8th Jun 26 | 14:45
Daily Study
Oneness in the body of Christ
Acts 15 - Series 3/Episode 09 - Fri, 15th May 2026 - Oneness in the body of Christ - Acts 15:36-41 - THE SEPARATION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS - I Corinthians 12:04-18
Act 15:36-38 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." (37) Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. (38) But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
Barnabas and Paul were both right in their positions regarding John Mark. These are the typical situations that we encounter in our families, churches and communities. All sides become defensive, but they do not see that their difference in positions is not a threat; it is healthy. We are created differently and, naturally, we will hold differing positions on a certain matter.
The joy and wonder is to see how we could all come together under God and seek His ways. God intentionally created us different, yet the Holy Spirit makes us one.
Diversity is not a problem; it is God's design. I Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
The differences of gifts, potentials, traits, qualities, capabilities and uniqueness are the wonder of God in creating us. These are to be encouraged and developed, and not squashed into forcing one gifting to dominate over the other.
God has given differing gifts according to His will. I Corinthians 12:8-11 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
The analogy that Paul gives about the physical body is powerful. I Corinthians 12:15-18 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
Barnabas was needed for the healthy growth of the body of Christ, and so was Paul. Their convictions need not have grown into a contention, but could have developed into coordinated harmony. The Lord brought about His purposes even through the contention between Paul and Barnabas.
How wonderful it would be if we were to see the bigger picture from the very beginning and, through all our convictions, look up and look forward to seeing the Lord working out His wonderful purposes.
The Spirit of God enables us to work out and experience the purposes of God through our individual passions. I Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Members are many, but we are one body, and we are the body of Christ. How is it that we all speak these words, but in practise, we struggle to experience oneness?
The painful reality is that we are still in the flesh, though we claim to be led by the Holy Spirit. We talk much of the evidence of the Holy Spirit, but if we do not experience oneness in the body of Christ, then we are operating in the flesh, not in the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Our convictions are important, but when we allow our convictions to lead to contentions, then it shows that our convictions have become pride or conceit. Proverbs 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
We must come quickly to the presence of God when we sense that our convictions are turning to conceit, and allow the Lord to search our hearts. Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (24) And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
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