MEETING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE THE BODY LIFE REVEALED IN FIRST CORINTHINS 12 AND ROMAN 12

MEETING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE

THE BODY LIFE REVEALED IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 12 AND ROMANS 12

First Corinthians 12:12-27 is the clearest revelation of the Body life in the Word. Verse 12 says, “Even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.” The Body of Christ is not an illustration or a metaphor but a reality. We have become members of the Body by receiving the Spirit in regeneration and in the Spirit being baptized into the Body ( v. 13 ). As a result, we are all members one of another.

The apostle Paul had a clear vision of the Body. In verses 22 through 26 Paul’s concern was mostly for the weaker, uncomely, and suffering members. The concept among the saints in the first century was the same as the concept among the saints today. Humanly speaking, the saints do not pay much attention or give much honor to the weaker ones. Most of us think that the stronger, comely ones are useful, and we do not have the concept that the weaker, uncomely ones are necessary. Actually, there are not many strong or comely ones among us today. We are the weaker and uncomely ones. There are not many five-talented ones ( Matt. 25:14-15 ). Nearly all of us have one talent. We need to take care of the weaker ones, clothe the less honorable members with more honor, and adorn the uncomely ones.

We cannot carry out 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 merely by coming to the large church meetings. We must also practice the small groups. The way of the small groups will expose and deal with our natural man. Without this grouping we may not realize our true condition. By exposing us, this grouping will help us to apply the vision of the Body in 1 Corinthians 12 .

If most of the saints in our small group are spiritually cold, we should not give up, nor should we expect the elders to bear the full responsibility. We need to do something ourselves. Our meeting in a small group will open the way for the Spirit to reach at least one or two among us. The best way to build a fire is to start with one or two pieces of wood. Similarly, the Spirit will stir up at least one or two saints in each small group in order to revive the whole group. We should not select the stronger, comely members. There is no problem if everyone in our neighborhood is weak, uncomely, or spiritually dormant. After a few months, the function and gifts of some members will be manifested, and our small group may become a pattern. We may be surprised that a formerly cold one is a gift to the Body.

When we come together in the small groups, we should not be concerned about who the leading ones will be. The Holy Spirit will manifest this; the proper leadership will spontaneously come forth by our gathering together. We need to be encouraged concerning any cold, weak, or dormant members in our group. We should not be disappointed. If there is a stronger one in a group, he may kill the others. It is better to let the small members learn and grow by grouping together. We must drop the tendency that we inherited from Christianity to depend on the stronger ones. The Lord’s way is not to depend on the stronger ones but the way of the Body, in which every member is useful. We must give all the members the adequate opportunity to express their usefulness. There will be some childish ones, but they will grow. In the Bible the elders are called overseers ( Acts 20:28 ). They need to exercise oversight as all the members learn together.

I treasure 1 Corinthians 12:25 : “That there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same care for one another.” The phrase the same care for one another implies mutual care, concern, interest, and sympathy. This short phrase indicates what we need to do. By meeting in small groups, we can exercise the mutual care, concern, interest, and sympathy. One member’s problem must be the other members’ problem, and one member’s burden must be the other members’ burden. This should not merely be a doctrine. We need the Spirit of the Lord to lead us into the practicality of such a church life.

Verse 26 says, “Whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.” Romans 12:15 says nearly the same thing: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” This is not a social relationship but an organic consciousness in life. If my thumb suffers, the whole hand and even the arm suffer with it. We must have this kind of