The Amazing Body of Christ

Chapter number 12, last week, we considered the thought of the local church, a family of faith. And this week going to be looking at the local church. The amazing body of Christ. The amazing body of Christ and Lord willing. Next week, we'll be looking at the local church its purpose and Mission. So I encourage you to be here next week. 1st Corinthians, chapter number 12,

and verse 12. Paul says, where as the body is one and has many members. But all the members of that one body being many are one body. So also is Christ for by one Spirit. We were all baptized into one body, whether Jews are Greeks, weather, slaves are free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Or in fact, the body is not one member, but many will stop there. Let's have a word of prayer. Our Father. We ask you Lord to speak to us in a special way. As we look at your word and consider. This particular passage of scripture as we think about The local church is local body of Believers in my what an amazing body it is. If all we pray that you would teach us or help us. And as we look at this, passage to love your church even more. I know we'd have a longing to serve your church even more and serve one another. In the days to come by the will give you the glory and praise. We asked all these things in Christ name and all God's people said, amen. Several years ago, I preached at a church in Northern Arkansas. That had the name Corinth Baptist Church. Corinth Baptist Church in to my knowledge. It is the only church that I'm aware of that is named Corinth Baptist Church myself. After I preach there. That if you're going to name a church after a church that is found in the New Testament, I'm not sure that the church at Corinth is the best choice. Be kind of like naming a church laodicean. Baptist Church, you know, the the church that God saw that they were lukewarm and he wanted to spew them out. But to my knowledge, I don't know of another church around here, that's named after Corinth, Corinth here, in the New Testament. I say that because the Corinthian Church had a lot of issues, had a lot of major issues are some of their problems stemmed from the, the culture in, which they live. But most other problems, we're just the result of spiritual immaturity. And the cause of their spiritual immaturity, the church faced some many different factions and divisions and some very major factions. I'm just named you some of the divisions that they were divided over. Number one, the church struggled with divisions, based on loyalty to a particular Church live. Some were inclined to like a policy more than Paul and somewhere liking were more loyal to Paul then Peter and so forth until they were divided by whom they were more loyal to and then they were divided also and 1st Corinthians, chapter 5 and 6. They were divided as to how they should handle sexual sin within the church. As the church had members, who were engaging in various forms of sexual immorality, that was public and everyone knew until there's a division over that. I've been thoroughly this church had a dispute over regarding worship practices such as the role of women in public worship or who and how they should have deserve the Lord's Supper. Another major issue in the church was divisions that had to do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And that's the focus of this particular passage of scripture in 1st Corinthians chapter 12. You see blowing when a person is saved, when they are born again, by the spirit of God, they are given the Bible teaches us are given a specific gift. A spiritual gift by the power of the Holy Spirit. And those gifts are supposed to be used by each one for the blessing and benefit of everyone. But here in Corinth, some of those who had what they consider to be less your gifts or less visible gifts, were a little jealous of those who had what they thought were, the more visible and more prominent gifts and likewise, some of those with more visible and out. Front gifts tended to look down on those with more the behind-the-scene gifts. And so here in 1st Corinthians chapter, 12, the Apostle Paul spoke to that, fractured Fellowship. He spoke to that divided, family of faith. About the fact that there were really no big eyes and little use no little knees and big these in their church family. What I love about this passage of scripture this morning, it's how Paul. Who is divinely inspired by the holy spirit of God? How he goes about speaking to this fractured church family by giving them an illustration of a human physical body. And then applied it to the mystical spiritual body of Christ, which is his church. And ultimately Paul's goal for that family that church and for all the churches that would later read this particular passage of scripture is that within the church body, the members should have the same care for one another. It's all what you learn here from this text. Is that everybody in the body is somebody? That's what we learn in this text. It's a beloved in the life and work of the church. Listen, you matter and I matter and because of that, we should all matter to one another. The member should have the same care for one. Another Paul says. So let's look at this passage of scripture this morning as it speaks to us about our varying roles in our differing, responsibilities within the body of Christ. For one thing, we learn something about the function, the function of the body's members, the function of the body's members. That's number one now in our country. There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the different classes of people of especially speaking economically. There are those that are in the wealthy class, the rich, class the middle class and the poor and whether you like it or not at least economically speaking. There are different classes in our country but in the church, In the church. Listen to gospel erases all such classes within the church. There should be no economic classes of people. That the poor should not sit with the poor in the middle class or not. Sit for the middle class and the richest. It was he Rich. There is at the gospel of races those classes. They gospel a racist, ethnic classes. We don't sit with what we perceive to be our own skin color on Race. We are one body. There's no estimate classes within the body of Christ. There should not be. There's no social classes within the body of Christ. That those who like certain things and do, certain things that they only sit together and fellowship together and those that do different things. Should never fellowship with that should never be this. The case within the body of Christ, It's a this is what makes the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. So unique and so special because there's virtually no classes. No, classes were made up of all sorts of different people, from different backgrounds, even different cultures, but we are none. The less one people. This is what Paul explains in our texting verse 12. He says, for as the body is one and has many members. But all the members of that one body being many are one body. So also is Christ. And then he goes on further verse 15, Arbor 13 rather, He says this four, by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews are Greeks, weather, slaves are free and Horton and have all been made to drink into one spirit. It's on other words, when we are saved by God's grace, listen to same. Holy Spirit, birthday us. All into the family of God, and then the scripture teaches us at the Holy Spirit lives within us. And so, listen, the ground is not only level at the foot of the cross as we have heard often, but the ground is also level within the family was in the church. The ground is level within the family of the church. But here's Paul point. We are all equal members of the same body. We don't all have the same gifts, we don't all do the same things. We don't all have the same responsibilities within the body. Some of us have more visible role, is more of a public role within the church than others. And so because of that, someone who has maybe a less visible gift or less visible role. May think that they are not important. But if they think that they are absolutely wrong. Absolutely wrong. Listen, no one should ever think that they are insignificant within the body of Christ. And that is what Paul is trying to stress to the Corinthians, he's trying to stress to the Corinthians.

