1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 20

     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 12:12 "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."

     This is part of the teaching that we had earlier on the fact that
all Christians make up the body of Christ, and Christ Himself is the
head. Jesus is, also, the tree of life that we are grafted into if we
are believers. We are nothing in and of ourself, but we are the power
of God working on this earth, when we do all things in the name of
Jesus. It is His power that we have been given authority to use, if we
are believers. We will, also, find that Jesus is the Vine, and we are
the branches. We get our strength and power to exist from the vine. He
is the Cornerstone, and we are the lively stones, as well. We could go
on and on. The truth is, if we stand alone, we can do nothing of
ourselves. He is our strength. We are, also, told that when we become
a Christian, we no longer live, but Christ liveth in us. We are part
of Him. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himself for me."  We all have our part to play in the body of
Christ.

     I Corinthians 12:13 "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."

     Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus."  There is only one Way and that is Christ. We were
flesh, filled with death, until we accepted life in the Lord Jesus
Christ. All Christians have been grafted into the Tree of Life {the
Lord Jesus Christ}. We are adopted children of the Father. Our
adoption was paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 12:5 "So
we, [being] many, are one body in Christ," Look, with me, at what
baptism does for us. Romans 6:3 "Know ye not, that so many of us as
were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" Romans
6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like
as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life."  Romans 6:5 "For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:" Romans 6:6 "Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."  Romans
6:7 "For he that is dead is freed from sin."  Romans 6:8 "Now if we be
dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"  It is
the Spirit of Christ within us that makes us one with Him.

     I Corinthians 12:14 "For the body is not one member, but many."

     The church you attend is one body, but it is made up of many
members. That is what this is saying, as well. That is what Paul is
saying, it takes all the parts rightly fit together to make the whole.

     I Corinthians 12:15 "If the foot shall say, Because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"

     So many times, someone will feel that their contribution to the
body is not the same as someone else, and they will feel that they are
not of the body. Paul is showing, here, how ridiculous that is. If the
body was just made up of hands with no feet, look what a mess the body
would be. We are all unique. Each one of us fits into the body to make
up the whole. If you have ever worked a jigsaw puzzle, you see
thousands of little pieces, and no two of them are exactly alike. Each
one has a place. If even one piece is missing, the puzzle cannot be
finished. You may not be a corner piece, but the puzzle is not
complete, until your contribution is made.

     I Corinthians 12:16 "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?"

     What a silly question to ask. This is the same as above. What a
problem to be able to see, and not to hear.

     I Corinthians 12:17 "If the whole body [were] an eye, where
[were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the
smelling?"

     Each person is a unique individual. God made you for a specific
purpose. No one else can take your place in the kingdom of God. If you
do not fulfill the position that God has for you, then there will be a
place not filled.

     I Corinthians 12:18 "But now hath God set the members every one
of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."

     Are you working in a church that is so small that you feel as if
you are forgotten? We see from the verse above, that each of us is
exactly where the Lord would have us, if we have submitted our will to
His will. Some may feel, because they are not the pastor of the
church, that God could not possibly have anything for them to do in
this body. God knows what your abilities and your desires are. He has
you where you will do the most good. As I said in another verse, you
are unique. No one can do the job that God has called you to do as
well as you can do it.

     I Corinthians 12:19 "And if they were all one member, where
[were] the body?"

     We see that the over all plan is not always what we had in mind.
You can not be someone else. Be the very best that you can be in the
capacity that the Lord has called you to.

     I Corinthians 12:20 "But now [are they] many members, yet but one
body."

     Every person in the church is an integral part. If you happen to
be the janitor instead of the missionary, realize that the church
would be a mess, if you did not do your job. Be the very best janitor
in the world. When we were trying to say something to make our
children realize their importance in the place God has chosen for them
to labor, we told them, if they were a garbage collector, be the best
in the name of the Lord. No honest job is to be looked down on. We
cannot all be surgeons. Be what you can be, and do it as unto the
Lord.

     I Corinthians 12:21 "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."

     We all need each other. We are a team. On a football team, not
everyone carries the ball, but the game would be lost, if everyone did
not do the best job at their position.

     I Corinthians 12:22 "Nay, much more those members of the body,
which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:"

     If you did not have a big toe, you could not balance yourself to
stand. You see the lesser job might not appear to be important at a
glance, but it gives balance to the whole body.

