The Body of Christ: Spiritual gifts
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4, see verses 1-6).
The human body has a head, and lots of other external and internal parts. For the body to work correctly these different parts all connect to the brain. The nervous system provides this connection by which the brain sends its messages throughout the body, enabling us to express life. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul uses the human body as an illustration of how the body of Christ works. The body of Christ embraces every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. Its Head is in heaven – the Lord Jesus. Every member of the body has a function to perform, which helps the whole body to work properly and express the life of Christ. The Holy Spirit provides the connection between every member on earth and the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.
The opening verse of the chapter is very interesting. Paul did not want the believers at Corinth to be uninformed. Christians can act in ways which show they are unaware of or disobedient to God’s will. The Corinthian church, despite all its knowledge and gift, was divided, proud, worldly, and tolerated immorality. Paul wrote to them to put right the things which were wrong in their personal lives and in the church. One of the things they misunderstood was the use of spiritual gifts. The Corinthians’ background was one of idolatry. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that Jesus is Lord and can only be recognised as such by the Holy Spirit. In the world, Christ is rejected; the Christian knows Him as Lord through the indwelling of the Spirit of God. It was typical for hostile Jews and heathens to exclaim “Anathema Jesus” – “Curse on Jesus”. Paul reminded the Corinthians that it is the work of the Spirit of God to proclaim Jesus as Lord. The Lordship of Christ is the starting point of what Paul goes on to explain. Because Jesus is Lord, all that is done by Christians comes under His Lordship. As the brain guides and protects the body, so the Lord Jesus directs and builds His church by the power of the Spirit of God.
Paul also introduces the Trinity into the directing of spiritual gifts in verses 4-6. He explains that we do not all have the same gifts. However, when we use these different gifts under the direction of the Holy Spirit, they combine to benefit the whole body of Christ. First, it is the Holy Spirit who distributes various gifts. Verse 11 emphasises this: “The same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Spiritual gifts can only be used effectively in the Spirit’s power. It is the Lord Jesus who gives us different services to be undertaken for His glory. Spiritual gifts can only be used effectively under the Lord’s authority. Finally, it is God who works in us to accomplish His will. Spiritual gifts can only be used effectively in God’s will.
It is not by accident that Paul first describes the unity of the Godhead in connection with the distribution of spiritual gifts before he goes on to explain the unity of the body of Christ. By seeing the united purpose and action of the Godhead, we are encouraged to be united in purpose and action for the glory of God. One of the greatest dishonours to Christ is that His people are divided. His heartfelt prayer in John 17:11 was that “they may be one as We are”. Paul demonstrates how this happens under the direction of the Godhead.
