What difference does Spirit-baptism make?

Unfortunately, many Christians have a distorted understanding of Spirit-baptism because their understanding of Spirit-baptism has been shaped more by their own experiences and the supposed experiences of others than by the Scriptures. While other Christians don’t have a distorted understanding of Spirit-baptism, they simply don’t have any understanding of Spirit-baptism.

The Apostle Paul - if he were alive today - would be grieved by the misunderstanding and lack of understanding of Spirit-baptism by so many Christians today.

So, what is Spirit-baptism and what difference does it make? Let’s take a look.

In a previous post I defined “Spirit-baptism” from Scripture. Here’s a quick definition: In Spirit-baptism, believers are baptized, or immersed, into the body of Christ. Christ does this work, by the agency of the Spirit. As we are put into the body, we are gifted to serve and build up the body.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

The timing of Spirit-baptism unique to Acts
The initial baptism of believers into the church is recorded in Acts 2. Since it was the first Spirit-baptism in history (since the church was born in Acts 2), it was somewhat unique in that many of the recipients of this early Spirit-baptism were baptized into the church subsequent to their salvation experience. There weren’t any believers before Acts 2 who had received the Spirit-baptism. This is because there was no church into which one could be baptized! So, in the book of Acts, we see exceptional cases where an individual’s Spirit-baptism was a separate event from his salvation experience. By the time Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, these unique situations were in the past. Paul indicates that “all” of the Corinthian believers had been baptized into the church (even those who may have been saved the morning Paul’s letter was read in the Corinthian assembly).

So what?
Having defined Spirit-baptism, we can consider the relevance to our lives. What difference does Spirit-baptism make?

Four implications of Spirit-baptism into one Body
The Apostle Paul tells us the significance of Spirit-baptism in 1 Corinthians 12:14-31. These are four implications of being put into a body where all the members are gifted to contribute to body.

(1) You should not let discontentment keep you from being useful in the body (vv.14-19). God carefully placed you in the body and gifted you to contribute.

Verse 14 says there are many members in the body. Verses 15-16 provide examples of members of the body that are discontent. Paul refers to a foot and a hand in verse 15 and an ear and an eye in verse 16.

1 Corinthians 12:14-19
(14) For the body is not one member, but many.
(15) If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
(16) And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.

There are many members in the body and there will inevitably be times when we look at one another and think others are better or more necessary or more important. We are tempted to be discontent with who we are in the body and with our gifts.

In verse 15 the foot feels inferior to the hand. In verse 16 the ear feels inferior to the eye. Regardless, it doesn’t change the fact that all these parts are still members of the body.

In verse 17 Paul reminds the ear that it wouldn’t be good if the body were just one big eye. That would be gross. We, the body, would then be a grotesque monster (though we might do okay in a cartoon for kids!). He says to the ear, Even if the whole body were an ear, we would still need a nose to accomplish what we need to.

(17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

In verse 18, Paul says, “Look. God placed the members in the body just the way he wanted. He didn’t just pick the most important members carefully and throw a few smaller members into the body for good measure. No. He carefully placed each one of them in the body. Each one He desires to be there.

(18) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
(19) If they were all one member, where would the body be?

Discontentment about your gifts and usefulness is wrong. You are in fact gifted. You are in fact useful. If you don’t feel useful and gifted, let Scripture provide boundaries for your thinking and feeling.

That can be hard to do. It’s hard because you really can’t see how it’s all supposed to work. But, you don’t need to. (Especially if you are a nose - you are not supposed to see anything. Let the eyes do that!)

Discontentment is a lack of trust in God. Discontentment is also not accepting God’s will. You may not seem as useful. That may disappoint you. It disappoints me at times. I want to be more and do more. But, it isn’t about me and what I want. It is about God and what He wants. All things are for His pleasure!

Discontentment is questioning God’s wisdom. He placed the members carefully and thoughtfully. He knows best. You and I don’t.

Verse 19 says we all can’t be the same member, otherwise we would be a monstrosity. Back to the point in verse 20 - there are many members in one body.

