1 Corinthians 12

  • Communion in Gifts and Graces

    1 Corinthians 12

    Today’s passage reminds us that God has given each of His children at least one spiritual gift. If we do not use the gift or gifts the Lord has given us, the body will be diseased and will not ...Read More

  • The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

    1 Corinthians 12:12–13

    When we separate the baptism of the Holy Spirit from conversion, we end up with second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. But as the Lord has poured out His Spirit on all His people, this is impossible. Christians may ...Read More

  • The Body of Christ

    1 Corinthians 12:12–31

    In summarizing today’s passage and the communion of saints, answer 55 of the Heidelberg Catechism says that “each member should consider it a duty to use these [spiritual] gifts … for the service and enrichment of the other members ...Read More

  • The Gifts of the Spirit

    1 Corinthians 12:12–31

    Today’s passage is an important text on the priesthood of all believers. Paul does not mean to deny the roles of elders, teachers, and other officers in the church; rather, he tells us that every Christian is to be involved ...Read More

  • The Meaning of Baptism

    1 Corinthians 12:13

    Whenever we read the Nicene Creed we confess belief in the communion of saints. This means that we become united to every believer who has ever lived whenever we trust in Jesus. The other Christians we know are not merely ...Read More

  • The When of Spirit Baptism

    1 Corinthians 12:13

    The greatest danger of positing a second blessing of the Holy Spirit is its creation of a Christian caste system. It divides the church into Spirit-haves and Spirit-have-nots, separating what God has united. This leads to feelings of superiority and ...Read More