You Are Not the One to Build, Part 6B: Spiritual Gifts: God Works through us for His Purpose

The modern emphasis on first identifying my "gift" so that I may then "help" God develop it gets the matter exactly backwards. The important thing isn't identifying my gift, it is offering my body as a living sacrifice so that the Spirit may exercise any gift He chooses through me. Then any gift I am observed to be actually exercising can be identified as my gift, and its exercise will be genuine and have God's power.

Link to Matched Video Presentation in this Series:

Slide 2: My Personal History Regarding the Questions of Callings and Gifts: Period 1955-1994:

I was raised in church. My mother was paid Christian Education director at churches in Wichita, Kansas from the time I was 5 until I was 16, and she obtained a Theology degree from Friends University during that time. There has never been a time in my life when I have not been involved in some church. But, among Protestant denominations, I’ve been all around the block during my life. However, when it came to the use of laypersons’ gifts, there were some constants along with the variations, as I will now describe.

Period 1955-1993:

1. I was raised in Congregational churches, 1960s, that never mentioned gifts or callings, as far as I recall. But I was young then.

2. I “received Christ”—really, he received me—12/26/1971 in a Disciples of Christ Christian church that was affected by an early phase of the “Charismatic renewal”—the gifts were taught incidentally, most gifts were welcome, some were more welcome than others, most seemed limited to particular people and formalized functions in church programs.

3. After I started graduate school in 1976, I spent a number of years in several ultra-conservative Baptist churches that deprecated the gifts as all ceasing to function promptly when the Apostle John died

4. Next, a few years in a Wesleyan church seeking the “entire sanctification” experience. Their stance toward spiritual gifts was very similar to the Disciples of Christ church I was in years earlier—some gifts were more welcome than others.

• It was in this church in 1991 that I first subjectively understood a “call” to some further ministry.

• The denomination treated such calls as all being, necessarily, calls to one of the organization’s established full-time job descriptions.

• However, I wasn’t suitable for any of those positions—as explained in Part 1.

• Had God made a mistake? Or had I simply “heard” a “call” that really wasn’t there?

Slide 3. Personal History Regarding Calling and Gifts—Period 1993 to 2023:

5. Then, I spent a few years in an extreme Charismatic church—one that came close to, but never quite entered, “name it claim it” theology–in which all of the gifts were welcome and were expected to be somewhat flashy.

• This group thought my call was real.

• I did fairly well as a part-time associate to the pastor, doing some tasks in line with my actual abilities.

• But when the pastor became too physically ill to continue ministering and I became pastor, the first week proved I’m not a pastor. My first Sunday, the church went from 8 to 10 families every week down to only 2 families—including my own!—and never recovered. It wasn’t for lack of effort. It just became clear being a pastor wasn’t my gift.

6. After that, I spent 10 years as an ordinary lay member of a mainline Pentecostal church. Gifts were allowed, but, except for tongues—which was emphasized as “evidence” of the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”—and teaching, they tended to be limited to stylized, predictable uses by the same recognized people during worship services.

7. Some personal problems which had persisted since before I was saved led me into Celebrate Recovery in 2006, and into the Southern Baptist church that sponsors it in 2008. I have been there since. Officially, some gifts are welcome—warily—some others are exercised by recognized leaders, and others are considered to have ceased in the past. But little is said about the ones that aren’t welcome, it’s just understood.

Slide 4. Overall Note About Group Attitudes toward the Gifts, and some pieces of larger Protestant church history during my lifetime.

A line of teaching became popular in the 1970s that held Christians should try to “discover” their spiritual gifts so that they can work with God and others to “develop” and “use” them
It was tacitly assumed that in all cases the only purposes for which the gifts could be “used” was to fill existing job descriptions in a local church, limited to fungible “lay” positions unless gift was accompanied by a “call” to “full-time ministry” and the candidate was suitable for this.
As far as I can tell, this approach was new in the ‘70s. Of course, ministerial qualifications have been around for a long time, and the ideas that laypersons must be treated as fungible and placed in roles in which they are interchangeable has been around quite awhile, too. The ideas of fungibility and fixed job descriptions and even lines of progression had also been adopted from secular business management into most denominations of churches even for management of the careers of their clergy by 1900 or so, at the latest. What was new in about the early 1970s was the emphasis on doing evaluations or self-evaluations to “find out” what one’s spiritual gift was, so this information could be used in determining which predefined lay job description one should be mated to.
Except for the Baptist churches that said all of the “gifts” ceased early in the 2^nd Century, all of the other churches I have attended were influenced by this teaching, at least to some degree. But the degree of influence of this idea varied fairly widely between groups.
I have spent a good deal of time—most of my life—trying to identify my “spiritual gift” within the constraint that it not only has to be a gift God gave me, it must also be a gift in the exercise of which the church organizations I’m involved with will find me “suitable” for one of the matching jobs in their predefined programs. With the disqualifications described in Part 1 of this presentation, that additional constraint has been difficult!
This again raises the question, did God make a mistake?

