Temple Baptist Church - 3-18-2026
I Corinthians 12:1-12
Introduction:
A. I know that I keep repeating this, but ignorance can be fixed, or willful ignorance becomes a way of life. Paul said, in verse one, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” False gifts (the Passing Gifts that are no longer viable) today have caused division rather than unity.
1. There is much confusion concerning spiritual gifts because there is much spiritual ignorance. Some of the gifts mentioned in our text are partial or passing gifts, while others are permanent. The entirety of the New Testament was written during the 500 transitional years (the 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments plus the Apostolic Age of the first century AD).
2. Prior to the completion of the New Testament, the people in general only had portions of the finished product to come, the completion of the whole called “that which is perfect” in chapter 13.
3. During these 500 years of transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, God gave sign gifts to show the presence and power of God to both the New Testament Church and the Nation of Israel, who had rejected the Messiah, Christ Jesus.
4. Certain denominations in our day are “charismatic” in nature, if not in name.
They exalt the passing gifts that were never intended to remain beyond the completion of the Word of God. I am not here to deal with these denominations, but without apology, say that they are not consistent with the Word of God.
5. We have the complete inspired, preserved, inerrant, infallible Word of God, the King James Bible, and have no need of signs, dreams, tongues, or any other extra-biblical revelations.
2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
6. The first-century Corinthian Church was towards the end of the 500 transitional years, so some of these passing gifts were still relevant. Paul uses chapters 12-14 to regulate their use while giving the circumstances of their passing in chapter 13.
7. Now, on to our text for tonight.
B. The Key verse for tonight is verse 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.” All members of one body, the Church. Paul uses the illustration of the physical body, where the complexity brings about perfect unity.
C. Our physical body is complex. It was intricately created. The Psalmist declared in Psalms 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
D. Every cell, every hair, every muscle, every bone, and every nerve is placed in the body with the purpose of the Creator and is necessary to the success and well-being of the entire body. Below is a bit of trivia that shows the complexity of the human body.
Our bodies contain 11 totally independent systems that operate within and control all functions: 1. Nervous System 2. Circulatory (Cardiovascular) System 3. Respiratory System 4. Digestive System 5. Muscular System 6. Skeletal System 7. Endocrine System 8. Immune (Lymphatic) System 9. Integumentary System 10. Urinary (Excretory) System 11. Reproductive System. Though independent, they all work together for the good of the whole body.
Our five senses give us some astonishing capabilities. We can see a candle's flame 30 miles away on a dark, clear night, and smell a single drop of perfume diffused in a three-room apartment. We can taste .04 ounce of table salt in 530 quarts of water. Our sense of touch can detect a pressure that depresses the skin .00004 of an inch (4/100,000) on the face or fingertips. And we can tell where a sound comes from even when it arrives at one ear just .0003 (3/10,000) second before its arrival at the other ear.
What the Body Does in 24 Hours. If you are an adult of average weight, here is what you accomplish in 24 hours: your heart beats 103689 times, your blood travels 168,000,000 miles, you breathe 23040 times, you inhale 438 cubic feet of air, you eat 3.25 pounds of food, you drink 2.9 quarts of liquids, you lose 7/8 pounds of waste, you speak 4800 words (including some unnecessary ones), you move 750 muscles, your nails grow .000046 inch (46/1,000,000), your hair grows .01714 inch (1714/100,000), you exercise 7,000,000 brain cells (at least most do).
The average human body is about 80% water, and 20% of the average adult male's weight is from his bones. The average human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles (274 km) per hour. Your stomach needs to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks, or it would digest itself. It takes the interaction of 72 different muscles to produce human speech. The average life of a taste bud is 10 days. The average cough comes out of your mouth at 60 miles (96.5 km) per hour. Relative to size, the strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age. Blondes have more hair than dark-haired people do. (BECAUSE EMPTY SPACES NEED EXTRA INSULATION!)
An average human scalp has 100,000 hairs. Your skull is made up of 29 different bones. The surface of the human skin is 6.5 square feet (2m). 15 million blood cells are destroyed in the human body every second. You were born with 300 bones. When you get to be an adult, you have 206. There are 45 miles (72 km) of nerves in the skin of a human being. The average human heart will beat 3,000 million times in its lifetime and pump 48 million gallons of blood. Each square inch (2.5 cm) of human skin consists of 20 feet (6 m) of blood vessels. During a 24-hour period, the average human will breathe 23,040 times. Human blood travels 60,000 miles (96,540 km) per day throughout the body.
Except for brain cells, 50,000,000 cells of your body will have died and been replaced while you were listening to this sentence. The central nervous system is connected to every part of the body by 43 pairs of nerves. Twelve pairs go to and from the brain, and 31 go from the spinal cord. There are nearly 45 miles of nerves running through our bodies. In one square inch of skin, there are four yards of nerve fibers, 1300 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, 3 million cells, and three yards of blood vessels.
The point behind all these facts is that your body is a wonderful, complex creation. Like a machine, all of its parts (organs, glands, muscles, and tissues) must be in good working condition. Its electrical system (nervous system) must be carrying energy smoothly to all areas. There must not be any short circuits. Finally, it must be fueled with the proper nutrition to keep it functioning, alive, and well.
E. The body of Christ is like our physical body in both complexities, because it contains every born-again believer, and necessarily, because every believer is essential in the completion of the whole.
F. No wonder the Lord placed so many different people in the body of Christ. The Master Creator designed all of our organs, bones, muscles, and blood flow. We have many different parts to our body, but it is one body working together. The church is declared to be His body...in essence, the body of Christ with Christ as the head.
1. Notice The Complexity of the Body of Christ. Vs. 4-11 (We are different and have different functions within the body of Christ. Yet, we have the same Spirit.)
Romans 12:3-8 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
a. We Are Different In: Physical characteristics, abilities, and capabilities.
b. We Are Different In: Personalities, and traits.
c. We Are Different In: Gifts of the Spirit.
d. Not only are we different in our gifts, but we are also different in our backgrounds, personalities, and convictions. (Romans 14)
2. Notice The Continuity Of The Body Of Christ. Vs. 12-25 (Every member of the body is essential to the well-being of the body and the work of the ministry.)
a. Though These Gifts Differ: One is not more important than the other. Vs. 14-22 (Each and every member is equally important in the church.)
b. Though These Gifts Differ: One is not to be honored above another. Vs. 23-24 What you have was given to you by God through grace.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(It is important that we recognize our own spiritual gift or gifts, and we recognize the importance of the gifts of our fellow members of the body....and that we put them to work for the same purpose.)
c. We are many members. but all of the same body; different backgrounds, but the same body; different characteristics, but the same body; different features, but the same body.
Ephesians 4:5-6 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
3. Notice The Cooperation of the Body of Christ. Vs. 19-26 (Can you imagine different parts of your body arguing and fighting? WE ARE ONE! WE ARE ONE! WE ARE ONE!!)
a. Sadly, not every church operates the way the body is supposed to. Someone once described the bones in many churches this way…
Four Bones
There are four main bones in every organization.
The wish-bones: Wishing somebody would do something about the problem.
The jaw-bones: Doing all the talking but very little else.
The knuckle-bones: Those who knock everything.
The back-bones: Those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the
work.
1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1 Corinthians 1:10-11 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
John 17:22-23 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
a. Cooperation Edifies The Body – Submission to Christ, who is the Head of the body.
Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
b. Cooperation Evangelizes The World – Commissioned by Christ in order to carry out His command to evangelize every creature.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Conclusion: The Holy Spirit gives gifts to individuals who are to use them together to complete the Whole, with no division. Perfectly unified!
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