March 24, 2024 (Palm Sunday)
1 Corinthians 12:12-20
“Unity via Diversity”
Service Overview: Throughout the New Testament, the Bible speaks of the church as being the body of Christ on earth. And just as a human body has many parts, so it is with Christ. Those in Christ have been united to others through him, not so that they can be clones of everyone else, but so that through their diverse gifts and abilities they can complete the picture of what Christ wants his church to be.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Paul is writing to correct the behavior of some haughty Corinthians whose undisciplined flaunting of spiritual gifts has caused the weaker and less honorable members of the community to feel despised and even ostracized from the body because they do not have the same exalted spiritual experiences (vv. 15–16). It is likely, though not certain, that this split with the community reflects the same social and economic differences that we have seen with regard to other problems in the letter, such as the use of law courts (6:1–8) and the abuse of the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34). (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 220)
- Spirit-baptism in verse 13 must not be confused with water-baptism. The expression “baptize with [in/by] the Spirit” occurs seven times in the New Testament. All other six uses are references to John the Baptist’s prophecy that Jesus would baptize with or in the Holy Spirit ( 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16), which was fulfilled at Pentecost, as the Acts 1:5 reference clarifies. Both the word and practice of baptism in the ancient world suggests that what Paul has in mind here is an initiation experience that immerses a person into the realm of the Spirit. Given that Paul says all the Corinthian believers have been so baptized, and given the level of immaturity of at least some of them, it is impossible that Spirit-baptism should be any kind of second blessing or subsequent experience of God apart from conversion and the initial arrival of the Spirit into a person’s life. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 336)
- The “filling of the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18ff.) has to do with the Spirit’s control of our lives. (In Scripture, to be filled by something means “to be controlled by.”) We are commanded to be filled, and we can be if we yield all to Christ and ask Him for the Spirit’s filling. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 139)
- Apparently, some believers in Corinth were discouraged that they did not have a particular gift—probably one of the more spectacular gifts, such as the gift of tongues—so they believed that they could not truly be a part of the body unless they experienced that particular gift. But Paul explains, through this metaphor, that all the different gifts given by the Spirit to believers must be utilized in order for the church to function well. (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 174)
Why was it so important for Paul to drop this text on the Corinthian church?
- Because they had been made one in Christ and needed to act like it.
(vv. 12-13 | John 17:11, 20-23; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 1:17)
By identifying the many members of the church directly with Christ, Paul seems to press beyond mere analogy to make an ontological equation of the church with Christ (cf. v. 27). (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 213)
Paul’s vision of the body of Christ is of a unity which consists in diversity, that is, a unity which is not denied by diversity, but which would be denied by uniformity, a unity which depends on its diversity functioning as such – in a word, the unity of a body, the body of Christ. (James Dunn, Theology of Paul the Apostle, 564)
There is nothing that would render the true religion more lovely, or make more proselytes to it, than to see the professors of it tied together with the heart strings of love. If God be one, let all that profess him be of one mind, and one heart, and thus fulfill Christ’s prayer, “that they all may be one.” (Thomas Watson, A Body of Practical Divinity, 74)
The church is not merely a human organization; rather, it is brought into being by the activity of the Holy Spirit, which binds believers into a living union with the crucified and risen Lord. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 213)
- Because they were sovereignly and uniquely gifted to be equally needed and equally important.
(vv. 14-17 | Romans 12:6-8; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
To drive home the need for the church to be an interdependent community growing together rather than independent practitioners growing apart, Paul likens the unity and diversity of the body of Christ to the unity and diversity of the human body (12:12). (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 183)
Gifts are interdependent. Like the body, they cannot function without each other. (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 174)
Diversity does not suggest inferiority. Are we to believe that the sovereign Lord made a mistake when He bestowed the gifts? (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 140)
It is not our job to “produce” unity. Unity is “of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3). Unity is automatic when the Spirit is in control of everyone’s lives. Our job is to “preserve” the unity of the Spirit – to do nothing to disrupt the unity He is producing… We must take care of our relationships and be quick to clean up our offenses. We must make right our wrongs so that the unity of the Spirit is not disrupted. (Eddie Rasnake, The Book of Ephesians, 93)
- Because they had been gifted on purpose for a purpose.