Slide 5: Here is the only successful approach I’ve found to spiritual gifts:

Spiritual gifts can only be understood by first considering their purpose—to build up the Body of Christ
Spiritual gifts perform functions. The Holy Spirit determines these functions. The gifts are not the property of the gifted individuals or of human organizations, and do not exist to serve or glorify the “ministries” of either.
Spiritual gifts are not rigid pigeonholes. They are not given to assist with human personnel administration. The Holy Spirit has complete flexibility in using them.

Slide 6. Here is a passage in which God’s Calling and Gifts are found together in the same context.

Note that the “calling” in view is God’s general call to full partnership with Jesus!

Slide 7. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV):

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Slide 8. Three other important points to remember about spiritual gifts:

We are known by our fruit, not our gifts.
Our fruit grows because we remain in Jesus.
Even prophecy and miracles are useless if we do them ourselves, for our own purposes.

Consider these passages:

Slide 9. In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus said:

“16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Slide 10. Jesus explained where good fruit comes from in John 15:4-5:

“4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

It doesn’t say “apart from me, you can do so-so” or “muddle through” or “accomplish a little bit.” “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Slide 11. Continuing Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

Slide 12. More of Paul’s words, of the same kind, on the uselessness of even the greatest gifts if exercised for my own glory and without love:

“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet I am going to show you a far better way. If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 (NASB).

Slide 13. Heading: The Best Summary About Gifts. Subheading: Written by Peter!

Slide 14. Even before speaking about spiritual gifts, Peter makes four points:

Stay Alert
Pray
Offer hospitality without grumbling
“Above all love each other deeply”

Slide 15. 1 Peter 4:7-9 (NIV):

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and be of a sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Slide 16. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV):

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Slide 17. This passage names only TWO classes of gifts: 1) Speaking and 2) Serving.

Slide 18. Things this passage says about the gifts I have been given:

I received it (it isn’t from me)
I should use it to serve others
I should use it as a steward of God’s grace. God gave me my gift as a gift, not because I earned or deserved it. It is to be given away as a gift, not because those to whom I minister earn or deserve it. I am using it as God’s representative and for His purposes.
God’s grace comes in various forms. In fact, it comes in as many different forms as the people who need it do. It can’t be reduced to a short list of types of grace, or a short list of possible gifts. Those who “speak” and those who “serve” are just broad categories.
Those who speak should speak the very words of God. I should not speak my own words, for my own purposes. This applies to all of my words, everything I say, not just my formal “preaching,” “teaching” or “witnessing” opportunities or things I say at church gatherings. I am God’s representative. I should be speaking his words, words consistent with his nature and his purpose for those to whom I am speaking.
Those who serve should serve in the strength God provides, not in their own strength or ability. I should be relying on God’s strength, not my own
“Speaking” and “serving” are not mutually exclusive. I may be doing both at the same time.

Slide 19. Repeating, 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV):

Slide 20. Heading: The Romans 12 “List” of “Gifts” in Context.

All too often, this list, or the similar lists in 1 Corinthians 12, are pulled out of their contexts and used as checklists. But the three “lists” were written to different churches, for different reasons, and the contexts are important in understanding how to apply them.

