READING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 12
READING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 12
The word “concerning” would suggest that there had been inquiry as to the subject. The whole epistle is largely built on reports and inquiries which had arisen from the untoward things that had come into the assembly. The early chapters especially indicate this. If a person spoke in spiritual energy the saints were to judge what that energy was, whether the Holy Spirit or some other spirit. There was a test given as to whether the man was speaking by the power of the Spirit of God, or by another spirit. Tests are helpful, although they may be negative in some instances. Saying, “Curse on Jesus”, or anything that would involve that, anything that would be derogatory to Christ, however much energy and influence he might have, it would not be the Holy Spirit. There is an idea with some in Christendom that if there is spiritual manifestation it is something commendable, as though there was only one kind of spiritual manifestation; therefore, what is devilish shelters behind that state of things.
“No one can say, Lord Jesus, unless in the power of the Holy Spirit”. In the epistle of John we are told to prove the spirits. “Every spirit which does not confess Jesus Christ come in flesh is not of God”. (1 John 4: 3) “Lord Jesus” would imply reality. It would be what one says from one’s heart. The condition here spoken of would come about possibly through natural relationships, that is, households would be mixed, some still connected with demon worship, perhaps a sister or a brother, therefore, the solemnity of the warning. Christ is the test. The place He has as Man is the test. Satan will admit much in regard of Christ, but that He is Lord he will not admit, unless he is forced to. He will not admit it voluntarily. Thank God, he will be forced to. In a certain sense, it may take place now; but he will not admit the place that Christ has, as conveyed in the expression “Lord Jesus”, voluntarily. Whereas, it is the expression that one who loves Christ uses. Paul says, “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus”. They seem to be the expression used by one who loves and reveres Him. You will not find men generally employing the expression “Lord Jesus”. The Holy Spirit would produce the love which would employ this expression.
There is a difference between Romans 10 and this confession. In Romans 10 it means that that Man is Lord. Here it is the expression of your love and reverence. It is not simply that the speaker is acknowledging Him as Lord; the way he refers to Him is in view. Having given the test whereby the saints would discern the spirits, he goes on to develop the unity that marks the operations of the Holy Spirit. We have mentioned; gifts, services and operations. First “the same Spirit”; secondly, “the same Lord;” and thirdly “the same God”. It is a parallel passage with Ephesians, where it is said: “There is one body, and one Spirit ... ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father”. This is also to show how unity marks all, whether it be the gifts, administrations, or operations. Variety in unity is what marks what is of God.
The Godhead is seen here, the Spirit, the Lord [p. 58] and the Father. In the wide circle embracing the government of the universe, there is not anything to jar with the smallest operation. The operations of the Persons in the Godhead have one end in view; it is unity in variety. God’s operations are universal, including government; it is a great rest to the heart to know that He is working in everything and that all He is doing is in connection with His own great scheme. So government does not jar with what is being carried on by the Holy Spirit.
As regards specific gifts, as we may call them, God gives them according to this epistle, and Christ gives them according to Ephesians. Here the kind of gifts which the Spirit gives are stated: “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 gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse 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”. The specific gifts are mentioned at the end of the chapter as “set in the assembly” not in the body. The gifts of the Spirit are just as enumerated here, and they may be found today. Of course, there would be modifications in regard of tongues, etc., but if the Holy Spirit is allowed His place there are those which are essential.
God’s operations in the way of government would make room for the operations of the Spirit. Hence you pray for those in authority so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. The operations of God in government are with a view to preserve what is of Himself there. Thus the gospel testimony goes out. Government restrains evil and limits it so that the gospel should be presented. Hence, Antichrist has not [p. 59] been allowed to develop and will not be while the gospel era continues. In some parts of the world today there is hardly any liberty for the testimony of God. A poor government is better than no government. So Paul enjoins prayer for the government in his day, and it was then when Nero was in power.
The body is introduced here to show the interdependence of the members. It is not that I must not say, but “cannot say”. It says: “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee”. Viewed spiritually we cannot do without each other. Every member should understand his place and responsibility and not altogether depend on the gifts. Christians, therefore, suffer untold loss because all are not walking in the truth. One who assumes he can get on independently shows he is not spiritual. The greatest member cannot do without that which is least. What the Spirit of God frowns upon is the spirit of independence. But “all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ”. He cannot do without the least any more than we can do without the greatest; in fact, there are organs in the body which, perhaps, very few of us know about, but they are essential to its life. The least, as well as the greatest, has been placed there by divine wisdom and forethought. If we realised our membership one to another we would see to it that there should be no thought of separation that could be righteously avoided. So the discipline spoken of in chapter 5 is in order to save the man. The man must be preserved. When the tribe of Benjamin had been separated from for a righteous cause, as seen in Judges, the break in the unity was felt by the others, a brother was lost to them. They grieved over it and eventually they came to God about it, and God heard them and restored them their lost brother, and there was unity in Israel again.
[p. 60] The gifts of the Spirit as enumerated here refer to what may have developed at Corinth or in any assembly at that time; but the specific gifts are set in the order of their relative importance. “God hath set certain in the assembly, first apostles”, etc.. That refers to the whole assembly, not simply the assembly at Corinth.
It is a question of the organism when you come to the body. It is a different idea from the assembly; but brought in here in regard to independency. For instance, “If the foot say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body”. Why should it say that? That is the element of independency Then we have what we cannot say, that is the correction. A brother may say he can get along without another, but spiritually he cannot.
If gift has been given, the saints should recognise it. The recognition of gift is the recognition of the Spirit. A gift would carry weight. Those who refuse the gift would not get the good of it; but the man who has the gift develops in strength; although they may refuse, they lose, he does not. Generally, however, a man is more likely to suffer from over appreciation than from under appreciation.
In Corinth they underestimated Paul, but he points to themselves as a testimony to his apostolic gift. Some of them were defying him; but he says: “I will come to you shortly ... and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power”.