That's each member of the body. Is a viable part of the body. Each member of the body is a viable, essential part of the body. So using me illustrations of a physical body. Notice what Paul says, in verse 15. If the foot should say because I am not a hand, I'm not of the body, is it? Therefore not of the body? Not continuing the same illustration. He says, number 16. And if the ear should say because I'm not and I, I'm not everybody, is it? Therefore not of the body? So Paul using this very colorful illustration, he imagines a foot looking up to a hand and saying to itself. You know I'm all the way down here. I'm here on the ground. I'm covered up by socks and shoes not hand up there. It's always touching things. It's, it's turning things. I I'm not really part of the action. I'm really not part of the body at all. And likewise the ear says, you know, all I do is hear sounds I mean, that that the eye is looking around, I get to see colors that I get to see lights. Everybody looks right at him. They don't even look at me. Even when you're talking to me, I'm not really a part of this body. Of course, we recognize that despite that foots and ears, low self-esteem. They are very much still a part of the body, even if they Powell to protest that they are not, It's on the same way. Someone in the church whose gift is something like service. Something behind the scenes or whose gift is giving. Give me behind the scenes. Our whose gift is intercessory prayer. A prayer Warrior They they might say one Sunday. You know what? I don't ever get recognized. I'm not on any Ministry team. Nobody really knows me truth is, I'm not even really a part of this shirt. I don't even matter around here. Listen in reality. Even if you were to tell yourself that it is not true, not True Blood. Listen. God has placed you in this body. He has gifted you uniquely for the needs of this body and no amount of self-pity can change that fact that you are a viable part and essential part of this local body.