Slide 21. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV):

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Slide 22. The text leading up to Paul’s discussion of “gifts”

The text leading up to Paul’s discussion of “gifts” in Romans deals with my attitude and response to God. Paul urges me to present my body as a living sacrifice to God. This sacrifice is the only true worship for God—it recognizes that I exist for the God who created me. It is only in presenting my body to God for his use that my mind is renewed. This isn’t talking mostly about my metaphysical thoughts about God, separated from my “real” life. It is talking about my thoughts about God in doing the things I do with my body, in my “real” life. If I am presently offering my body to God as a living sacrifice, I will presently be thinking about God and what he wants to do with my body, right now. The pattern of the world is to think about my own desires and the world’s pressures and lures most of the time, and act based on those thoughts, saving thoughts of God only for rare moments of emergency need, “clarity” or reflection (if at all). The renewed mind thinks about God’s plans, power, and provision in every decision made, in every act made with my sacrificed body. That is, in fact, what it means to have a renewed mind. And it is only a renewed mind that can properly judge God’s will—and find it to be good, pleasing and perfect. God normally doesn’t come to me offering advice, which I can take or leave. He comes telling me what to do, because I trust he knows best. And he hides himself from people who do not trust him.

Slide 23. Romans 12:3 (NIV):

““For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Slide 24. Before speaking of gifts, Paul commands humility:

Following the same line of thought, before speaking of gifts, Paul commands humility. Humility consists of

Thinking of myself realistically—neither too high nor too low. In Prince Caspian, C. S. Lewis’ character Aslan captured this humility well: “‘You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,’ said Aslan. ‘And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.’”
Thinking of myself according to the faith God has given me. There is great good in me, but it all comes from God and is seen only as I depend on him.

Slide 25. Romans 12:4-5 (NIV):

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Slide 26. Paul introduces our gifts with reference to the Body of Christ.

Paul thus introduces our gifts with reference to the Body of Christ. That one Body is their only proper context:

The one body has many members, and
Each member belongs to all of the others, yet
Each member has its own unique function (hence, is not a fungible, interchangeable “resource”), and, as we will see
The “gifts” are the expression of each member’s unique function.

Slide 27. Romans 12:5-8 (NRSVUE):

“… so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”

Slide 28. This passage states facts, not commands, suggestions or wishes:

The Revised Standard Version is usually not my favorite translation, but for this passage I really like the New Revised Standard because it gets the Greek grammar right:

The only inflected verb in the whole passage is “are” in verse 5. It is in the indicative mood and active voice. It is a statement of fact, not a command or suggestion. As a pure matter of fact, we “are” one body in Christ, with the consequences that follow for the next 3 verses.
All of the other verb forms in these verses are participles, which refer to and are dependent on the “are” in verse 5.
There are NO imperatives, or even subjunctives, in these verses. No commands, suggestions or wishes; just facts.
A literal reading of the end of verse 5 and the beginning of verse 6 would say “and individually we [are] members of one another, having gifts that differ…” The New Revised Standard seems to capture this idea pretty well, whereas most of the more common translations want to convert verses 6 through 8 into commands or suggestions, which they are not.

Slide 29. The most correct reading of this passage emphasizes our unique functions

The most correct reading of this passage emphasizes our unique functions, not the things we should be trying to do better:

It only makes sense to speak of the “gifts” of those who are presently offering their bodies as living sacrifices, with the consequences named in verses 1 through 5, and the passage on “gifts” assumes it is speaking to these people.
Assuming this is true, a person’s “gift” may be identified by observing what they are actually doing as members of the Body.
It is God doing these things, not the “gifted” individual.
So the modern emphasis on first determining what my “gift” is, as an academic exercise, so I can “help” God develop it, gets things exactly backwards (and even sounds stupid, when stated in this way!).

Look at the passage again:

Slide 30. Romans 12:5-8 (NRSVUE):

“… so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”

Now, compare the New International Version’s conversion of Paul’s statements of fact about the “gifts” into commands or suggestions:

Slide 31. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV):

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is encouraging, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Slide 32. Verse 6, gifts are gifts, and each of us has a different gift

Under any reading, verse 6 asserts at least:

As members of the one Body of Christ (v. 5), “we are having”—a present participle, so neither a completed past act nor a wholly future one–certain “gifts” given to us
The verse emphasizes, by stating redundantly, that these “gifts,” charismata, things freely and graciously given, have been given “according to the grace” [of God], kata tēn charin. Paul couldn’t say any more clearly that God gave us these gifts freely, they didn’t come from us, and we didn’t earn them.
Paul also says that the grace according to which God is giving each of us gifts is different, varying in kind (diaphora), so that each of us has a different gift.

