By Russ Ramsey
As you read Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church, you might notice from time to time that his tone sounds angry. That’s because he was fighting for them, which sometimes looks like fighting with them. What was Paul fighting for?
Unity.
Paul wanted the church in Corinth to embrace its identity in Christ. He wanted them to know “we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink” (1Corinthians 12:13). He wanted them to realize that we were called by God into fellowship with His Son (1Corinthians 1:9). This is the basis for our call to unity.
The image of a body is a great picture of the Church. Just as we want each part of our physical bodies to function in unified and healthy ways, this should be our vision for the Church. Believers in Jesus are not merely a collection of individuals who share a Savior. We are one, united in Christ. This unity lies at the heart of these letters. Paul used this image of being one body in a variety of ways throughout these letters. He wrote about how our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant for holy purposes (1Corinthians 6:12–20). He wrote about the Lord’s Supper, when believers gather together to partake of the body of our Lord (1Corinthians 11:17–34). He talked about how the Church is one body, made up of many parts (1Corinthians 12:12–31). He wrote about the resurrection of Jesus’s body and how believers will experience that same resurrection (1Corinthians 15:1–58). He encouraged the Corinthian Christians to give to others in need because they are one (2Corinthians 8:1–24).
So here at the beginning of this reading plan, maybe a good place to start is by asking, where do you need to pursue unity? Is there anyone with whom you need to seek peace? As you answer those questions, think about the Church as one body made up of many parts. Consider what it means to be part of the body of Christ. Ask the Lord to show you if there are any relationships in your life that need mending. Ask God what it means to fight for unity in your heart.
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