_Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant._ SPIRITUAL GIFTS The particular gifts to which St. Paul was referring were not exactly as a whole like anything that is to be witnessed in the Church now. They produced effects which challenged the attention of the eye and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols._ THE GREAT CHANGE AND ITS OBLIGATIONS Observe-- I. The condition of the heathen. 1. Worshippers of dumb idols. 2. Carried away by their lusts. 3. Led by the devil and his agents. II. This condition was yours. 1. Literally in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit._ DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS 1. The glory of the Apostolic Church was not merely in her faith, zeal, conversions, or martyrdoms; but above all, and as their source--in the possession of the Holy Spirit. 2. Her miraculous gifts have been long laid... [ Continue Reading ]
_There are differences of administration, but the same Lord._ THE AGENCIES OF THE CHURCH I. Are widely diversified. 1. Every branch has its own sphere. 2. Every member his own office. (1) Differing in character, importance, scope. (2) Yet all necessary. II. Are under the control of the same L... [ Continue Reading ]
_The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal._ THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT As there are diversities of gifts, so are there diversities of measures in which these gifts are bestowed. Three degrees of the power of the Spirit are mentioned in Scripture. I. For some spe... [ Continue Reading ]
_But all these things worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will._ THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT I. Christ promised that He would be present with His Church unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). And this is that which differenceth His Church from any other s... [ Continue Reading ]
_For as the body is one, and hath many members … so also is Christ._ OF THE GREAT VARIETY OF MEN’S CHARACTERS IN THE CHURCH The law of variety in unity obtains-- I. In nature. 1. No two leaves of the same tree, no two faces, even of twins, entirely correspond. Science, however, is continually br... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY ONE SPIRIT WE ARE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY. OF UNION WITH CHRIST Consider-- I. How Christ’s redemption is applied to a sinner. By uniting the sinner to Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). Men must not think to stand afar from Christ, but must unite with Christ, and so partake of the redemption... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now are they many members, yet but one body._ THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST I. Their unity. “One body.” II. Their diversity. The eye, the hand, etc. III. Mutual dependence. IV. Admirable compensations. V. Common interests. (_J. Lyth, D.D_.) A LIVING UNITY REQUIRES 1. The combination... [ Continue Reading ]
_There should be no schism in the body._ SCHISM MAY BE DESTRUCTIVE A screw in the crank of an engine of an express train at full speed thus addressed itself to the surrounding machinery: “I’m very small, but exceedingly important. Without me the whole fabric would come to grief. Upon me depends th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Niw ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular._ THE BODY OF CHRIST I. True Christians, as the body of Christ, manifest His personal presence among men. In Christ incarnate “God was manifest in the flesh.” Just as really is Christ manifest in His Church. II. The body of Christ reveals... [ Continue Reading ]
_And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles._ HELP-WORK The words which I have taken as my text occupy, you will remember, a somewhat exceptional position. They occur in the midst of what seems at first a systematic classification of gifts in the apostolic Church and the functions resting... [ Continue Reading ]