Slide 33. “According to the analogy (analogian) of the faith,” verse 6, applies also to vv. 7 and 8:

The description of the first gift listed, “prophecy,” states this gift, when truly exercised, either 1) simply is or 2) should be exercised “according to the analogy (analogian) of the faith” of the speaker. Whether it 1) simply is or 2) should be this way is determined by determining whether the whole passage is 1) a series of statements of fact or 2) a series of commands or suggestions.
By parallel construction this statement appears to also apply to each of the other types of gifts listed in verses 7 and 8—that is, if they are validly exercised, they either 1) simply are or 2) should be exercised “in the analogy of the faith” of the person exercising them.
Most of the descriptions of the other gifts become pure tautologies—saying only that they are what they are—if the “analogy of the faith” from verse 6 is not read into them.

Slide 34. What “the analogy of the faith” means:

What “the analogy of the faith” of the actor means depends on whether the whole passage is read as descriptions of the gifts or as commands for the manner in which they should be exercised.
If the passage describes or defines the gifts, Paul is saying that the gift being seen is the real thing when the things done or said are in keeping with the person’s faith as a natural effect of the outflowing of it—that is, are natural, not merely imitated to be seen. This is the difference between real fruit and decorative plastic fruit.
If the passage gives instructions about the gifts, Paul is saying that the exercise of a gift should be consistent with the faith the person professes, done believing it comes from God, not mixed with inconsistent motives or actions. This is the difference between true holiness and keeping the rules in order to look good to other people, or the difference between real giving in secret and sounding a trumpet before giving.
Admittedly, Paul could mean BOTH of these things. But the grammar suggests he didn’t intend to emphasize only the manner in which gifts “should” be exercised, as most translations suggest.

Slide 35. Things said about specific “gifts:”

Prophecy—speaking forth God’s words—is characterized by what the prophet says being in “analogy” with the speaker’s faith. I’ll say more about prophecy, speaking forth God’s words, specifically, in Parts 7 and 8.
True service, as a gift, is characterized by service (diakonia—the same word used of what “deacons” do—menial household work, caring for people, waiting tables) in “analogy” with the servant’s faith.
Teaching is characterized by the “teaching” (didaskalia)—the effect of the teaching on the teacher’s disciples (as will be explained in Part 9)—in “analogy” with the teacher’s faith.
Encouragement—coming alongside to help, parakalōn, the same thing the Holy Spirit does for us—is characterized by the help given, again in keeping with the encourager’s faith.
Giving is characterized by easy generosity.
Leadership is characterized by diligence. This statement is particularly interesting if read as a definition of leadership. A leader is someone the Spirit gives diligence about the right details, in analogy to the leader’s faith! So, contrary to the world’s approach, diligence in leadership is something the Spirit gives, not something I develop. Leadership classes don’t make a leader, the Spirit does.
Showing mercy on those in need is characterized by hilarity (hilarotēti!), ability to maintain joy and even a sense of humor while dealing with the overwhelming needs of others, in keeping with the merciful one’s faith.

Next, moving forward into the instructions which follow Paul’s discussion of gifts but which are tied to that discussion, and the living sacrifice which preceded it:

Slide 36. Romans 12:9-13 (CEV) with comments:

““Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God’s needy people and welcome strangers into your home.”

Here the emphasis is on how we treat other people—especially the poor and “strangers” or “foreigners”, the very people our “respectable” associates shun, the people who will never be able to repay us (as Jesus pointed out, see Luke 14:12-14). The sincerity of our love is shown by how we treat “THOSE” people. As we “eagerly follow the Holy Spirit” in our service of the Lord, those are the people to whom he will guide us. This is at least my experience—and Paul seems to be saying the same thing. While following the Spirit, even toward the people others dishonor, Paul says be patient because trouble will come, never stop praying, and never give up.

Slide 37. Romans 12:14-19a (CEV) with comments:

“Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone. Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge.”

Here again, the emphasis is on how I treat other people. Assuming, still, as Paul does, that I am giving my body as a living sacrifice to God and allowing him to reconstruct my thinking, I will ask God to bless, not curse, those who mistreat me. I will show real sympathy toward people. I will be friendly and show humility toward people—not be aloof, abrasive, rejecting or judgmental. (I am not called to carry a picket sign pointing out other people’s sins; I have enough sins of my own to deal with!) I will treat everyone well, even those who have hurt me. I will live in a way that invites others to respect me, with nothing shady in my life, and do all I reasonably can to live at peace with others (knowing that some will oppose me simply because of Christ despite my best efforts).

Slide 38. The Summary!

“Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.” Romans 12:21 (CEV)

This is the summary of the whole chapter:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 (NASB)

Slide 39. Heading: The TWO 1 Corinthians 12 “Lists” of “Spiritual things” in context.

Slide 40. 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (NASB) with comments:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that, when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed;’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”

The words that are italicized on the slide are also italicized in the New American Standard Bible, as printed, and indicate words that were added by the translators. One of these words is “gifts.” Verse 1 does not on its face refer to “spiritual gifts.” Instead, it refers to “spirituals” or “spiritualities,” spiritual things or manifestations in general. The first three verses give a test for determining whether an observed spiritual manifestation comes from the Holy Spirit or from somewhere more sinister. This illustrates one of the main differences between the discussion in 1 Corinthians 12 and that in Romans 12:

Slide 41. What Paul was speaking to in 1 Corinthians 12-14:

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul was speaking to problems specifically found in Corinth (and not in the same way in Rome), namely

A church divided into factions by various issues (as discussed in earlier chapters of 1 Corinthians), including,
- Personality cliques following big-name “leaders”
- Divisions based on wealth and social status
- Pride about specific “gifts”
- Confusion about the purpose of the “gifts”
A local pagan culture which had ecstatic manifestations outwardly similar to some of the “gifts”
- With a consequent need to give the church a way to distinguish true manifestations of the Holy Spirit from false ones

Slide 42. Personality Cults, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NASB):

Speaking to one of the major sources of division—personality cults supporting human leaders—Paul had previously written:

“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree that be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Slide 43. Self-centeredness and divisions based on wealth, 1 Corinthians 11:17-21 (NASB):

Two other, related sources of division to which Paul later speaks directly in his discussion of the gifts are pure self-centeredness and the rich versus poor distinction, with the poor being dishonored:

“Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there also have to be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise you.”

Slide 44. Beginning of the discussion of “gifts”

With this introduction, we come to the discussion of manifestations which are, in fact, “gifts” of the Holy Spirit, not spiritual manifestations which come from somewhere else:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NASB)

The key concepts in these verses are the “variety” of gifts and manifestations that come from “the same” Spirit—only one Spirit—and that all of these varied gifts and manifestations are given “for the common good.” There now follows a list of examples of kinds of gifts which are given, by the one Holy Spirit, for the common good:

Slide 45. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NASB):

“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.”

Slide 46. About the 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 “List” of “Gifts”:

It is apparently not intended to be an exhaustive list because
- In detail, this list differs from both the list in Romans 12 and the list later in this chapter.

No indication that these manifestations are permanent attributes of the person manifesting them.
- The language of the passage is completely noncommittal regarding the times at which the manifestations are given, the occasions on which they are given, and for how long they are given. It merely asserts that they are, passively, given to us by the Spirit. It is the Spirit that is active in the gifts, not us.
That there is a variety of different gifts, manifestations and effects is emphasized by both this passage and the preceding verses.
- Some of the manifestations listed in this passage appear to be only greater degrees of abilities or attributes that should characterize all believers—e.g., wisdom, knowledge, faith, and the ability to distinguish true and false spirits.
- Tongues and interpretation of tongues correspond to natural abilities which may be learned, but which the Spirit can either augment or confer supernaturally as a manifestation
- Elders have a leading role healing according to James 5:14-16. (See also the previous part of this presentation). How “healings” as a manifestation of the Spirit meshes with this role isn’t specified.
Two Key Points:
- Verse 7: “to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” The purpose for which the Spirit manifests is “the common good,” not as a form of advertising for church organizations or ministers.
- Verse 11: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as he wills.” The freedom of the Spirit to do exactly as He wills was also emphasized by Jesus:

Slide 47. John 3:6-8 (NASB) with a note:

“That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”

From these points, Paul moves on to an analogy between the human body, which has many members but is only one body, and the Body of Christ:

Slide 48. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (NASB) with notes:

“For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But now there are many parts, but one body.”

The key points here are that 1) even though each part of the body has a different function, it is still a part of the body, 2) arranging parts with different functions into a single body was God’s doing, God’ design; 3) God did it just as He desired (not the way we want it to be done!); therefore 4) there are many parts, but one body.

Slide 49. 1 Corinthians 12:21-25 (NASB) with notes:

“And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable , whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.”

