For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit, (14) For in fact the body is not one member but many. (15) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (19) And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (20) But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. (21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” (23) No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, (24) but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, (25) that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (28) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? (30) Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today Paul is showing – by analogy of the unity of the body – that unity is an essential need of the church and that diversity is essential to unity and this unity is divinely provided by the Spirit. The church no more consists of all members having the same gifts than the body is all eye or all ear. Many members necessarily means constituent parts having their own functions. Like the body, there is mutual dependency of the members of the church. The implication being that in Corinth some “members” of the church were discontent with their gifts – that God had made a mistake in His assignments and the Corinthians were looking for showy abilities. At the same time some who had visible gifts were belittling those with less prominent gifts. In unfounded pride they disdained those they perceived as “less” gifted.

Paul is not writing of water baptism but of baptism by the indwelling Spirit at the moment of faith in Christ Jesus. The proof of unity in the church is that by one Spirit we were many, baptized into one body. The Bible distinguishes between these baptisms – here not only distinguishes but disconnects them. The one baptism may be without the other. The baptism of the indwelling Spirit teaches the nature of the church and the principle of its unity. The church is not under one external or visible head or one governing tribunal but unified by virtue of the Holy Spirit in all its members.

Just as God has arranged the body parts to constitute one organic whole – the gifts/calling for church members is NOT according to the relative merits or decisions of the members but as the Lord determines. God’s thoughts are not as our thoughts. Paul is not writing of what ought to be but what is. The time is not yet come when every believer shall have the same care for another that he/she has for themselves but that ideal is set here in these verses.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. The Old Testament prophesied about the extraordinary times of the coming Messianic age; the prophet Joel wrote “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days”. Jesus promised to send the Spirit and on the day of Pentecost these promises and prophecies were literally fulfilled. The circumstances were so extraordinary that it was unavoidable that imposters or those deluded would arise. This apparently was a problem in Corinth and Paul devotes chapter 12 of this letter to correct confusion about whether those who pretended to be led by the Spirit were really under His influence in the apostolic age.

The gifts of the Spirit mentioned in our verses (not a complete list), despite the diversity of the gifts, have a common origin. They are all wrought of the same Spirit. Whatever the Father does He does by the Spirit who produces these gifts in the minds of men and women. BUT the Spirit distributes them severally and to every man/woman as He will. All gifts mentioned in our verses are potentially in the church today but not all may be active with the same intensity they had in the apostolic age. There are no more apostles who speak or write inspired, infallible communications. All the canon of Scripture of the Old and New Testament is closed – Scriptural revelation is full, complete, supreme and final.

Spiritual gifts do continue today at some level but must meet biblical criteria for existence. Each Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift which functions not to edify ourselves but to build up others. Failing to serve God and others, man becomes prideful. A gift of the Spirit is a supernatural gift which functions beyond the normal and natural talents and skills of people. A Christian will enjoy using his/her spiritual gift and will never be happy until he/she is using it.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. (35) But in every nation whoever who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (36) The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The book, Acts of the Apostles, was written by Luke, author of one of the gospels, physician, historian and frequent companion of the apostle Paul. Acts is a record of apostolic success in that ancient world – of the way God moved in the minds and hearts of men and women. It is designed to be a history of the early church. On Pentecost Sunday, when the Spirit of God came, there was an explosion of faith in Christ in that ancient world; the gospel was spread by witnesses to the ends of the earth.

The Jews thought the Gentiles had to convert to Judaism to be saved; through the Jews, by the Jews. Now all is swept away in Christ and a radical shift takes place. Salvation is NOT based on national identity nor based on good works. In Christ God beings the Gentiles to partake of salvation – brings them directly into a relationship with Him apart from becoming Jews. This one insight changed the world. Salvation comes to everyone who believes in the name of Jesus; it is not a vague general belief but rather it is specific and personal. Eternal life is God’s gift through Christ and is not based on human merit but in grace. Jerusalem heard the gospel first and then it was carried into Judea and Samaria. Then there was the conversion of Paul who was to be the apostle to the Gentiles but before Paul’s ministry, Peter was recorded as opening first the door to the Gentiles who were considered aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise. Peter’s message at Pentecost declared that the promise was also to those far off but he didn’t realize the implications of that utterance. However, the hour had come that the walls were torn down.

The point of our verses today is that ALL, Jews and Gentiles, have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Fear of God and the working of righteousness is not a product of the natural heart but the work of God Himself. It was not confined to the Jews but to Gentiles also through grace in faith in Christ. Every barrier between the Jew and the Gentile has been removed.

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles – (2) if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (3) how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, (4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets; (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul. Paul (by his own account) was born a Jew; a “Hebrew of Hebrews”. He was circumcised on the eight day – a member of the Jewish nation and of the tribe of Benjamin and named for the first king of Israel, Saul. He was a protege of the Pharisaical leaders of his time. He studied in Jerusalem at the feet of the great teacher, Gamaliel. Paul followed the Law as perfectly as he could – also the rituals and ceremonies. This wildly unlikely man was chosen by God to be his chosen vessel as the apostle to the Gentiles to reveal the mysteries of God in Christ by the Spirit – he perfectly exemplified the wholly and revolutionary eternal plan of God in God’s perfect timing. The mystery Paul expounds in our verses today was unexpected – a complete upheaval of pagan and Jewish thought.

Our verses today tell us that the Gentiles were to be fellow heirs with the Jews, in Christ, of the promise of eternal life. Paul learned this truth not from others – not by hearsay- but by direct revelation from God which was an indispensable qualification for apostleship. This revelation was undiscoverable by human reason. The Old Testament frequently predicted the union of the Jews and Gentiles but now this was clearly and fully revealed. God had promised universal blessing through Abraham but now Paul clearly discloses the truth that the Old Testament prophets had not understood: In Christ, in His church, there would be no social, racial or spiritual distinction. The general impression of the prophets was that Gentiles were to partake of the promises by becoming Jews. Until the day of Pentecost it never seemed to enter anyone’s mind that the Jewish theocracy was to be abolished and a new form of religion would include all mankind. This revelation made to the apostles raised them from sectarians to Christians. The promise is the promise of redemption amd the only indispensable condition of participation is union with Christ.

This union with Christ is brought about by the gospel; not by birth, not by outward rite, not by union with any external body but by the gospel received by faith. Amen