I Corinthians 12:12-13 Status Update: Church Unity Comes from the Holy Spirit

Proposition: Because the Holy Spirit is the one who unites us to Christ's body we should look  to Him as the source and sustainer of our church unity rather than trying to manufacture unity

Paul was attempting to clear up confusion regarding spiritual gifts.  As a recap, we should view anything from the Spirit as spiritual, our Spiritual gifts as grace gifts and the purpose is to manifest God the Spirit.  It’s all for His glory, not ours! Also remember, the HOLY SPIRIT is the subject of chapter 12...not gifts or people.

“12 For as the body is one, and has 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.”

After explaining the term “spiritual” and how the Spirit gives diverse gifts according to His will, Paul revealed some things about Christ's body by likening it to the human body.  The body, both physical and spiritual, is one single unit but with many members.  A dismembered body part is not a body itself but part of a body.  A body with missing parts is incomplete.

How did this happen? By one Spirit who made them one body through a spiritual “baptism”.  It’s called a baptism because the Spirit is poured out & recipients are immersed in Him. This is not water baptism...water baptism is a picture of the spiritual baptism.  (Acts 1:5) Water baptism is a physical, outward display of this internal, spiritual reality (Rom 6).        Spiritual regeneration/baptism makes us one in Christ NOT our water baptism. It makes NO Biblical sense to make salvation/unity dependant on where or how one is water baptized.

It’s important to know that God the Father placed us in the body of His Son by the Holy Ghost, that we're not a bunch of little, spirit-filled bodIES...but ONE BODY (could reference chapter 3) and that our church unity is about the Holy Spirit not sameness of role/function.

Too often churches strive for sameness and conformity because they think they can create unity.  What might it look like if every person in the church were a preacher, teacher, singer or missionary?  I think we would get a VERY LIMITED view of God.  In a very special and unique way, God uses each person and their gifts to reveal something about His multi-faceted self.

Things To Ponder:

1. To be part of the true church, a person must first be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
2. If the Spirit does not baptize a person, they are NOT part of Christ's body.
(Regardless of church membership, birth rights, “gifts” displayed, etc (John 3:1-8).  It is POSSIBLE to have members of Landmark who are not members of Christ's body (Mt 25).)
3. We get what is spiritual from the Holy Spirit.
4. The Holy Spirit gives us our affirmation/assurance (Rom 8:14-17)
5. Ignorance (misunderstanding) of the gospel prevents enjoyment of church unity (1:10)

Songs With This Sermon:
Are You Washed/Nothing But The Blood
Holy And Anointed One
Alas
You Never Let Go