Paul is addressing the church and the functions in these next few chapters. From chapter 12-14 we learn how the Holy Spirit gifts the church, how the church should gather, and the mission of the church.
This chapter has much application. Let’s look at a couple verses in particular, “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. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:13-14
We are the body of Christ because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We even read, “…God composed the body…” 1 Corinthians 12:24
At creation, God gave us life by breathing into us. We read, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
Then, after the resurrection of Jesus we read of Him breathing onto His disciples as well, “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
It’s the very breath of God which gives us life and makes us the church. The spiritual gifts given to us, the spiritual family we’ve been blessed with, and the spiritual mission we‘ve been given is all because of Jesus.
So, as we read about these different aspects of the church let’s remember we may have different spiritual gifts, our gathering together may look different, we may function different as we gather, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body”, (1 Corinthians 12:20) … and our mission is the same to proclaim Christ, and Christ crucified.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.