     I Corinthians 12:23 "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."
I Corinthians 12:24 "For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that
[part] which lacked:"

     This is just showing, that even the jobs that really are not out
front, are just as important as those that are out in view. Rich and
poor, old and young, white and black, all make up the family of God.
The thing that bonds us together is the Lord. We are all family.

     I Corinthians 12:25 "That there should be no schism in the body;
but [that] the members should have the same care one for another."

     "Schism" means gap or split. It can, also, mean division or rent.
In the beginning, the church was of one accord. Together we stand,
divided we fall. If one has a problem, it should be the problem of
all.  If one rejoices, we should all rejoice with him.

     I Corinthians 12:26 "And whether one member suffer, all the
members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members
rejoice with it."

     If there is an injury to any part of the body, the whole body
hurts.

     I Corinthians 12:27 "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members
in particular."
     Just because we are part of the larger body, does not mean that
we are not individuals with Christ. He saved all of us, one at a time.
We are such individuals, that He has a name just for us that no one
but we and He knows. We will not even know the name, until He tells us
in heaven.

     I Corinthians 12:28 "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."

     Each call is unique. You can see from the verse above, that each
has his own specialty in ministering. The apostles, in the verse
above, would be like an overseer. Some denominations would call them
bishops. Really, what they were was someone to check occasionally that
the true gospel in its purest form would be kept. The following
Scripture gives a view of how serious it would be to vary from the
true message. Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed." The apostles, in the verse above, are
watchmen of the church. In this case, it was Paul who had established
this church. Prophets are not only those who through the anointing of
the Holy Spirit tell of the future, but would be the person who
brought the message to the church. God has a specific message for each
individual church. The minister {prophet or prophetess} should bring
the message God has for that particular group on that particular day.
We find, also, that God has given others a special understanding of
the Scriptures, so that they can teach the Word with powerful
anointing.  Notice in all of this, that God puts His Word before
miracles and other things. Miracles and healings are each a unique
gift in themselves, and God has chosen someone in each church to
fulfill this calling.  Sometimes one person will have more than one of
these offices to fulfill. We must not be influenced by signs and
wonders above the Word. The Antichrist will be able to call down fire
from heaven. All miracles and healings must stay within the realm of
the Word. If we are to do the particular thing, there will be an
example in the Bible.  Helps, even though it is one of the most
important jobs, is usually unsung. They fill in the gap, and do it so
quietly that usually no one notices. God notices always. Governments
are like the deacons and elders of the church. They see to the day to
day function of the church. They must be godly people. Diversities of
tongues, just means that certain people in the church generally bring
to the assembled people messages from God to the congregation in a
tongue other than the native tongue. All of these are important
functions in the church.

     I Corinthians 12:29  "[Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets?
[are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?"  I Corinthians
12:30 "Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do
all interpret?" I Corinthians 12:31 "But covet earnestly the best
gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

     The answer to this is no, of course. Each person functions in the
office the Lord has called him, or her, to. This is the only time
permissible to covet. The best gifts are preaching the Word, of
course.
                      1 Corinthians 20 Questions


1.  Who make up the body of Christ?
2.  Who is the Vine?
3.  If He is the Vine, who are the branches?
4.  Quote Galations chapter 2 verse 20.
5.  For by one ________ are we baptized into one body.
6.  Quote Galations chapter 3 verse 28.
7.  Who, or what, is the Tree of Life?
8.  We were baptized into __________ death.
9.  After we are baptized, how should we walk?
10. If we are planted in the likeness of His death, we shall also be
    in the likeness of His _______________.
11. What had to be destroyed?
12. The body is not one member, but ________.
13. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 15.
14. What does the author relate our part in the whole as?
15. Each person is a ___________ individual.
16. Who can do the job that God has called you to do?
17. Whatever work we do, we should do it as unto the ________.
18. Who make up the family of God?
19. What does schism mean?
20. An injury to any part of the body hurts _____ _____ ______.
21. Jesus saved all of us _____ at a time.
22. Give the works in the church listed in verse 28.
23. What is the apostle in this situation?
24. What was their main function?
25. Quote Galations chapter 1 verse 8.
26. What are some of the functions of the prophet?
27. What are the special abilities of the teacher?
28. Are signs and wonders dependable, explain?
29. What is one calling that is usually unsung?
30. Who would be part of the ministry of governments?
31. Explain the function of tongues.
32. When is the only time permissible to covet?