For The Gifts And Calling Of God Are Without Repentance.- Part 2541

"Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (I Corinthians 12:1-3)

In the last couple of posts, the focus has been on the gifts of the Holy Ghost and in particular the gift of tongues. The blog today will expand on the other gifts that the Lord would have us desire -- so that we can understand how He wants give to us "severally" as He will. Most important, apostle Paul is stating that he would not have us who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith ignorant when it comes to spiritual things. Paul also recognizes that prior to our salvation, we were Gentiles carried away (led) by dumb idols. But then Paul shares that when we are speaking by the Spirit of God -- we would not call Jesus accursed. Similarly, Paul is clear -- that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

This should serve as a starting point for understanding -- that when we preach/teach the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ we do so by the Holy Ghost. The key point herein is Jesus -- that we don't call Jesus accursed but instead recognize that Jesus is the Lord, as Peter (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost acknowledged. (Acts 2:36-41) In establishing the foundation here, it may appear that I'm digressing somewhat. Hopefully, by the end of this study, we will all have a more complete understanding of the gifts and calling of God that are without repentance. 

First of all, the word "gifts" is used 52 times in the scriptures - spanning between both the old and the new testaments. In some of these scriptures, we have an opportunity to witness those who are gladly giving gifts to the Lord Jesus. One such example is found in Matthew. There, the wise men fell down and worshipped Jesus when He was a young child, presenting Him with gifts. 

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)

In another place, Jesus distinguishes between the hearts -- in those giving gifts in Luke 21. "For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, He said, "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Luke 21:4-6) 

In other scriptures, Jesus refers to gifts (in both Matthew 7:11 and Luke 11:13) and how much more He shall give His holy Spirit to them that ask. From Matthew's writings --"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" From Luke's writing -- "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask Him?"

Moreover, as Paul writes -- He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Ephesians 4:8) 

Note that He gave/gives gifts unto those who believe -- gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will. "God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:4) Thus, understanding the Lord's gifts to His people is critical. We see this in Romans 12:4-8 and I Corinthians 12-14. Paul offers further insight into we being many members within the body of Christ church.

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, [let us wait] on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:4-8)

In reaffirming that we are members of the one body in Christ, Paul notes that we are also members of one another. For example, when Jesus summarized the old testament commandments, He said, "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord!" He instructs us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and then from His love, to love one another. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)

Interestingly, Paul emphasizes that the gifts we receive differ according to the grace that is given to us. Note the word -- differ. In the Miriam-Webster dictionary, differ is an "intransitive verb" and means: to be unlike or distinct in nature, form, or characteristics (for example, the law of one state differs from that of another) or, to change from time to time or from one instance to another. This is why the gifts we receive individually differ -- but in the context of the many members of the body of Christ church, the gifts still fit together perfectly to the fulfilling of His purpose(s).

Whether prophecy, Paul instructs us to prophesy according to the proportion of faith or ministry. Indeed, Paul says to let us wait on our ministering -- if we do not have the proportion of faith necessary to minister effectively. [Paul gives excellent instructions in his first and second epistle to Timothy -- if you are interested in understanding more about the proportion of faith.]

But waiting does not just apply to ministering but also to preaching, teaching and exhortation. Does it stop there? Well, not according to apostle Paul, who states that when it comes to giving, we are to do so with simplicity. And those that rule? They are to do so with diligence, showing mercy with cheerfulness.

Continuing, Paul said to the brethren that he would not have them ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. (I Corinthians 13:1) So what are these gifts that we are to desire? The diversities of gifts given by the one and same Spirit?

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues ... but all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (I Corinthians 12:4-14)

Paul clarifies these further in the end of I Corinthians 12. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12:28) These are the spiritual gifts we are to desire, but in all things, rather that we may prophesy -- preaching the gospel to one another in love, following after charity. (I Corinthians 12:28-31) 

Even so, our zeal of spiritual gifts is not to outweigh or dismiss an equal purpose in edifying the church.
"Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church." (I Corinthians 14:12) In other words, edification to the other members of the body of Christ is important -- think of the commandment to love one another. 

Remember too the gift giver who freely gives to us (as we read above), giving the gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.

"... which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make Him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience ..." (Hebrews 9:9)

There is so much more to come but for now, let's finish with Acts 20:28:

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood!"

Stand in the offering plate.