We are currently looking into the Spiritual Gifts given to the body of the church, that are so given for profit all. Lets see what we can glean from what Paul says herein.
1Corinthians 12:12-13, 14-26 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." (KJV)
1Corinthians 12:12-13, 14-26 "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (ESV)
1Corinthians 12:12-13, 14-26 "The many members of the same body do not divide the oneness of the individual. The various gifts and workings of the Spirit of Christ find a beautiful similitude taken from the mutual dependence of the numerous parts of the human body. All the parts unite harmoniously into one whole. The Spirit of Christ is one Spirit; although their workings in each one of us may seem different there is no distraction from their oneness in us. For in one spirit we are all immersed into one Body; Jew and Gentile alike, whether we were slave or free is no longer relevant, we are all saturated in one Spirit (our original state of Genesis 1:26-27, and 2:7, 21-24). We are drinking from the same fountain.
The individual member and its function do not define the body; the body gives context to the individual member. Your specific gifting does not define you; Christ defines you! The different members co-compliment each other. The hand is not a more valid member of the body that the foot. How silly it would be for the foot to feel inferior to the hand simply because it does not look the same! They fulfill completely different roles but are equally part of the same body. Should the ear say, "Because I am not the eye I am not part of the body;" does that mean that the ear is right? If the body was just one huge eye, then everything would be silent; if it was all ears, then how could it smell the fragrance of flowers! GOD engineers every individual part of the body according to his deliberate design! (The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. [Psalm 20:12]) Our individual significance only finds context in relationship to others! The sum total of the members equals one body. The eye perceives and the hand touches; they do not compete for importance. The head will never make the feet feel inferior! In the body there is no sense of, "I am positioned higher than you and therefore i do not need you!" The members are not rated in importance with how visible and prominent they seem to be. The less visible parts are indispensable; it is impossible for the body to function without them. Those members that seem to be of lesser visible value deserve the greater and more personal care. There is so much more to a person than a pretty face! GOD so structures the body that every single part is equally valued; the less visible parts are often treated with even greater honor and more specific care. Because of the delicate interdependence of the various parts of the body it is natural that no schism can be tolerated; instead every member considers the other with affectionate care. It is impossible for one part of the body to suffer injury without the rest of the body being immediately alerted to it; the pain of the one is the pain of all. In the same way the complete person is honored, not just the fingers that skillfully play the harp. Everyone is equally included in the same joy. ( This parallel explains perfectly humanity's inclusion in the honor of Christ's death and the glory of his resurrection, one has died for all, therefore all died! [2Corinthians 5:14-17]) (The Mirror)
There is the explanation of how the Body is to operate and function. The LORD willing we shall finish this chapter next time. Until then may the LORD reveal more of his revelation to you.
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