Spiritual Gifts

From Theologica

+ Definition

  • "...a spiritual gifts is a God-given ability for service." -- (Ryrie 423)
  • a "grace gift" (Moody Handbook of Theology)
  • "A divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of the body of Christ." (Moody Handbook of Theology: 270)
  • "Any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church." (Grudem 1016)
  • An ability given by the Holy Spirit at conversion, for the building up first of the local church, and then to the universal church as a whole. (Mullen)

++ The Purpose of the Gifts +++ Given to Individuals God enables individuals to perform spiritual service (1 Cor 12:11) +++ Given to the Church (1 Cor 14:12; Eph 4:12) Gifts given to the church involve people uniquely equipped for the church's edification and maturation (Eph 4:11-13)

++ What Spiritual Gifts Are Not

  • A spiritual gift is not an office - The offices of deacon, missionary, pastor, etc. are offices. The spiritual gifts given to the office-holder enable one to hold the office
  • A spiritual gift is not a technique or talent - Musical ability, writing ability, rhetoric are techniques, not spiritual gifts
  • A spiritual gift is not a natural talent

||~ Natural Talents ||~ Spiritual Gifts || || Given by God through our parents || Given by God independent of parents || || Given at birth || Given at conversion/re-birth || || To benefit mankind in general || To benefit the church body ||

++ Primary Biblical Sources

  • 1 Corinthians 12
  • Ephesians 4
  • Romans 12:3-8

+ History of the Spirit's Empowerment ++ Old Testament ++ New Testament

+ List of Spiritual Gifts ++ Apostleship (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11) [Ceased]

  • Qualification: Must have accompanied Christ from the baptism of John until his ascension (Acts 1:21-22)
  • Uniqueness of Paul - Paul states in 2 Cor 12 that he performed the signs of apostleship among the believers in Corinth. Paul was commissioned by Christ as an apostle (Acts 9:6; 1 Cor 9:1). He further referred to himself as an apostle but one "untimely born" (1 Cor 15:8-9)
  • This gift is ceased because no one alive today meets the qualifications: had to walk "...with the Lord from the baptism of John until the ascension of Christ."
  • There is a technical and a general sense to the word 
* General: one who is sent
* Technical: "limited to the Twelve who had the office of apostle as well as the gift.  In that sense it was a foundational gift limited to the formation of the church (Eph 2:20).  When the foundation of the church was laid, the need for the gift ceased."

++ Prophecy ( Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:10, 14:1-40; Eph 4:11) [Ceased]

  • Prophets receive information through direct revelation from God. (?1 Cor 13:2)
  • Prophecy was instrumental to the early church "edification and exhortation and consolation" (1 Cor 14:3)
  • The genuineness of the prophet was exhibited in the accuracy of the prophecy (Deut 18:20,22)" (MHT 271)
  • "The gift of prophecy is also related to the foundation of the church. (Eph 2:20)" (MHT 271)
  • Since the foundation of the church has been laid and since the canon is closed, there is now technically no need for this gift.

++ Miracles (1 Cor 12:10, 28) [Ceased]

  • Miracles occurred primarily in three biblical periods 
* The days of Moses and Joshua
* Elijah and Elisha
* Christ and the Apostles
  • "Miracles were given to authenticate a message...[performed]...to substantiate the new message they were giving." (MHT 272)
  • "With the completion of the canon of Scripture the need for miracles as a validating sign disappeared; the authority of the Word of God was sufficient to validate the messenger's word." (MHT 272)
  • Miracles and the gift of miracles are distinct. Although the gift of miracles may have ceased, individual miraculous events may still be bestowed by God.

++ Healings (1 Cor 12:9, 28, 30) [Ceased] ++ Tongues (1 Cor 12:28) [Ceased]

  1. A tongue is a language (Acts 2:6, 8, 11)
  2. No evidence exists to support the difference between the tongues of Acts and those in 1 Corinthians
  3. The gift of tongues is a lesser gift (1 Cor 12:28)
  4. Tongues were a temporary sign (1 Cor 13:8)
  • The gift of tongues was necessary "as an authenticating sign of the apostles (2 Cor 12:12)
  • Tongues seem to be a sign gift associated with the "infancy" of the church (1 Cor 13:12:11)
  • "Tongues were used as a sign to unbelieving Jews and in this sense were used in evangelism (1 Cor 14:21-22). When unbelieving Jews would enter the assembly and hear people speaking in foreign languages it was a sign to them that God was doing a work in their midst, reminiscent of Isaiah's day (Isa 28:11-12)

++ Interpretation of Tongues (1 Cor 12:10) [Ceased] ++ Evangelism (Eph 4:11)

  • Definition: "The gift of proclaiming the Good News of salvation effectively so that people respond to the claims of Christ in conversion and in discipleship." (MHT 274)
  1. Involves a burden for the lost
  2. Involves proclaiming the good news.
  3. Involves the ability to clearly present the gospel
  4. The lost will respond in some manner to the evangelist
  5. Involves delight in seeing people saved.
  • Not everyone has the gift of evangelism; everyone has the responsibility to evangelize

++ Pastor (Pastor (Eph 4:11)

  • "The ability to shepherd, provide fore, and protect God's people" (Basic Theology 431)

++ Serving (Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:12) ++ Teaching (Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11)

  • The ability to explain God's truths to people
  • Indications of the gift 
# He would have a great interest in the Word of God and would commit himself to disciplined study of the WOrd.
# He would have an ability to communicate the Word of God clearly and apply the Word to the lives of the people.
  • Notes concerning the gift 
# It requires development.  It demands serious study and faithful practice
# Natural ability to teach (e.g. public school teachers) is not the same as a spiritual gift to teach.

++ Faith (1 Cor 12:9)

  • "The gift of faith is the faith which manifests itself in unusual deeds of trust...This person has the capacity to see something that needs to be done and to believe God will do it through him even though it looks impossible."
  • "The ability to believe God for the supply of specific needs." (Basic Theology 431)

++ Exhortation (Rom 12:8)

  • The ability to comfort, encourage, and admonish people

++ Distinguishing Spirits (1 Cor 12:10)

  • The ability to distinguish between tree and false sources of knowledge.
  • Ryrie states that this gift is in the context of supernatural revelation, but this could easily apply to those today whose focus is on apologetics.

++ Showing Mercy (Rom 12:8)

  • A specialized form of service directed toward the weak, the sick, and the elderly.

++ Giving (Rom 12:8)

  • The ability to give generously

++ Administration (Rom 12:8; 1 Cor 12:28) The ability to administer ++ Wisdom and Knowledge (1 Cor 12:8)

  • The ability to understand God's truths

+ Permanency of the Gifts

+ Discovery, Development and Application of Spiritual Gifts

  • Various strengths (Rom 12:6)
  • We will be judge on how effectively we use our gifts (vv ???)
  • Not everyone has every gift (1 Cor 12:29-30)

+ Notes

  • The Bible does not state that a spiritual gift cannot overlap with natural ability.
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