“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18
I know that this article will not set well with some who read it; however it is absolutely truth and cannot be denied. There is no doubt in the scriptures that this scripture is talking about the local New Testament Church. We see in out text scripture that “…God set the members, every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him…” not as it pleased the pastor or other membership but as it pleased God. We must always have an understanding when studding the Holy Script that God is in control, God is accomplishing His blessed will, and that God knows best and has the power to control every detail of everything. Here we see that it was God who assembled the church together and with the membership pleasing to Him. I saw one commentary that said this refers to the human body but I believe a man that was as blessed by God with the knowledge he had that he should have known better. In our fleshly minds some folks just cannot accept the very fact that God does everything according to His blessed ordained will. He saves the sinner and He builds the churches. In Jeremiah 23:3 – 4 we read this "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. (4.) And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." Notice how the scriptures conclude that God did everything not man. Man wants to take the credit for Gods work but if one is true to the scriptures then we must all admit that God builds the churches. Jesus started the first church when He called out a remnant of people that followed Him as He called. Notice in Matthew 4:18 - 20 "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. (19.) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20.) And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." The word “straightway” means – immediately – that is because they had been called of God and they obeyed. But who were these two men? They were Apostles, the first members of the Lord church. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles...” 1 Corinthians 12:28 Once the Lord Jesus came to the end of His calling out the remnant then they went up into the mountain and held the first church service every member being chosen and called out by Jesus Christ. This church settled in Jerusalem until scattered by Saul of Tarsus (Paul) where many other church started as a result. Each church is an independent, sovereign, body of called out members. Anyone who has spent any time studding the history of the church will see this fact. Any serious person who studies the Holy Script knows nothing was started in Acts chapter two. But people continue to believe that there is some universal church out there that has no resemblance to the church that Jesus started and God built. People simply want to take the glory away from God with this universal, man made salvation and churches. I declare that it is nothing but pride in man heart, how could they get glory for something God did, if God saves sinners and God builds the churches then what glory is man to get? NONE! I can take absolutely no credit for anything in this church, all credit belongs to God. Now some men (in fact most men) will say that God done it but in the same breath brag on themselves. We know that the membership was God selected, we also know the pastor was God selected, and so were the missionaries. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” This is not only to this one church but every church. While men want to take credit for saving souls and building churches they would be better to study God word and see for themselves that God has never put this work into the hands of man and He never will. GOD BUILDS THE CHURCHES!
