ask not what the church can do for you, ask
what you can do for the church.”
©
2007,