Here’s the next implication of living life in a gifted body.

(2) You should not let a proud spirit of independence keep you from benefiting from the body (vv. 20-24a). Paul refers to another deadly sin: a spirit of independence. This happens when one member of the body looks at the others and determines he does not need them. He doesn’t need others because he is so gifted. He looks down on them. He does not honor them. His proud independence results in him not loving other members of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:20-24
(20) But now there are many members, but one body.
(21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
(22) On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

Verse 21 provides the example for us. An eye talks to a hand and a head talks to the feet. The eye and the head are proud. They don’t think they need the others. They have a proud spirit of independence.

Verse 22 says, “on the contrary.” Paul’s language is very strong. Paul says, “Listen, eye. Listen, head. You guys are flat wrong. The members that seem to be weaker are necessary.”

“Weaker members” probably refers to the internal organs: kidneys, heart, etc. They are hidden from view. They can’t do too well on their own. They seem weaker, but the body really needs them.

Having made the point that looks can be deceiving - that all members are truly necessary - Paul proceeds to show us the attitude we should have toward those that might seem less honorable.

(23) and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,

In verse 23 Paul refers to those members of the human body that are less honorable. The “less honorable” members are those we would think of as less attractive. The trunk, the hips and the feet, for example. Since they are “less honorable,” we place “more abundant honor” on them. That is, we place something around them: clothing. We help them out to make them look more attractive. Fashionable shoes hide unsightly feet.

Paul refers to another kind of members, “our less presentable members.” These “unseemly members” are also covered, but for reasons of modesty. We bring honor in the sense that we clothe them. There is a sense of importance.

Paul goes back to the presentable members.

(24) whereas our more presentable members have no need of it…

The presentable or “seemly members” are our eyes, head, face, etc. We don’t cover them up. We don’t jump in a sack and cinch it. We leave them exposed.

Paul’s point is that the members that are more prominent, perhaps having greater gifts, should not be unkind, arrogant, and unloving in the face of those seemingly less honorable. But rather, he should seek to give them honor as is the case with a human body.

The eye and the head were seeking to be independent. It is a selfish mindset. A proud mindset. They should instead seek to give honor to others. How can anyone see another as indispensable. This is so contrary to membership in the body.

So, first, ones tempted to have a proud spirit of independence should recognize that members that seem to be weaker are absolutely necessary. Also, rather than seeking honor for yourself, you should seek to give honor to those that seem to need it most. It is true that some members do not need as much encouragement and protection.

(3) You should pursue mutual concern as God intends (vv.24b-26). God has composed the body carefully. The word for “composed” is used outside of Scripture to describe the work of an artist in bringing a variety of colors together to form a beautiful painting.

He has done this so that the members of the body would have mutual concern for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:24-26
(24) …But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
(25) so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

God has composed the body. In doing so, He has given more abundant honor to that member which lacked. So, in forming the body through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he brought together many members. In the process he put everyone on equal footing when it comes to honor. With those that had inferior ability, He compensates with divinely given honor. This way no one has a deficiency. The result is an exact equality and perfect balance.

He did this for a reason, which is stated in verse 25. God doesn’t want division. He intends for all members to have the same care for one another. There is to be no favoritism. Everyone is to have the same care for one another. What does this mean? What does this look like? Look at verse 26.

(26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

If one member suffers, no matter who he is, all the members suffer with him. It would have to be this way since all the members make up one body. If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with him.

(4) You should seek the greater gifts given to the body (vv.27-31). In verse 27, Paul tells the Corinthians that they are the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31
(27) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
Through Spirit-baptism people become a part of Christ’s body. They are individually members of something great. As such, they have responsibilities.

They are to seek the greater gifts given to the body.

(28) And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
(29) All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
(30) All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
(31) But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

Paul does not support any superiority mindset. He has emphasized the neediness of all. However, some gifts have a greater breadth of influence. They have a greater potential for profit to the body of Christ. The person is not greater, but his gifts bring more profit to the body.

