One of the
issues that is constantly dealt with in 1 Corinthians, was the issue of
disunity. This fellowship there was factious, divisive and disjointed and
disunited. They were divided over so many issues, over morality, lawsuits,
marriages, communion, etc. Even among the gifted believers, who sought to exercise
their gifts, there was faction. So now in chapter 12, he would deal with
developing unity amidst their diversity.
In chapter 11
Paul actually dwelt with functional unity. We saw how they were divided when
they celebrated the communion. So Paul called for kindness, unity and care for
each other. He reprimanded and counseled them to wait for each other when they
came to share the feast at the Lord’s Supper. Apparently it was believers who were
the better off who would arrive earlier and go ahead with the meal without
waiting for others. It was also likely that they also felt that they were more spiritually
mature than others. So here in the first three verses of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul
gave the test for genuine maturity.
In the words “Now
concerning…” Paul was picking up another area which the Corinthians had written
to him about. Evidently, they were asking, “Who were the mature people? What
activities of the people originated from God and what were not?” We have seen how they polarized to different
leaders and different groups claiming to be more spiritual than the other. The
word “gifts” was supplied by the translators. In the original language this
word did not appear. It should read, “Now concerning the spiritual….” The
problem is in deciding what Paul meant. Did he mean spiritual thing, i.e.
spiritual gifts or did he mean spiritual people? The conclusion should be this:
since he would be discussing spiritual gifts in verse 4, these first three
verses should be referring to spiritual people. He was introducing how a spiritual
person should be tested, very likely in response to the people who asked for
guidelines to evaluate the truly spiritual people. He discussed the gifts also
because those people must have also concluded that because of the gifts that they
had and also exercised, they must be the spiritually mature ones.
Evidently, the
Corinthians were easily swayed and influenced. Prior to their conversion, they were
led astray by their mute idols. Here, Paul reminded them that they were so
prone to that tendency. The pagan were often led into emotionalism and they were
probably also aware of that fact. We need to know that to be led into something,
especially things that are not scriptural, does not necessarily imply that it’s
the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Many a times, we need to resist them with
the strength provided by the Holy Spirit. And the mature ones find this easier
than the immature ones.
So in verse 3,
Paul provided the test for genuine spirituality. While there may be many experiences,
but genuine faith has only one object i.e. Jesus is Lord! Paul wanted the
Corinthians to know that there should be no confusion. Sensation or otherwise, the
true test of spiritual genuineness is the Lordship of Jesus. No one led by the
Spirit would ever claim that Jesus is accursed. Correspondingly, no one can genuinely
proclaim that Jesus is Lord except by the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. We
need to understand that in their context. It was not an easy thing to proclaim
Jesus as Lord in their days. To call Jesus Lord would require a sincere
love and commitment for Jesus, coupled with boldness and courage. For us today, to genuinely confess Jesus is our Lord, we need the help and work of
the Holy Spirit. One who denies the divinity and historicity of the Lord Jesus Christ
cannot be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Having made
Jesus our personal Savior and Lord, the mark of our genuine faith in Him is seen
in our love for Him and our obedience to His Word. And the mark of our
spirituality and maturity is not found in our rhetoric or even our capability, but
in the degree of our Christlikeness. It is seen in the fruit of the Spirit we demonstrate.
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