WE ARE JUST AS GOD WANTED US

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Key verse: 18

NIV

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,(A) so it is with Christ.(B) 13 For we were all baptized(C) by[a] one Spirit(D) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free(E)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.(F) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.(G)

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed(H) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.(I) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.(J)

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(K) and each one of you is a part of it.(L) 28 And God has placed in the church(M) first of all apostles,(N) second prophets,(O) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(P) of helping, of guidance,(Q) and of different kinds of tongues.(R) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]?(S) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(T) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as (A)the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, (B)so it is with Christ. 13 For (C)in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—(D)Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and (E)all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, (F)God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, (G)as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[b] yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, (H)all rejoice together.

27 Now (I)you are the body of Christ and individually (J)members of it. 28 And (K)God has appointed in the church first (L)apostles, second (M)prophets, third teachers, then (N)miracles, then (O)gifts of healing, (P)helping, (Q)administrating, and (R)various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But (S)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:20 Or members; also verse 22
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul continues to talk about unity in the Spirit while having diversity among the believers. He likens the church to a body with many different parts, all working together for the good of the whole.

When we look around at each other in the church, each person has their own testimony of where they came from and how their faith in Jesus has made them who they are. In God, we find ourselves and are loved as we are.

There is no such thing as cookie cutter Christians, but we are called to be free and engaged as God designed us to be. Men and women, rich and poor, immigrant or citizen, young or old, we belong to each other in Christ. But how do our differences create shared belonging and purpose where we can be more than our individual parts?

Prayer: Lord, you bring us together in ways that go beyond our understanding. May we find and accept your presence in each person.

One Word: You are the body of Christ