Verse 28 lists gifts given to the body. Paul puts them in an order of priority. Apostles, prophets, and teachers. After naming these three he drops the numbering. The potential for profit is less clear as the list of gifts continues.

The greatest gift if apostleship. Does everyone have it? No. The second greatest gift is prophecy. Does everyone have it? No.

It is easy to see how the gift of apostleship was greater than the gift of prophecy. The qualifications of an apostle were really strict. It took a lot to be an apostle. It did not take nearly as much to be a prophet. There were a lot more prophets than their were apostles. Apostles were a precious commodity.

Prophecy was greater than teaching. That’s what Paul says. A prophet would share truth received directly from God. A teacher proclaimed previously given revelation. The gift of teaching is definitely important. Paul ranks it as third. It was useful for building up the church. But, it wasn’t as great as prophecy.

At the time, if you wanted to know how to care for widows in the local church, you wouldn’t get much help from a teacher (there was not previously given revelation addressing that issue specifically). You would have to get help from a prophet.

It was wonderful to have teachers; it was even more wonderful to have prophets; it was far more wonderful to have apostles.

The Corinthians desired the gift of tongues. They weren’t translating the tongues though. Paul reprimanded them for their imbalance. They weren’t so concerned with building up the body - building up others around them in the church. That’s why they were content to let the tongues go untranslated.

They liked the gift of tongues more than the gift of prophecy. It’s one thing to get a message from God in your own language, but to get a message in a different language - “That’s awesome!”

Sad news. They weren’t concerned with building up the body as they should have been, so Paul gave them this valuable exhortation. He told them, think about the potential for profit with the various gifts given to the body. Seek those gifts for the local body that bring about the greatest profit - the most edification.

Was Paul telling them as individuals to try to be an apostle? No. He couldn’t be saying that. They couldn’t possibly meet the qualifications (we’ll discuss those in a future post).

• He was not telling them that they could determine their own gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

• He was not telling them there was a legitimate place for discontentment.

• He was not telling them there was any room for looking at particular gifted members of the body and determining them to be unnecessary or dispensable.

1 Corinthians 12:22
On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

So, what is Paul saying? He is telling them collectively to seek the greater gifts. He is telling them to collectively seek the greater gifts in the sense of being zealous for them, or desiring them.

I think “seek” is a legitimate translation of the word, but in this case it need not be manifested by taking any action. It might be limited to the internal appreciation of the gifts.

The Corinthians should not be thinking things like this…

• “Oh, I hope we can get more tongues speakers. That would be incredible!”
• “Oh, more than anything, I hope I can perform a miracle!”
• “We’ve got enough prophets and teachers around here. Now, what we really need is more healers. That’s what will benefit us the most.”

Rather they should be thinking things like this…

• “I hope the apostle Paul can stay with us a bit longer. What a privilege it is to have Him - an Apostle - here to teach us more and lead us more. It is wonderful to have such a foundation laid for our church.”
• “I hope more people with the gift of prophecy come to our church. We need to be built up!”
• “I hope we get more teachers among us so the body will be built up.”
• “I hope some with the gift of teaching are not so distracted by the tongues speakers that they stop thinking about the stewardship of their gift of teaching due to a fascination with the tongues.”

However, that does not mean Paul wanted the Corinthians to forbid the speaking of tongues, the gift of helps, the gift of leading, etc. Nor, should they look down on people with those gifts. Though they don’t have as great a potential for profit to the body, they were still useful and necessary.

As members of the Christ’s body, they should desire those gifts that have the greatest potential for profit. They should desire that people hear and understand the truth. The Corinthians weren’t desiring this. They wanted tongues. They didn’t translate them either. They weren’t so concerned with building up the body.

Let’s consider application a little closer to home…We need to value that which brings greatest edification to the church: hearing and understanding the truth.

Teaching is better than the miraculous . Sadly, that’s the way it is in many churches today. “Who cares about teaching? Who cares about understanding biblical truth so that we think rightly about God? We need the miraculous. That’s what will really help the body! That’s what will really get us going around here!”

Oh, really? Paul didn’t think so. He thought hearing from God and understanding what you heard was the best!