322 – Interrelationship of Members of the Church

SEMESTER 2

322 – Interrelationship of Members of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY II LESSON # 22
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

Read I Cor. 12:1–I Cor. 13:3.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Every basic illustration of the church implies interrelationship and interdepen­dency.

i. The husband-wife relationship. (Eph. 5:22-33)
ii. The building. (I Cor. 3:9, Eph. 2:20-22)
iii. The body. (Eph. 4:1-16)

2. Nowhere is this interdependent relationship more clearly set forth than in the metaphor of the body in I Cor. 12:1-31.

I. THE ACTION AND PURPOSE OF THE SPIRIT

1. We are all led by the same Spirit to unite with our church or to be baptized into that one particular body, as were the church members at Corinth and in other churches to whom Paul ministered. (I Cor. 12:13)
2. Our national status or economic standing is immaterial, we are (by baptism) unified in one body, the local church. (I Cor. 12:13)
3. It is God’s design that we walk worthy of the vocation (of the church) into which we are called, with patience, humility and love toward each other endeavoring to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit who called us. (Eph. 4:1-3)
4. The church (institutional), remember there is none but local, is one body, called into union by one Spirit, with one common faith, looking to one Lord Jesus Christ, and that faith is testified to by one baptism, that burial in water, which confesses our one faith and identifies us with that (local) body. (Eph. 4:4-6)
5. But as parts of that body, we are given differing gifts. (Eph. 4:7,8)

II. THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF INDIVIDUAL GIFTS

1. These gifts are not for individual profit or glory, but for that of the body. (I Cor. 12:4-7)
2. This principle, when understood, forbids:

i. Pride of our gift (for it is God’s, not ours). (v. 6)
ii. Jealously toward another, (for it is God’s purpose). (v. 11)

3. Thus, every part of the body can and should rejoice over any gift given to any part.

III. MUTUAL SUFFERING OF INTERDEPENDENT PARTS

1. No portion of the human body suffers independently, so it is with the church. (I Cor. 12:26)

III: The one hand does not afflict the other, for both must then suffer.

2. This principle demands mutual care and protection. (I Cor. 12:25)
3. This teaching makes no sense at all when applied to a “univer­sal church,” only when applied to a local body of people whose total lives interact.
4. Thus, every church member should be very zealous for the good, the protection, and the blessing of the other, never envious.

IV. THE MUTUAL NEED OF EVERY PART OF THE BODY

1. The reason for this mutual need is that no part is able to perform every necessary function. (I Cor. 12:14-22)
2. No portion of the body should be expected to independently care for itself. (I Cor. 12:17)
3. No portion of the body should think itself, or act, as if it were independent. (I Cor. 12:21-22)
4. No portion of the body should exalt itself above another part, for it is God, not the parts, who designed the body. (I Cor. 12:13, I Cor. 12:18)
5. What great problems of pride, jealously and emulation could be solved in the church if this principle were realized.