and on top of this, Paul makes it clear that none of us should feel in significance in the church, not only because we have a viable place within this body, but also because we are valuable each member of the body is a valuable part of the body. Look at verse 17. Your Paul asks a great question. keeping with the illustration Paul asber, 17, if the whole body were an eye, Where would, where would be the hearing? Is the whole whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling? it's a Paul is saying if the body were just in eye, it could not function. If a whole being was one, giant eye. Let me know life to it. If it were only an ear, it could not exist. It could not live. So, we know each part of the body. Is very important, it is very valuable to the life of the body. And so in reality here, Paul's metaphorical statements really highlights the fact that our physical body is composed of various parts. And each of those parts has its own unique function and purpose. And so, by using the imagery of an eye ear and nose, Paul emphasizes that if the entire body were made up of only one type of member, one type of body part, it would lack, the essential contributions of the others that would give the body life and functionality. So another words, as it relates to the church If everyone possess the same gift or everyone possess the same responsibilities enroll, there would be a significant imbalance, there will be a significant deficiency within the body of Christ. So Paul's intention was that he wanted to emphasize the equal importance and value of each. Each member was in the body of Christ, regardless of their specific function. So we should never be tempted to think we should never be tempted to say to ourselves. Well, you know, I cannot preach like that preacher. Or I cannot teach like that teacher. I cannot too. I'm not a deacon like that gentleman gentleman is I must not be that important at all or perhaps someone might be tempted to say something like this. Well, why didn't God make me more like him? Why didn't God make me more like her? Why don't I have the same kind of gifts that they do. Listen to reality is that your complaints of insignificance and are your complaints of inadequacy are not just toward the body around you the different members around you. They are actually as we shall see, your complaints are directed toward the God above you and the Holy Spirit within you. Here's what I mean. Verse 18. Verse 18, Towson. But now, God has set the members. Each one of them in the body, just as he pleased, the ESV uses, the word shows in the body, just as he chose The New American Standard. Use the word desire? We could say in our Arkansas vernacular that is God has gifted each member as he has seen fit. Okay. Ask he has pleased, you have gifted each each member that which he has given to them of their spiritual gifts. And so, where, and how you fit in this body of believers, It is not a matter of personality. It is not a matter of church politics Lord. I pray that never happens. But rather it is a matter of Divine Providence.

It is a matter of the Divine choosing of God for your life.

Listen, God Made You, God saved you, and then uniquely gifted you for a special function, a specific function and purpose, in this church. and what Paul is saying is when you are not satisfied, With your place in the body. You are actually not satisfied with God's grace in your life. You're not satisfied with God's gifting in your life. So, please understand that though, you may wrestle with where you fit in and took God's plan. He has made each of you wisely his mate, each of you wonderfully, and no one should ever feel insignificant in the body of Christ. Now, looking at this text receive, secondly, something of The Fellowship of the body's members, we see something of The Fellowship of the body's members. You see in one hand there in Corinth. You had some folks who did not think enough of themselves. And if it went well, but since my gift and my role and responsibilities more behind-the-scenes, I must not be as gifted as those who are having a more public role and responsibilities. But on the other hand, you have some folks with in this particular Fellowship that probably thought too much of themselves. That's what we're dealing with here. The Paul had a word for them in verse 20, he really restates his points overall point, he said it was 20, but now are they many many members yet but one body, But now, there are many members, but one body. So here's Paul. He is highlighting what? He's highlighting Unity, he is highlighting the interconnectedness of Believers within the body of Christ and his emphasizing that although there are many individual members with different roles in different gifts. They are united in one unified body, the body of Christ. So, Paul began to speak to those who thought that their spiritual gifts were the only ones that matter.

You want to point out and prove to them that apart from the work of others. those who have without the work of others who are working behind the scenes, those who are working in more visible scenes, you'd be helpless without those behind you verse 21, He's going back to this body. Illustration verse 21, Paul Road, and the eye cannot say to the hand. I have no need of you nor the head to the feet. I have no need of you. It's on another words, I'm just as the first group that Paul mentioned should never say, we are not needed. Could the second group say we don't need you to Paul say, we should never think that. Friend. Listen to. I cannot look down at the hand and say, hey, I see it just fine. I don't need you to grab it for me. I'll get it myself. That I cannot say that to the hand in the head, cannot say to the feet. I know where I want to go and I will get there without you. That's foolishness, right?

But also in a church. Those who lead and stand in front of the body are foolish to think that those who do not are not important to them or necessary to the work, God has called all of them to do.

Apollo illustrates this further bus, 22.

