1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
We who are in Christ are one as His body, yet remain individuals with differing appointments by God that are enabled by His spiritual gifting to accomplish these for the body’s sake. Everyone does not have every calling or gift (though we all exhibit the Spirit’s fruit), but the one thing we do have is the love shown us first by God through Christ. The second command after loving God is loving each other, and so the gifts and callings must be used for the good of others, which is love. They are not for personal power or bragging, but for ministry to each other under Christ’s authority.
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