Tuesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 12
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
12:12 Paul assumes the Corinthians know that the church is Christ’s body (see also v. 27; 6:15; 10:16; Rom. 12:4–8; Eph. 1:22–23; 4:4, 12–16; 5:23; Col. 1:18, 24).
12:13 Since the Spirit is one, he unites peoples across lines of ethnicity and social class that would otherwise divide them. (See Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:27–28; Col. 3:11.) in one Spirit we were all baptized. The same Greek construction (the verb baptizō plus en [“in”] plus the dative of pneuma, “Spirit”) is used here as in the other six “baptism in the Holy Spirit” passages in the NT (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16), and here it seems clearly to refer to the cleansing and empowering work that the Holy Spirit does in a new convert at the point of conversion. Baptism is used metaphorically here to refer to the Spirit’s work within the believer to unite him or her to the body of Christ, which is also the corporate body of believers. Water baptism is an outward symbol of this reality (cf. Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27). made to drink. Probably not a reference to the cup of the Lord’s Supper but to the outpouring of God’s Spirit on his people (cf. John 7:37–39; Rom. 5:5).
12:13 Since the Spirit is one, he unites peoples across lines of ethnicity and social class that would otherwise divide them. (See Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:27–28; Col. 3:11.) in one Spirit we were all baptized. The same Greek construction (the verb baptizō plus en [“in”] plus the dative of pneuma, “Spirit”) is used here as in the other six “baptism in the Holy Spirit” passages in the NT (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16), and here it seems clearly to refer to the cleansing and empowering work that the Holy Spirit does in a new convert at the point of conversion. Baptism is used metaphorically here to refer to the Spirit’s work within the believer to unite him or her to the body of Christ, which is also the corporate body of believers. Water baptism is an outward symbol of this reality (cf. Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27). made to drink. Probably not a reference to the cup of the Lord’s Supper but to the outpouring of God’s Spirit on his people (cf. John 7:37–39; Rom. 5:5).
Study Questions:
- If you haven't taken your spiritual gifts test from Monday, do that now! We are all uniquely gifted to serve the church. We are all part of the same body but have different roles to play. When a part is missing, the part suffers and the body as a whole suffers. Now that you know your spiritual gifts, and assuming they have been confirmed by people that know you well, how do you think you can use those gifts to serve? What next step do you need to take? How can you begin to exercise and develop those gifts?
- Unfortunately, most churches and ministries operate on just a few people's gifts. It's up to a select few paid staff at a church to do all the work of the ministry, while most just attend and consume. This is why small groups are so vital in the health of the church and its members. For instance, if you have the gift of teaching, along with dozens of others in a church, chances are that gift won't be able to be exercised in a large church service. Small groups are where every member of the body of Christ can and should fully exercise the gifts he has given them. If you are already in a City Group or other small group, talk to your group leader about how you can start to use your gifts to serve. If you are not in a City Group, go now to the City Group tab on the app and find one that fits your life stage and schedule! It's time to get plugged in!
Pray:
- That you would learn to use your gifts.
- That you would make sure you are invested in and serving smaller groups of people.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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