He said, no much rather those members of the body, which seem to be weaker. Are necessary. Which seem to be weaker, which seemed to have a maybe a less significant role. Unnecessary. In other words, those who are not as visible, maybe more vital to the health and life of the body than those who are always out front. I think about this. Inside your heart. Are inside your heart inside your chest, beats your heart. And your heart cannot survive. Outside your body. It wasn't meant to survive outside of your body. It was meant to be hidden inside of your body behind skin and muscles and Bone. And yet, while you might survive, having your nose cut off or having your eyes plucked out, you would not make it whatsoever if you had your heart cut out. So I hope you see the point of the holy spirit is making the Apostle Paul here, that I know as a pastor that why I am always out front every Sunday, preaching a sermon, I'm leaving the service, the real heartbeat of the church, maybe some dear old senior saint of God, whose prayers aren't the only thing making any sense out of my sermon as it reaches, the ears of the Tiger. Gation

Listen prayer. Warriors intercessory prayer warriors are like hearts and lungs to local church. We would not survive without them. And Paul wants us to see that apart from the work of others, those you're working behind the scenes. In the church, you are helpless. Your help is so never think highly of yourself too, highly of yourself. So that when we become aware of the worth of others that seemingly have internal controls, it should cause those who do have more visible rolls to be humbled by it to be humble. I look at verse 24. Listen carefully to rush 24, it says and those members of the body, which we think to be less, honorable, Upon these, we bestowed more abundant honor. And our uncomely part those less presentable, maybe less attractive Parts have more than abundant communist or a beauty. So just as in our physical bodies listen there are parts of our bodies that everybody sees. You see my eyes. You see my nose? You see my ear. There are parts of our bodies that everyone sees and then there are parts of our bodies that are not for everyone to see. There is the liver with inside me the spleen and so for Now it is not that they are not important, but rather what they do is more valuable than how they look.

John MacArthur makes the application quite clear. He said there, she said, every sensible person.

Is more concerned with his heart than he is with his hair. Every common-sense person is going to be more concerned about his heart than his hair. Now, should we wash our hair? yes, at least once a month, you know, should we call more hair? Yes. If you have it, call me, hey man.

But we all know that the arm that picks up the comb or the brush and the heart, that pumps the blood to that arm are more important to your life than the way. You part your hair or style, your hair.

I listen, I know, I need to preach the word of God always. I need to do it correctly. I need to do it clearly, I need to do it consistently. But I also know, beloved that there are people here today, listening. Not because I am so much of a dynamic speaker, but because some Sunday school teacher are some Deacon, or some church member called them this week and checked on them, and encourage them to be here.

Do you need a pastor? Absolutely. The church is to function with a Shepherd, but listen to this a pastor needs, you just as badly as you need him.

Blood. Let's we need one another, and we cannot survive apart from one another At least your third and final truth here. We see the familiar concern for the bodies members, The Familiar concern for the body's members. And so we have seen how Paul has made it very clear that I need you. And you need me, were we all need one another, a body needs an eye, but also needs an ear in both the eye and the ear need a heart so that you can live in it function. Free. Listen. God has made us who we are and what we are in the church. So that in our diversity that in our Diversified gifts and rolls, there is a necessity for one another, To understand that truth. You and I had better care about one another and be careful. Then with one another Because no more can you afford to lose an arm and I or lung, can we afford to be divided and separated from one another?

This is how we must look at one another. Thank God in his Sovereign. Wisdom has made us who we are and has placed us where we need to be within this body. I noticed a 25.

