Quote:
Originally Posted by Bible-believer
Hi, Drake,
1. Sorry, I don't see your argument relate to the topic of this post.
2. The context of 1Cor.12 is on the gifts of the Spirit. Chapters 12–14, as a unit, deal with the gifts of the Body of Christ. It starts with 12:1, “Now concerning spiritual gifts,” and ends with 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Every member functions according to his/her gifts, so "whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." That is individual members growing so that the Body will grow into “maturity” (in the sense of Christ-likeness).
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Hi
Bible-believer,
You don't see how my argument relates to the topic of the post because of one very important reason........ I haven't done a very good job of explaining it! But be patient and maybe I'll get there.
I Corinthians 12:12 in and of itself does not explain the phrase "the Processed, Four-in-One God". It does however by way of analogy show how Christ has a Head and a Body just like our head and body. The phrase "
...so also is..." confirms that. v12 does not use the words "life" but it is understood ...for the body without life is a corpse. Just as John 15 speaks about the Vine and branches, the word "life" is not mentioned but it is understood that the branches are organically one with the vine... it is a life union. So with the Christ - the Head and the Body.
You mentioned chapters 12-14 and said
"That is individual members growing so that the Body will grow into “maturity” (in the sense of Christ-likeness)"
Okay, ... but how?
I Corinthians 12: 4-11
"But there are distinctions of gifts, but the same Spirit; And there a distinctions of ministries, yet the same Lord; and there are distinctions of operations, but the same God, who operates all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is profitable. For to one through the Spirit a word of wisdom is given, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to a different one faith in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing in the one Spirit, and to another operations of works of power, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits; to a different one various kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. But the one and the same Spirit operates all these things, distributing to each one respectively even as He purposes."
The Body grows to maturity by the Spirit, carries out its ministries by the Lord, and it is God who operates all things in all. The Body of Christ functions through and according to the same Spirit in the one Spirit. It is the one and same Spirit that operates all these things by that operation becomes the Spirit is manifested.
By these verses it is clearly stated that the Spirit, the Lord, and God operate in His many believers in an organic union to bring the many members of the Body of Christ into their God-given functions (gifts). The
"Christ-likeness" you mention is really a manifestation of the Spirit and not just an imitation. It's not just something outward but something that issues out from God's operation within.
Do you concur with that explanation,
Bible-believer?
Thanks,
Drake