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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 (I Corinthians 12:12).
 
As born-again believers, we are commanded by the Lord to join ourselves to God’s people in church membership.    This brings to mind the temple building metaphor in Ephesians 2: 21: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

“If there was no membership, if every man did that which was right in his own eyes, if everyone decided to carry out the form of Christian testimony he wished to engage in, then the army of God would disintegrate into anarchy and individualism.  But the Lord who has fashioned and made every believer physically, mentally and spiritually, has also designed a place for each one …There is a wonderful orderliness about the local church as designed and intended by God.  No Christian may be a free-agent; a non-member” -  “Church membership in the New Testament” by Dr Peter Masters.

 
In our article last week, we learnt about the unity of believers as taught by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians:

1. We have been bought with the same price
2. We are heirs of the same inheritance

This week, we consider the third unifying factor:

3.  We have been endowed by the same Holy Spirit

In His wisdom, God has designed unity as well as diversity in His church.  Writing to the Corinthians, Paul was mindful that he was addressing a diverse group of people.  Their differences stemmed from their race (Jew or Gentile), their social status (slave or free),  and their spiritual gifts.

However, it is the same Holy Spirit Who quickens, and ministers to each member of the Body of Christ: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.  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.  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” (I Cor. 12:4; 7-13). 

Throughout the whole chapter, the apostle emphasised that despite the diverse spiritual gifts, “all have the same Spirit for their author, and all conspiring for the same common end, the glory of God in the edification of the church” – Family Bible Notes.

This teaches us that none in the church are to be despised or treated with contempt.  The Spirit of God is involved with us in the building up of His church.  We see His interest and influence as He confers upon each member, gifts according to His wise counsel.  This means that the Lord does it as a sovereign act of grace.  God distributes these gifts and favours as He deems fit and good for the strengthening of the Body of Christ.  They are not for private honour or advantage; no one should be proud of his endowments nor employ them for self glory.  These gifts are to be used to edify the church, and to advance the Gospel.

Commenting on verse 11, Matthew Henry correctly observed:  “It is according to the sovereign pleasure of the donor.  What more free than a gift?  And shall not the Spirit of God do what He will with His own?  May He not give to what persons He pleases, and in what proportion He pleases; one gift to one man, and another to another; to one more, and another fewer, as He thinks fit?  Is He not the best judge how His own purpose shall be served and His own donatives bestowed?  It is not as men will, nor as they may think fit, but as the Spirit pleases.”

Brethren, let us not envy or resent others if their gifts look better than ours.  Rather, let us submit to God’s sovereign will with a thankful and humble heart.  May each member use his of her gifts for “the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4: 12).  Let us endeavour “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4: 3).
 (… to be concluded)

- Pastor