Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians Part 25 – Many Parts

Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians

Part 25 – Many Parts

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, was addressing the things he had heard about them, including incest, adultery, over-spiritualized behaviors, wandering away from the Word of God, and an overall pride about them.

Paul has corrected the Corinthian Churches view about the division; Christ is head of the church, no one else. He also let them know that the power comes from God, and they should be humble, not conceited and over-spiritual.

He warned them not to go beyond what is written.

He addressed their pseudo-faith and spiritual activity of abstaining from intimate relations with their spouses, explaining this was the root of their immoral behavior.

He also warned them against lawsuits with other believers, saying the only reason they could not come to terms together inside the church was because of their pride and arrogance.

He instructed them to be content in their situations, so as to quench the immoral behavior that was coming from discontent, and selfish ambition. Paul warned about becoming a stumbling block to other believers if we have certain knowledge that they do not possess.

Paul explained again about Christian Liberties, and about God's Will, and last week explained Communion.

This week we will see Paul talking about Spiritual Gifts. Why, because the Church in Corinth was behaving badly, selfishly, sinfully, and Paul was trying to correct their path.

Committing a sin is one thing, however, living in that sin is another, Paul explained this to us a few chapters back when he talked about Israel and how those who died in their sin never saw the Promised Land.

This week we will look at Paul explaining the different parts of one body.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Corinthians 12:12 - 31

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

                   I.            MANY PARTS MAKE THE WHOLE

a.      Just as a body, though one, has many parts

                                                                         i.      This refers to the church as being the "Body of Christ"

                                                                      ii.      We are all baptized into one body

                                                                   iii.      At Salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizes the believing sinner into the Body of Christ, which is the Born-again experience. It does not refer to the water baptism.

b.     Whether Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free

                                                                         i.      There is only 1 Spirit

c.      Therefore, there must be unity

                                                                         i.      No clicks, groups apart from others, all work together

                                                                      ii.      Not referring to Bible Studies, everyone is allowed to join

1.      Adult bible study for all adults

2.      Women's study for all women

3.      Children's youth for all your

               II.            EACH PART HAS A ROLE TO PLAY

a.      No part is separate from the body

                                                                         i.      Just because the human body has many organs and parts, does not make them any less necessary for the successful working of the entirety of the body.

b.     Just because you have different gifts does not mean you are not part of the body

                                                                         i.      For the human body to be whole, it has to have various parts

                                                                      ii.      So it is with the Body of Christ, the church.

c.      No part can say they do not need the other part

                                                                         i.      There is a mutual interdependence in the human body

                                                                      ii.      Just as there is in the Body of Christ

                                                                   iii.      All play an important part!

            III.            NO DIVISION

a.      God has put the body together

                                                                         i.      The Holy Spirit gives gifts as He sees fit

b.     All parts should have equal concern for each other

                                                                         i.      meaning, all are to be treated the same

                                                                      ii.      No one part is more important than another

c.      The Order God has called

                                                                         i.      First Apostles - set the tone for the church, foundational teaching of Christ and His commands

                                                                      ii.      Second Prophets - meaning preachers, pastors, prophets, evangelists

                                                                   iii.      Thirdly Teachers - those who explain the word

                                                                     iv.      then Healings - the spiritual gifts in operation

                                                                        v.      Helps - referring to every kind of help God sets in the church, whatever it might be

                                                                     vi.      Tongues - the gift requiring interpretation

d.     If one suffers, we all suffer

                                                                         i.      If one is honored, we all rejoice

CONCLUSION

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

What is this "most excellent way"?

What is I Corinthians 13 about?

This is the foundation of everything Paul is explaining.

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