See How Our God Designed Us!

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, 1/24/10
1 Corinthians 12:12-21, 26-27


See How Our God Designed Us!
I. We’re spiritually united.
II. We’re individually gifted.
III. We’re deeply connected.


We believe that God created us because that’s what the Bible says. And that settles it for us.

But one of the greatest human arguments for our bodies being the product of divine creation is the incredible complexity and symbiosis of the human body. The discovery of human DNA and its application in medical science as well as criminal science is nothing short of one of the wonders of the world. And we marvel day after day as we witness the skill of a gifted musician or the ability of a gifted athlete. We see with our own eyes the things they can do with their bodies and yet we wonder how they do it. And even if our skills in a particular area aren’t so astounding, each of us is a wonder of God’s creation—the way our hands can move, the ability of our eyes to focus on a single object.

But we easily take these wonders of God’s creation for granted. We don’t care for our bodies we should. We complain and bemoan that our bodies aren’t what we want them to be.

The same thing holds true with the spiritual body Paul speaks about in this morning’s text. He’s speaking about the Church, the spiritual body of Christ, and the marvelous way that God’s designed it. Marvelous? Is he really talking about us? Absolutely. If you doubt it, then take a closer look at it and see how our God has designed us.

See how our God designed us! So that we not only appreciate that design but also function according to that design, let’s look at it this morning.

Part I.
For my entire lifetime there has been trouble in the Middle East. More than once I’ve wondered why these people just can’t form a nation and get along with one another. Why can’t they do what our nation’s forefathers did more than 200 years ago? Why can’t they see that they’re better together than they are separate and that blessings will come to them if they work together? But I guess that highlights the astounding formation of our nation. For those states to form a union was the astounding exception, not the rule.

More astounding by far is our God’s miraculous formation of the Church. Think about it. For thousands of years God has taken people who have only one spiritual thing in common—they are unbelieving sinners—and has brought them into his kingdom and has made them a member of the body of Christ, the Church. How does that astounding thing happen? Paul says, “For we were all baptized by the one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Paul wrote these words to the congregation at Corinth. One of the problems this congregation had was that it was divided on so many fronts. To remedy their factionalism Paul reminded them of their spiritual unity. Yes, they may have come from various backgrounds and life situations, but they had been brought together and united in the Holy Christian Church by the one and same Holy Spirit.

One of the means he used to do that was one and the same Baptism. There aren’t many ways into the kingdom of God and into the Holy Christian Church. There’s only one way—through faith in Jesus which comes by the working of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and Baptism.

And it makes no difference to him what our racial background is, or what our level of education is, or what our social status is, or what our life experiences are. It doesn’t matter where we came from. Now it’s all about where we’re going—to eternal life with our God in heaven.

And that’s not an exclusive trip. It’s for every person who trusts in Jesus as their Savior. We’re all members of that spiritual body of Christ in which there are no classes of people, no subgroups, no levels of importance, no variations of position or power. In the Church all differences are gone because we’ve been united into one body.

See how our God designed us. We’re spiritually united.

One of the ways parents have of encouraging good behavior among their children is to remind them of who they are. Other children may misbehave, but not their children. No, their children should talk and act the way they were raised to talk and act.

Our God reminds us of what he designed us to be. He reminds us of the truth that we are spiritually united. He does that so that we will live like it. Corinth wasn’t the only congregation to be threatened by divisions. Satan’s constant effort is to destroy the unity that our God has given us. And if he can’t divide us over doctrine, he’ll pit one person against another, one group against another. People of God, we’re all in this together. Our God has spiritually united us. We have the same Lord Jesus who has forgiven each of us of all sins. The same Jesus shed his blood for each of us to bring us together as his people forever. Use that saving truth to draw us closer to one another. See how our God designed us! We’re spiritually united.

Part II.
But by emphasizing our unity, I’m not denying our individuality. As much as we’re the same, we’re different and I know every one of us realizes that.

And one of the ways in which we’re different is that we have different gifts given to us by God. The Corinthians had an amazing array of spiritual gifts in abundance. In the verses before our text Paul mentions some of their gifts as being the ability to preach and teach, to share spiritual wisdom and knowledge, to speak in tongues and to interpret such speaking, to do miracles of healing. Impressive!

But those impressive gifts were terribly misused. The people who had tremendous gifts fell into sinful pride and despised people who had lesser gifts. Those with lesser gifts were led to think they weren’t that important and thus didn’t make any effort to use the gifts they had. In other words, both groups failed to see God’s design.

Paul reminded them of what that design was. “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” He then goes on to list some of those parts—feet, eyes, ears, nose. All those parts have an important function. Together those parts make up what we consider to be a complete body. Without one or the other, the body doesn’t function as well or can’t function at all in some respects.

We are all parts of the body of Christ. Each of us has different gifts. In the verses before our text Paul explained that every Christian has gifts as God determines. Those varied gifts are to be used to make the body function completely. The only requirement the Lord gives each member is to use their gifts faithfully for the good of all the others. That way the body of believers functions optimally.

See how our God designed us! We’re individually gifted.

If we’re individually gifted, then it means we’re individually responsible to use those gifts. God’s only requirement is faithfulness. So, do we have any completely faithful members of Christ’s Church here this morning? I didn’t think so. Neither am I. Even when I’m using my gifts, I’m tempted by sinful pride in myself or sinful disdain of others who aren’t using their gifts. But that’s where being a member of Christ’s Church comes in. Luther reminds us that in the Church the Holy Spirit brings us daily and full forgiveness for our sins, including our sinful use or refusal to use the gifts Jesus has given us. And being forgiven, then all of us are here to encourage each other to use the gifts God has given so that the body of Christ functions at full capacity. That’s God’s design for us. We’re individually gifted.

Part III.
We use modern technology every day to communicate with others. In an instant we can call or email someone on the other side of the world. You might say that we’re more connected with the people of our world than ever before. But we’re also becoming more disconnected. We’d rather communicate through a keyboard and monitor than speaking with someone in person. We’d rather send a cryptic text message than look that person in the eye.

That happens in our spiritual lives as well. We can easily become disconnected from one another when we don’t appreciate each other. But that’s not God’s design. Instead, God has designed us to be deeply connected. Paul writes, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” Our God didn’t bring us together into one body so that our exchanges with each other would be limited to, “Hello. How are you?” Instead, he wants us to be deeply concerned for each other especially when we’re suffering. When illness, disease, death, or discord strikes you and your family, that’s what the rest of us are here for—to suffer through it with you. We’re here to support, comfort and encourage you through life’s difficult days.

But we’re also here to rejoice with you. Paul writes, “If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” God didn’t design us to be envious of others. He designed us to rejoice with others when our God grants his blessings. And we want to do that with you. We want to rejoice with you over positive health reports, employment blessings, and family situations, to name a few. And the more we do that, the more deeply we’re connected. And that’s God’s design for us. He wants us to be deeply connected.

Whenever I have the chance to visit a member who is suffering in the hospital, one of the encouragements I give them is to consider the eternal joy that our Savior has in store for them. Jesus suffered for us so that we could live in bliss with him forever. Because of his death on Calvary’s cross for us, we’ll be connected with him and with each other forever. But let’s not wait until heaven to begin enjoying that connection with each other. Let’s foster it now. Think of one or two things you can do in the next 3 months to deepen not only your relationship with Christ, but with each other. That’s our God’s design for us. And as we recognize that truth and act in keeping with his design, he showers his blessings on us. Watch for that to happen in your life as you get closer to Christ and to each other. Amen.