Results for "unity"
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1 Corinthians 12:22
22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
Bookmarked 12 days ago.
22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
Bookmarked 12 days ago.
1 Corinthians 12:21
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!”
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!”
We know that the will of God is to build up His church, and that He plans to use us in the process (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 14:12). The goal of this building up is to equip us to be missionaries to our cultures and the greater world, speaking the truth *in love* to each other while being ambassadors for Christ to those who are outside of the city of God (2 Corinthians 5:14-15,20). If we effectively dismiss other Christians and their gifts or seek to always restrain rather than encourage, we dislocate the Body and a cold sickness comes over her. Why are our Christian communities so often powerless? Is it perhaps that our church governmental structures tend to centralize power to the elders or a single teaching pastor and take the freedom of ministry away from the Body. Qualified elders do have a real God-given authority, but it is an authority that comes with a great responsibility -- to shepherd and lead the flock of God to mutually grow up in the faith and minister to the world.
Bookmarked about 1 month ago.
1 Corinthians 12:20
20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The apostle is about to hammer away at the reality of our spiritual family *again*, and this verse is a short breath. It seems like Paul has said enough, but we are thick-skinned, self-sufficient people. Not many of us live in conscious dependence upon others, and many relationships are built upon things other than our shared hope in Christ. So, again, he reminds us -- there is only one Body, even though there are believers with different interests, backgrounds, giftings, and personalities around the world and even within a local gathering of believers. Perhaps the most difficult reality is that there are believers all over the map in maturity. The mature are called to help and teach the weak; but how many 'mature' Christians have patience and love enough to bear with the wrong opinions, character flaws and inconsistencies of young Christians? The weak, if they are young in age or faith (or both), still have the same powerful Spirit and perhaps even powerful gifting that is for the Church. How many of these, especially those with great visible gifts, learn to be teachable and commit Paul's next chapter to heart (I Cor. 13)?
Bookmarked 2 months ago.
1 Corinthians 12:14
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
When we think of the Church, we should not begin to imagine an organization or group of individuals separate from ourselves. Rather, we should think of ourselves, intertwined within this *one* glorious fellowship of the light where Jesus is head. "We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another" (Romans 12:4-5). It seems very simple, but embracing this truth in our hearts will go a long way to humble us and lead us to serve one another with our gifts in a spirit of genuine love.
Bookmarked 2 months ago.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Here Paul uses a trinitarian formula to remind the Corinthians that God is One (see the 'shema' at Deuteronomy 6) -- and so all of His work in this world should point to this unity, especially His work in the Church universal and local. No one will be saved by the Son of God apart from the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, just as no one can know and love the Father except through knowing and loving the Son (see John 5:37-38). If we understand God's trinitarian nature that is seen so clearly in the love, obedience, and joy of the Son toward the Father -- as well as the unity of thought and heart that comes to us through the Spirit's peaceful presence -- then we will begin to understand how to live in deep fellowship with believers. As the church, we are to be 'one' in the same way that the Godhead is One, always seeking to uphold and increase the unity of the Church by our efforts of love. This is a consistent theme running through the entire letter (see 1 Corinthians 1:10). We must never look only at our own giftedness; rather, we should marvel at how we might take part in building upon this huge work of God that is Christ's blood-bought and beloved Church.
Bookmarked 7 months ago.
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1 Corinthians 12:1
Chapter 12
Spiritual Gifts
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. The message of the previous chapters has been that we must live for the glory of God and for the good of others. But we must not think that these are merely ethical demands. Paul clearly taught that the work of the Holy Spirit is the only foundation for life in Christ (see especially Romans 8). Knowing that life in the Spirit *is* the Christian life, we must not be ignorant of spiritual gifts. We must seek to fan them into flame within each believer around us and within ourselves, always striving to be used by God to bless, uplift, teach, exhort, or rebuke. We must also be wise in regards to the spiritual gifts, always remembering the purpose of God in giving them -- to unify and build up the body of Christ, that she might glorify her Savior. The Corinthians were mostly ignorant in this regard; some of the members knew of the gifts but did not have any real knowledge of Christ (see Paul's harsh rebuke at 1 Corinthians 15:34). The simple phrase remains the clearest command we have in regards to these things -- let us not be ignorant! We must pray for insight and discernment so that we are not led astray and can be useful for Christ and His Church.
Bookmarked 8 months ago.
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