Who is Israel?-8
We have studied much about Israel. It is confusing due to the seeming contradictions and the lack of any real complete descriptions given in the Bible. So we must once again seek what God has told us. We must not forget that spiritual Israel is a reality. Also, the body of Christ is one with all true believers. Yet, with all of this, there is still a physical, believing Israel in the future, even though it is not evident in the present.
1 Corinthians 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
We cannot divide the body of Christ into many parts, beliefs, or denominations and still function as a body is supposed to function.
12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. 12:15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 12:16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
Paul is clearly confirming that individuals parts of the body of Christ cannot and should not think they can function independently. Many think of some parts of the body are more important and therefore more desirable. But, there are no lesser parts. In fact, the hidden organs of our body are vitally important to us, even while functioning out of sight.
12:18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 12:19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 12:20 But now there are many members, but one body. 12:21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
So neither Jew or Greek. Slave or free. Israel is not even mentioned here. So we all need one another for the body to truly function. If one part is not functioning, we would call it a handicap.
12:22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 12:23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 12:24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Being on equal footing, eliminates pride and selfishness. We need to love one another not think of our selves as unique, special, or more necessary.
12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 12:27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 12:29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Being one in Christ should eliminate any expectation of special attention or recognition. In Heaven, theses challenges will no longer be considered. We will all be humbly worshiping God in total unison.
12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
So, instead of desiring the greater gifts, i.e. the more public gifts like preaching, desire to use the unique gifts given by God to you to bring Him glory. Isn’t being saved enough to motivate us to humbly serve Him?
More next Saturday.