(vv. 18-20 | Psalm 138:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:16; 1 Peter 2:9)
These gifts are not given arbitrarily but with a definite purpose in mind. Again, the phrase “common good” (v. 7) implies “to bring together” or “to join together.” God has made us different so that he might make us one. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 253)
Every born-again believer is a member of that body and lives the common life of every other member by the one thing which unites them and makes them “relatives and brothers,” even the blood of Christ. (M.R. DeHaan, The Chemistry of the Blood, 15)
Conclusion… How can we be a counter-cultural church in light of a text like this?
A. As we own, develop, and play our parts.
(Galatians 6:9; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 2:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18)
Every spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit is vital to the functioning of the body. Thus, the gifts are not given at whim and will not be changed according to people’s preferences. If everyone wanted to be an eye, then the body might see very well, but it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, there would be no sense of smell. (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 175)
Unity is not uniformity. It does not mean that we have to agree on everything. It does not mean that everyone has to be a copy or a clone of anyone else. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 253)
B. As we encourage and uplift others in doing the same.
(Romans 15:13; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13)
The union of believers is grounded in the mystical union of Christ and His Church. The Bible speaks of a two-way transaction that occurs when a person is regenerated. Every converted person becomes “in Christ” at the same time Christ enters into the believer. If I am in Christ and you are in Christ, and if He is in us, then we experience a profound unity in Christ. (R.C. Sproul, Tabletalk, p. 7, June 2004)
Only in its functional diversity can a unified body have ongoing health and genuine growth. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 186)
There is nothing wrong with being different. There is, however, something wrong with being divided. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 254)
Gospel Connection…
King Jesus died to make us one; one through his death, one for his purpose, one for the sake of the world.
(John 17:23; Romans 12:4-5; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:2; Col. 3:11)
The Christian community is a community of the cross, for it has been brought into being by the cross, and the focus of its worship is the Lamb once slain, now glorified. So the community of the cross is a community of celebration, a eucharistic community, ceaselessly offering to God through Christ the sacrifice of our praise and thanksgiving. The Christian life is an unending festival. And the festival we keep, now that our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, is a joyful celebration of his sacrifice, together with a spiritual feasting upon it. (John Stott, The Cross of Christ, 273)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Why is the gift of distinguishing between spirits so very important in the day and age in which we live?
- What do you understand to be the difference between saving faith and the spiritual gift of faith?
- What do you believe should always be the connection between the gift of prophecy and the plain teaching of Scripture?
- Describe how spiritual gifts used properly will both express the diversity of the church and also bring unity to the church.
Quotes to note…
The gospel being what it is and always will be, “the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19), our churches should be the most reconciling, peaceable, relaxed, happy places in town. We are so open to enemies, so meek in the face of insults and injuries, so forgiving toward the undeserving — if we do make people angry, let this be the reason. We refuse to join in their selfish battles. We’re following a higher call. We are the peacemakers, the true sons of God (Matthew 5:9). (Ray Ortlund, Blog Post: The Ministry of Reconciliation, April 19, 2012)
Believers all belong to the same Lord, and are thus one with each other. Therefore anything that denies our oneness with each other denies our oneness with Him. (John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 93)
God’s desire is that there be no division (“schism”) in the church. Diversity leads to disunity when the members compete with one another; but diversity leads to unity when the members care for one another. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 141)
When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit takes up residence, and that person is born into God’s family. As members of God’s family, we may have different interests and gifts, but let us pursue a common goal—deep unity in Christ. (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 174)
The most dynamic evangelistic power of the gospel comes when the world is forced to sit up and take notice that people are loving each other in ways it cannot account for with humanistic presuppositions. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 340)
God is not only a God of unity, but he is a God of diversity. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 254)
Verse 13, like Galatians 3:28, also reminds us of the crucial need in every age for the church to model heterogeneous groupings that cause the world to marvel at our unity within diversity (cf. Eph. 4:4–11). Church should be a place where people gather and get along with each other who have no merely human reason for doing so. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 336)
Dr. Vance Havner has expressed it: “First there is a man, then a movement, then a machine, and then a monument.” Many ministries that began as a protest against “dead orthodoxy” became dead themselves, because in their desire to remain pure and doctrinally sound, they stifled creativity and new ideas. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 140)
Sin is almost the only thing we have in common with everyone else, and so at the feet of Jesus where sin is cleansed is the only place where we can be one. Real oneness conjures up for us the picture of two or more sinners together at Calvary. (Roy Hession, The Calvary Road, 76)