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Just as the members of the body, though many, are one body, so is Christ.

  Just as the members of the body, though many, are one body, so is Christ.   1 Corinthians 12:12-13: "For just as the body, though many, has many members, yet the members of the body, though many, are one body, so is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all given one Spirit to drink."   By likening spiritual gifts to the body, it states that just as the body has many members, those who are in Christ also manifest their roles in diverse ways. It implies that both Jews and Greeks have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Christ.   The purpose of giving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to witness the Gospel, to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. If all believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and exercise spiritual gifts, they will demonstrate great power in the evangelism of the Gospel. However, the church tends to think that only ministers exercise such power...

What is love?

  What is love?   1 Corinthians 12:4-7: "Love (he agape) is patient, love is kind (krestuetai), love does not envy, love does not boast, love is not arrogant, love does not behave rudely, love does not seek its own advantage, love does not get angry, love does not think evil, love does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."   Here, love is related to the gifts given by God. The reason God gives gifts to believers is to preach the gospel. Although believers face many difficulties when preaching the gospel, because they are doing valuable work to revive dead spirits, they are able to be patient, endure, and devote themselves solely to ministry without seeking their own benefit.   Krestuetai ( χρηστεύ εται ) means knowing the value and benefit of it. He Agape ( ἡ ἀ γά πη ) is for the purpose of bringing life to all that was dead; therefore, it is not a competi...

I do not want you to be ignorant of spiritual things.

  I do not want you to be ignorant of spiritual things.   1 Corinthians 12:1-3: “ Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant of spiritual things. You know that when you were Gentiles, you were led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who speaks by the Spirit of God (Pneumati Theou) will say, ‘ Jesus is cursed, ’ and no one can say, ‘ Jesus is Lord (Kyrios), ’ except by the Holy Spirit (Pneumati Hagio). ”   Spiritual things refer to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual things are contrasted with idols. The spiritual things come from God, whereas idols are nothing. God is the One who speaks. The believers in the Corinthian church sought spiritual gifts, but they had not heard the voice of the Lord. This means that those who cannot hear the voice of God are like being led astray to mute idols.   The meaning of "speaking" is that the Ho Logos, who dwells within the hearts of the saints, speaks. It does not mean that God ...