Written ~ 11-16-2023
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27-31 You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in His church, which is His “body”:
Apostles ~ Prophets ~ Teachers ~ Miracle Workers ~ Gift of Healing ~ Helpers ~ Organizers (Leadership) ~ Those who Pray in Tongues.
But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts.
But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.
Today’s passage is more specific to our role in the body of Christ as part of the church. Our prior Bible Study focused a little more on how we see ourselves physically. But today we are going to delve into the purpose we have in the church. As we learned from verse 12:12, “…we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
God has given each of us a gift specific for the functionality of the church. As we see listed in the verses above, I would say, none of us are all of these things, but we will have a strong intuition in one area. God has placed within each of us, possibly through our core personality, how we can best serve in the church. Most of us can probably look at the list in verse 12:28 and see instantly what gift appeals to all of your senses, you gravitate towards one, maybe two. Each of these gifts are strengthened within you through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at how The Amplified Bible explains verse 12:27-28…
27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].
28 So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues.
In the NLT, verse 12:31a says,
“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”
In The Amplified Bible it says,
31 But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal].
So what are the “greater gifts” or “the most helpful gifts?” For this answer I looked to Google for some help… this is the explanation I found:
- Paul encourages the Corinthians (and us) to earnestly desire the higher gifts. By this, he likely means they should want to have gifted apostles, prophets, and teachers in the church.
So my understanding is that we should desire to pursue any one of the listed gifts, but those who earnestly desire the higher gifts are more than likely going to be the apostles, the prophets, and the teachers of the church. Keeping in mind there is a greater responsibility put on the leaders of the church. This is what it says in James 3:1-2,
1 “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.”
Also in 1 Timothy 3:1 it says,
“This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”
Seeking the “greater gifts” is not something to take lightly. Leadership roles in the church are “honorable positions” and requires a much greater discipline and respect for everything they do or say.
So, what if you don’t desire to be an apostle, prophet or teacher? That’s OK! We learned from verses 12:12-26 that every part of the body is essential for its specific purpose! So whatever God has put on your heart in service to Him and for the church, do it with diligence and enthusiasm! Verse 12:26a says,
“This makes for harmony among the members…”
Lastly, let’s look at verse 12:31b (NLT),
“But let me show you a way of life that is best of all…”
And in the MSG,
“But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.”
No matter what gift God has given you to serve within the body of Christ, in chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, Paul shows us a “way of life that is best of all…” In everything we do, in every word we speak, in every action, in every thought, we must do it in love. 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.”
Be thankful for the part you have been chosen to participate in for the body of Christ. You are a part of the greater purpose! And what is that purpose? To get the Good News of Jesus Christ out to all the world.
~AMEN~