Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:
5 sermons cite this verse
… do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has distributed for each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, So in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. Your gift is prophesying, then prophesy accordance with your faith. If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. If it is to encourage, then give encouragement. If it's giving, then give generously. If it is to lead, do it diligently. And if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Paul begins this in a surprising place. And the verses right before this that Pastor Grant unpacked were renewing of your mind. So Paul begins right away that we are going, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. …
… verse 4. For just as we have many members in one body, and all the members do not have the same function, speaking of the body, the hand does one thing, the eye does something else. So we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. That is, the whole church, the body of Christ. He's not talking about denominations, but talking about the whole body of Christ. We each individually have our particular part. And so he says in verse 6, Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise that gift accordingly, if prophecy according to the proportion of his faith, if service in his serving, or he who teaches in his teaching, he who exhorts in his exhortation, He who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. And so all of us are going to have one of those underlying motivational drives or gifts that God has given us as believers in order to serve him and in order to live out the godly life that he has for us to give. …
… four of this twelfth chapter of Romans. He says, For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function. Now, here's what he's getting to show us and he makes, gives this in detail later. For example, God gave you eyes for what reason? To see, ears to hear, hands to handle, feet to take you where He wants to take you. And that is, so each member of your physical body has its own purpose. For example, you do not see through your ears. You may have fantastic hearing. You do not smell through your eyes. In other words, every single aspect of the body has its own particular reason for being there. So it is in the body of Christ, that is, the church needs all seven of these gifts. These are motivational gifts and I'll explain that in a moment. So look if you will in verse five. So, we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. …
… But I want you to listen to a key verse that deals with perfectionism. Romans chapter 12, verses 3 and 4. Now, Paul is talking about grace. And remember, Paul said, I am what I am by the grace of God. I am what I am by the grace of God. Paul had accepted himself. But now listen to what he says to us. Romans 12, verses 3 and 4. For I say through the grace given unto me. Now, catch the word grace. 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. That is, don't think with such lofty thoughts that you can never attain to them. But on the other hand, understand that by the grace of God you are what you are. The grace of God exalts a man without inflating him, and it humbles a man without debasing him. The person who has excellence says, I am what I am by the grace of God. …
… but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith, or ministry, let us use it in our ministering. He who teaches in teaching, he who exhorts in exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. Let us pray. Again, our Father, as we undertake the task of interpreting this text that You have given to us through Your Apostle by the supervision of the Holy Ghost, we ask for Your aid to illumine the meaning of it to our minds and to open our hearts to embrace it in its fullness. …