[Christ Manifested in Us] Part 2Sýnishorn

Baptized in the Spirit

Paul says that by one Spirit, believers were baptized into one body. Were only a few privileged ones baptized? No! He says, “By one Spirit we are all baptized.” Paul speaks of one body. He’s saying that it does not matter what nationality we are, if our skin is black or white, if we eat meat or beans. There’s no difference between Jew and Greek, or whether we’re slave or free. We all drank from the same Spirit.

The church in Corinth manifested a lot of the gifts of the Spirit, so some people felt more spiritual than others. It seemed they believed, contrary to God’s order, that the manifestation of gifts should be a public exhibition with more meaning than the blessings these gifts offered. 

Paul corrects this situation saying, “We were all baptized in one body, we all drank from the same Spirit, we are just different members of that body. If we were all a single member, where would the body be?” Then he explains, “We are many members, but we are one body. The eye cannot tell the hand I don’t need you, nor the head to the feet, we all have a certain function.” Each operating grace works differently but all come from the same Spirit. 

Then Paul adds, “So that there is no disagreement in the body and everyone cares for one another, we must understand that we are all part of the body of Christ.” Speaking of the ministries of the apostles, he says, “God made some prophets; others, teachers; others with the ability to perform miracles; others to do healings; others to help or administer; and others to speak in tongues.” Then he asks them a question, “Are you all apostles or prophets? Are you all teachers? Does everyone have the same abilities? Does everyone have the gift of healing? Do you all speak in tongues?” The answer is no! 

Paul is saying, despite there being different abilities, we all were grafted into the same body and drank from the same Spirit. There are different gifts, according to what function each of us executes, but they all come from the same Spirit.