He says that there should be no Schism in the body but that the members should have the same care for one another. The Paul says, not only we would fight about, who is better, and who is the most valuable, but also, but so that there should be no division in the body, no division within the body. Remember, this church was filled with faction. It was filled with division and Paula saying, rather than chopping yourselves yourself into pieces and arguing about which one is most needed. We as members in this church, ought to have the same care for one another We notice at work. Are there in a 25 is translated from a word that speaks of anxiousness. so when this verse it has the idea of having a concern for one another

Assemblage that we ought to be as concerned for the fellow who turns the microphone up in the sound booth, as we are concerned for the one who leads us every Sunday in song. We have to see as much value in one teaching, a small class of toddlers. As we do the one teaching, a larger Adult class on Sunday morning. We off to care as much for the lady who fixes food for the family of of a loved one, who died as we do the finance team that forms the budget. This is how we must look at one another. But notice also how how we must live with one another? How we miss live with one another? Listen, if we see the value. In every part of our body. And we look after the more private workers, As much as we do, the more prominent ones, then we will be more than just an organization. We will become. And we will be an organism, the living, Spirit-filled Body of Christ. Sit, by the way, what was that looks like? We'll look at verse 26. Or 26 towels as if one member suffers all the members suffer with it or if one member is honored all the members Rejoice with it. DePaul here uses an illustration of a very tight-knit family for each member deeply cares for supports one. Another And in this family, when one member experience is suffering in one member experiences, paying the entire family, feels the weight of it. so much so that they share in the sorrow to share and offering Comfort, they share and giving them compassion, The family members come together, they provide love and support knowing that they are connected in a bond of flesh and blood. Now, Envision a different scenario was in that same family, this time, one family member cheese, a great accomplishment or receives and honor. Maybe they had just recently graduated promotion at work, whatever it may be but as the news spread throughout that one family, the entire family rejoices with overflowing happiness and joy. Now why did they do that? Well, because the family recognizes that the success of one is a victory for all. It's all this family illustration here, beautifully captures, the essence of the statement that Paul said number 26. And if one member suffers all the members suffer with it and if one member is honored all the members Rejoice with it. So Paul is saying that within the body of Christ Believers are interconnected and they are bound together by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Giving us a deep sense of love and unity. This is why I would have one member of the body experiences suffering a hardship. The rest of the body is not indifferent. The rest of the body is not detached know. They bear the burden together, they share in the pain, they support one another. They showed compassion one to another To such a point that the suffering of one member becomes a shared concern. prompting others to offer up prayers, popping others, to help, and practical ways of the unity of the body is demonstrated through the collective response to the suffering member and beloved listed in the same way, when one member of the body of Christ is honored, our team, some significant Milestone, the entire body rejoices so this illustration really showcases the importance of genuine concern for one, another both in times of suffering, in times of Celebration, That went Believers truly live out this principle. The body of Christ becomes a place of love, a place of support and shared experiences as they reflect the very heart of Christ himself.

No, may the Lord strengthen us. In our familial relationships. Within this body of Christ. Cuz when we live out with this passage of scripture, lays before us, it will bring glory to God. And it would demonstrate to a fallen world that there's power in the Gospel Power in the gospel. So with that in mind, close by remembering just whose body we are. Verse 27. it says, now you Are the body of Christ. And members individually. Thinking about that that phrase and you are the body of Christ. We think about a body you think about Unity, right? There's Unity that everything in my body and your body. If you're, if you're here and healthy, it's all in unity. Every part and every muscle, and every tendon organ is working together for a common cause of Life about the body of Christ. Unity. We also think about how that Jesus is the head of the body. the Bible teaches us, that And that is what ties everything together. So the body of Christ speaks of our unity. And we understand that our unity in Christ is not merely. A superficial Gathering of a of like-minded individuals. Know, it is a supernatural Union that has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and forged by the power of the holy spirit. So we are bound together by the grace of our Lord. Jesus Christ, who has called us out of the darkness and Into His Marvelous Light.

So, this passage of scripture this morning challenges us to examine our hearts, And ask. Are we actively using our gifts to serve and bless others? Are we seeking to edify and spring finish? The body of Christ for his glory? Knowing that we have different roles. We have different responsibilities within his body. Each one of us has been uniquely gifted by God and it is in our diversity of gifts and roles responsibilities. That the fullness of God's glory is more revealed. Just look around you this morning. One is an eye and one is a hand and one is a foot, but the whole body has been washed in the same blood and saved by the same Lord. and this is why that we can say, everybody in the body is somebody I'm the only one that should have all the preeminence. Is the one who saved us all. To him be glory in his body both now and forever. Amen. And amen. Let's