Paul is addressing the topic of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. He had just declared that although we together comprise the body of Christ, you are “members in particular” (v. 27b). Then he continues, “And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28). The “members in particular” have roles based upon their giftings in the body of Christ.
Observe first that we are told “God has set” these ministry gifts (people) in their positions. These are not elected positions. How do we know who God has called to what position? The gifts will support their calling. Just because someone wants to be an apostle doesn’t make them one. The rest of the body will recognize that ministry gift. In the church world, ordination is simply a public acknowledgment of what God has done.
I once was interviewing a lady pastor from Toledo who desired to become a member of our Fellowship of churches. Someone asked the question, “Do you think it is scriptural for a woman to be called into the ministry?” She wisely replied, “My ministry speaks for itself”. She was correct. She had started and built The People’s Church and had several hundred people attending. We ordained her.
Observe also that there is a sequence to these gifts. Apostle was in first place. Diversities of tongues was in last place. All gifts are important in the body, but there must be a head to the body which all other parts yield to.
Also note that God has set these ministry gifts “in the church“. Outside the church watching it on TV is not where God places these gifts. The individual gifts have their authority and miraculous power when they function together in harmony.
Where are you on the ministry gift list? Where would you like to be?
Tags: body, church, ministry gifts
The Apostle Paul summarized all that he had just said about the body of Christ in verse 27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12). Here he is applying all that he had just said about the body of Christ in general, and makes it personal to the readers: that is, to you and me.
In the original Greek the word you is plural. We are all together the body of Christ when we function as God has called us. We are His hands and feet. We are the ones carrying out the direction of the head, Jesus Christ. The will of God doesn’t get done unless we do it. We no more act on our own behalf, but we act on God’s behalf.
But then he adds, “and members in particular“. So, the body of Christ is comprised of us all with all our various gifts. But each of us as individuals are essential in making up the whole. Each piece adds to the whole. The body is not whole without all the pieces.
The church of Christ has weakened itself by dividing into ever smaller and predictable groups. What would happen if the whole church, all the parts and all the denominations, saw each other as vital parts of the body? I think we would seek each other out a little more.
Tags: body, church, spiritual gifts, unity
Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we recognize Christ’s death on the cross. Don’t forget about the Good Friday Community Service, hosted at New Hope, from 7-8PM. Pastor David Mathews, of the United Methodist Church, will be speaking.
What do you think about death? Do you see it as a good thing or a bad thing? No one knows for sure what Benjamin Franklin believed about life after death. He remained conspicuously silent about it, except for what he wrote in his own epitaph:
The Body of
B. Franklin, printer,
(like the cover of an old book,
its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and gilding)
lies here, food for worms.
But the work shall not be lost;
for it will (as he believed)
appear once more,
in a new and more elegant edition,
revised and corrected
by the Author.
This epitaph confirms Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:20-21 that the risen Lord will transform our corruptible bodies, making them like His own glorious body. What will your epitaph say about your hope?
Tags: B. Franklin, body, death, resurrection