Placing “weaker” or “less presentable” (and embarrassing!) parts in the human body was part of God’s design, and the “weak” and “unpresentable” parts are actually necessary to the body—so we protect them. It should be the same way in the Body of Christ. In one way, it, in fact, is the same—the weak and “embarrassing” members of the Body really are necessary. In another way, it often isn’t, but should be, the same—we should give the care to the “embarrassing” but necessary members of the Church that they need.

I often wonder if I’m a liver in the Church. If anyone but a skilled surgeon ever sees my liver during my lifetime, I’m in a lot of trouble. And, judging from my experience with cow and chicken livers, livers aren’t very presentable—they look ugly, smell bad, and taste horrid! But just try living without a liver. It can’t be done!

So it is also with the weak and unpresentable members of the Body of Christ. God has made them necessary so that there will be no division in the Body, but that all of the parts may have the same care for each other. We cause damage when we say to brothers or sisters we find unworthy, “I have no need of you,” and proceed to ignore or attack them. We should have the same care for each other.

All of this is said still in the context of spiritual gifts—manifestations of the Spirit through even “unworthy” members of the Body–given by the one Spirit for the common good.

Slide 50. Verses 14-25: Analogy of the Body summarized:

There are many parts, but only one Body.
Every part in the Body has a function.
God placed every part in the Body just as He desired.
- Therefore, every part is necessary.
- We are dependent on each other.
- One cannot say to another ‘I don’t need you.’
The weaker parts are necessary.
The less presentable parts are necessary & given greater protection. (See Parts 1 and 3 of this presentation).

Slide 51. Overall purposes for diversity of gifts and functions in the Body:

“So that there may be no division in the Body.”
So that “the parts may have the same care for one another.”

Slide 52. Practical application in 1 John 3:16-18 (NASB):

Here is the most obvious practical application of having the same care for each other, as stated by John:

“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him? Little children, let’s not love with word or tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Slide 53. Paul’s final summary of what the Body analogy teaches:

“And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.”

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NASB).

Slide 54. Paul’s second “list” of “gifts,” 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NASB):

Paul then gives what is often taken to be a second, and different, list of “gifts,” though the word “gift” is found only in connection with “gifts of healings” and the instruction in the final verse:

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.”

Slide 55. About Paul’s second list of “gifts” in 1 Corinthians 12:

It appears to be a list of people given to the church who regularly manifest certain gifts in the group setting
- Thus, this passage corresponds to Ephesians 4:11
- But it has a different list of items than Ephesians 4:11
- So it apparently is not intended to be exhaustive or to create a fixed list of church “job descriptions” to simplify human church administration
The purpose of the list is to emphasize our dependence on each other, not to emphasize the gifts
- “All do not x, do they?”
- So we are to “earnestly desire the greater gifts”—those that are the most needed, not those that are the most flashy.
But there is a “far better way,” that of love.

Slide 56. Heading: Love. The “Far Better” Way.

Slide 57. 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 (NASB) with note:

“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet I am going to show you a far better way. If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”

Stated simply, all of the gifts exercised without love are worthless. If used to glorify me, any gift accomplishes nothing.

Slide 58. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NASB) with notes:

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong, it does not rejoice with unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Love is the opposite of the way I naturally treat people. I naturally hurt people when I think it will profit me, build or protect my power or pride, or avenge a felt wrong. I naturally express my annoyance easily as anger. Love does none of these things. Love does no harm. Romans 13:10. Love instead treats others the way I would want to be treated. Matthew 7:12. Love is what makes the gifts worthwhile. It is their purpose.

Slide 59. John 13:34-35 (NASB):

““I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have also loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love one for another.”

Slide 60: 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NASB):

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.”

Now returning to the “love chapter:”

Slide 61. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NASB) with comments:

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part and prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

The perfect has not yet been seen. I do not yet see Jesus face to face, and I do not yet consciously know him as fully as he knows me. 1 John 2:28-3:3. So, for the present time, he still speaks to me in partial revelations, incomplete understanding, and through the gifts of others. I must work to recognize my dependence on his Body. Now, faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love, which holds that Body together.

Slide 62. Heading: Conclusion. Subheading: The Purpose of the “Gifts” Reviewed

I will re-read three texts and add a fourth text without further comment as my conclusion to this part.

Slide 63. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV).

Slide 64. Romans 12:6-9 (CEV).

“God has also given to each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully. Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good.”

Slide 65. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NASB).

Slide 66. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4 (NASB).

“Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.”

Next (for now): Part 7A: God Uses No Cookie Cutters

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