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the Spirit to manifest as we will, but to give ourselves to Him and leave the mani festing to His will. There is no more reason why all should have the same experiences than that every member of the body should perform the same functions (v. 12). The truth of the Church as Christ’s Body is made clear in Ephi.;-4:13 and 1:23. The basis o f unity in the Body is shown in v. 13. “By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body . . ._ . and have been made to drink into one Spirit." Regardless of how the Spirit chooses to manifest Himself in in dividuals, to be “ born o f the Spirit” is to be united to the Body of Christ. “Baptism into the one body" has to do with our union with Christ. It is that which brings us into the fellowship of Christ’s Body, the Church. The “ baptism in the Holy Ghost" was.: spoken of by John the Baptist in foretelling Pentecost (Mt. 3:11). It was mentioned again by our Lord in the same connection (Acts 1:5). It occurred at Pentecost accom panied by a manifestation of fire as John had predicted. It was not repeated, except in a limited way when Gentiles were first united to the Body' (Acts 10). We are not to seek a repetition of the “ Pente costal baptism.” Paul speaks of baptism by the Spirit into the one body,in the past tense. Henceforth as each, by faith, is united to Christ, he instantly participates in the original baptism which formed the Body, the Church. Let us lay hold of this great truth. Toi be seeking some great manifestation as at Pentecost, is to be looking for a past event. Instead o f looking iop signs and thrills, let us yield oufselves to the Spirit who already dwells within, allowing Him to fill our lives and manifest His power through us in blessing to others. The closing section of Chapter 12 draws important lessons from the human body as a type o f Christ’s Body, the Church. God, who bound the world into great har mony by its very diversities,, has .ar ranged for the same end in His, Church by giving the different members different faculties of service. Eách one, with his different gifts contributes . ¡something to the bgáuty o f the whqleL’stracture. ■ If there is any particular, gift that be lievers are to seék's ii is ¡the .best orie—r the one above all others, the one which will bring out our greatest gifts:.;¡(v. 31). Love is the most startling element, in the Christian religion. Love without other gifts will, in the long run, do more than gifts without love. Chapter 13 is an en cyclopedia of love. If Christians gener-, ally lived in this chapter, it would be a different world. James H. Brookes says: “This is,the only chapter in Paul’s epistles which does not directly mention the L
that resembles the work of love, is going on ? The “gift o f prophecy" (v. 2) without love amounts to so little that the speaker is compared to a cipher with the ring r u b b e d out—“nothing”— nonentity. A great Bible knowledge, untempered with love, recommends no man to God. Even a miracle-working faith, making one the idol of multitudes, if without love is of little avail. A lavish hand without a loving heart (v. 3 amounts ,to nothing. W e could give our last dollar for humanitarian work and not gain the notice of the hum blest angel. One could even make a mar tyr of himself (v. 3) and not have the love here described. There are many will ing to die who are not willing to live for Christ. Love is now described. It “suffereth long" (v. 4 )—“ hath a long mind”-^a mind that does not soon come to impatience. It has no union 'hours or fast acts of kindnessir It does not; .envy, and so ¡turn happiness into ,wormwood and gall. It does not push itself forward. The man ruled by love does not make a bee-line for the front,'seat as though it belonged to him. He will <-sif down anywhere;^ and without ¡show. He. is not “puffed up." He puts on no airs to embarrass others. Love affects behavior (v. 5). It brings out taste| ancf tadejin the finer, point? of conduct. “Love seeketh not her own." Self is written large everywhere today. It is the great idol many worship. Love is not thinking ever of personal comfort and advancement. Love is “not provoked.” The word “ easily” is not in the original. Love does not “fly off thEhandle.” It is not super-sènsitive, touchy, “Love think- eth no' evil.” Many are geniuses." at ex plaining the motives of others. ■ They know just why others.' stand up or sit down and it is rarely that it is for a good reason. - ‘ ’ ' Love ddes ’ not dwell upon evil (v. 6 ) and roll it as a sweet morsel under the tongue. Love never makes one feel good over the. downfall of another. Love re joices in the triumph of the truth. In what,do we find our greatest satisfaction« “Love endureth ”—receives and suffers trying things. The word “ beareth” has a different meaning. It is the word found in Mk. 2 :4 and meajis mver-roofeth.” _A roof keeps the storm off from those in side. Love leads us to shelter, not ex pose,-others, unless thè, public good de mands it ( Prov. 10:12). Love seeks to restore the fallen, not publish their faults /(Gal. 6 : 1 « Love is "eager to believe the best." It “hopes for the best." “Love never, faileth" (v. 8 ). Gifts of eqstgsy and knowledge are rudimentary. As we grow in grace we will discover that there is something bigger than thrills, something far beyond,a mere head knowl- elge, of the fundamental truths. Love is more vital to the spread of Christianity than anything else, yet what a dearth of it there is in the church ,today ! Faith clings to' the cross ; " hope leans on the promise o f His coming; love carries the burdens of others in the heat of the day. These three must “abide" (v. 13) or Christianity becomes a form without life.
“matters o f the Holy Spirit.’!?! We must have a correct understanding of the re lations of "our talents to the Holy Spirit. The, word “ led” in 12:2 is a strong word, meaning “driven.” There was some irresistible compulsion, like an external force, which had caused them to be so en thusiastic in idol worship. In 12:3 the words,Æ(Jesus is the Lord,” should read : “No man can say Lord Jesus [that is, from the heart] but by the Holy Ghost.” “ Wisdom" reiers to deep spiritual in sight, an understanding of how to apply knowledge. “Knowledge” may mean sim ply an intellectual appreciation of Chris tian doctrine ( 1 2 : 8 ). The word “prophecy” in 12:10 and as used in the New Testament, doës not sig nify' “ foretelling” but “forth-telling" —ex- hOrting-vrevealing truth to others. The word agape (charity or love) in chapter 13 is not the word for “love” used by heathen writers; It is'love without any earthly ,or sensual taint, hence a divinely implanted love. The Latin word caritas, meaning pri marily, “tolerance,” rendered in our au thorized version, “ charity,” was used as| the rendering of the Greek word agape because the ordinary Latin word amor for love has a;.serisual taint. “ Charity” has come to mean “ liberality to the poor.” We should go back to the Greek for the thought of divine love. —o— S uggestive Q uestions What was the power back of idols that sometimes spoke through the worshipers? (12:2'; cf. 10:19-20.) What is the special work of the Holy Spirit? (12:3; cf. Jn. 15:26.) What warning was given vëry early,to Christians?; (1 Jn. 4:1.) Were the “gifts of healing” (12:9) al ways the same even in the same person? (Acts 19:12; 28:8.) When does the experience -o f “drink ing into one Spirit ” (12:13) take place? (Jn. 7:37-39.). Whom was Paul following in proclaim ing love the one thing needful? ( 1 2 : 1 ; cf. Jn. 13:35.) —o— G olden T ext I llustration 'N ow abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13). Huxley tells-us that in the soil o f Eng land lie buried millions of tropical seeds brought there by the, birds and the winds. Here are tropical potencies awaiting a tropical atmosphere without which they cannot come forth. If England could have twelve months o f tropical heat, her gardens would bloom with tropical luxur iance. Think of the powers and talents lying hidden in the church o f Christ. Is the church awaiting the atmosphere of divine love in order to bring these forth for the service of mankind?? Certain it is that when the- Spirit of God has a chance, to shed His love abroad in hearts, the result is a luxuriant crop of deeds of Christlike service to others, and gifts we little knew we had spring into bloom.
T ips on the T ext The words rendered “spiritual gifts" ( 1 2 : 1 ) are literally “spirituals,” meaning
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