I Corinthians 12:12-27

Preached Sunday Morning September 12, 2010

 

Introduction:

 

          Have you ever struggled with the feeling of not fitting in?  Sometimes we just feel like we do not really belong with the crowd at school, at work or in the neighborhood.  This feeling is compounded for born again Christians who are not citizens of this world.  The believer has little in common with those folks who are living for selfish and temporal goals.  

 

          The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian believers, has been addressing their common calling.  Last week we saw that all believers are given different spiritual gifts in order to be used for a common purpose through a common body.  This morning we are going to see that if you are a born again believer, you DO belong.  You are called to be a functioning body part in the Body of Christ.

 

          This morning we are going to be introduced to the definition and concept of the Body of Christ which is the Church. We will see that the church is not a denomination, building, or even an invisible group.  We will see exactly what Jesus started, when He said that He will build His Church.  We will see how we plug into that body.  We will see that active membership in a Bible believing local church is the only way to maintain functional Christianity in your life.  We will see that the local church is the Body of Christ.

  

I.                   The Body of Christ is the Church.

 

A.     Jesus started the Church

 

Matthew 16:18

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  

 

B.     The church is a called out assembly- it must be local, and cannot be invisible.

 

“WE BELIEVE that a Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (a) associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel…”

–        From EBC Statement of faith.

 

Acts 8:1

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

 

Acts 11:22,

 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Acts 13:1

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 

Romans 16:1

 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Colossians 4:15

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

1 Corinthians 1:2

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

1 Corinthians 16:19

19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

C.  The Local Church is the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27-29

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 

 

 

II.                All the members have the same salvation, drawing them together in the local body.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

12 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. 13 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. 

A.     We were all condemned

Romans 3:21-23,29-30

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

B.     We were drawn and convicted by the same spirit

John 6:44

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

C.     We were all indwelt by the same spirit

Romans 8:15-16

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 

D.    We are all guided by the same spirit

 

1 Corinthians 12:13

13 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.

 

 Acts 2:41-42

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

A weary traveler arrived at the French village of Doubs on Sunday evening at twilight, and found people hurrying through the streets to church, each carrying a bronze lamp. A villager explained: “We have no other way of lighting the church. In 1550 when the church was built, the mayor of the village decided that each member should bring his own lamp. Everyone goes there to make it brighter, for he knows that if he stays away, the church will be darker and the service sadder.”

 

When he entered the church, the traveler saw that on every pew was a place to hang the lighted lamp; and as the church gradually filled, the cumulative effect of the multitude of lighted lamps was startling. The whole building was illuminated with a soft radiance, indescribably beautiful and impressive.

—Al Bryant

 

III.             All the members have different gifts within the body.

 

1 Corinthians 12:14-20

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

 

A.     God has placed many different members into one body

 

1.     Each member has a different function

2.     We cannot cove another’s function and calling

3.     Different functions are needed for the body to be complete

 

A flight from Washington D.C. was uneventful until landing in Indianapolis. The plane was taxiing to the terminal but stopped in the middle of the runway. Many of the passengers were beginning to fidget in their seats as the engines idled. Then the pilot made an announcement that defused the tension: “I flew this multimillion-dollar aircraft from Washington D.C. at night and found the airport on my first try. However, I have to wait until a guy with a couple of 99-cent flashlights shows me how to park it.”

 

B.     Each member needs the other

 

1 Corinthians 12:21-24

21 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. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 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.  24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

 

A little girl once cried out in the night and awakened her mother. At the child’s request she was permitted to crawl in bed with her mother.

“What’s the matter?” the mother inquired.

“It was dark over there,” said the child.

“Yes,” replied the mother, “but it’s just as dark over here.”

“I know, Mother,” the little girl said, “but you’re here.”

 

IV.              The members are to unite to make one living body, the local church.

 

1 Corinthians 12:25-27

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

A.     God did not design his body to have a split!

B.     Members should have the same care for each other

 

1.     Suffer together

2.     Rejoice together

 

è    This requires selflessness

 

Philippians 2:1-4

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 

C.     To be a member of Evangelical Baptist Church is to be a member in the body of Christ, by His design.

1 Corinthians 12:27

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

D.  Since Jesus built this church as part of His perfect design for our lives, we must be active in it.

1 Corinthians 12:28-29

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.