Body of Christ and Gifts - Message 2 - Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:1-12

Body of Christ and Gifts - Message 2 - Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-12

Introduction: Introduction: This morning we will explore the spiritual gifts that God gives to every believer. These gifts begin with the giving of the gift of Salvation.

God gave His Son Jesus Christ as a gift to bring justification to those who would believe.

READ Romans 5:14-17. God’s gift was the Lord Jesus Christ, who came, suffered, and died for the sins of man. The verse says God’s gift if free unto justification, and grace, and righteousness.

Ephesians 2:8-9 explains.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The gift of salvation comes also with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

Paul explained about gifts in the believer’s life:

“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that" (1 Corinthians 7:7).

Peter makes it clear to us about gifts given to believers:

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10) The Responsibilities of a Believer - The primary relationship in a believer's life is to be a steward of God’s gifts to him.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

As we think about the responsibilities of the members of the Body of Christ, it is helpful to look at the main relationships in every believer's life. These relationships were summed up by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39. We are to love God first, and as we love our Savior, we are also to love our neighbor.

We have a duty to love God as well as to love other people around us, including believers as well as unbelievers. We are to use our God-given spiritual gifts to serve our brothers and sisters in our local congregation and in the world around us.

A Believer's Responsibilities

If we look at the entire picture, we can get an overview of the responsibilities of a believer. One of the things we will see here is that responsibilities of the "Great Commission" of Matthew 28:18-20 were given to individual believers in the context of the institution of the local church. God has a will for your life. It is different in each life. However, you have a sphere of ministry that is particular to you. Areas and people who you can have influence and better reach others. God gives you the ability to accomplish your ministry for Him. The believer’s responsibility is to learn what our gift(s) are and use them.

There are diversities of Gifts. (1 Cor. 12:1-11)

Verse 4 says there are diversities of gifts, but One Spirit that is the Holy Spirit. They all come from the Holy Spirit. The word “gift" is the word “charismata” which means a gift given by the Holy Spirit. This is not a natural ability, but a special ability endowed by the Holy Spirit. Verses 5-6 says there are diversities of administrations but One Lord. The word “administrations” is “dia-konia” which would mean the work of a servant, teacher, a pastor, or position of service in a local church. There are a diversity of gifts, but there is a sameness in that they all come from God to enable a believer to minister to others in their families, church, and community.

The difference in the gifts.

ALLOS = is the Greek word that means another of the same type.

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another (allos) the word of knowledge by the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:8)

The word means “Logos” which means reason, next speech. Wisdom is intelligence, after that practical action in accord with it. Here it is speech that is with God's wisdom, not man’s.

( READ 1 Cor. 2:6-14)

The word “allos” means another of the same kind. The word of knowledge and the word of wisdom are the same type of gift. The Logos (word) of knowledge means of illumination, or spiritual insight that comes from God.

“To another (allos) faith by the same Spirit; to another (allos) the gifts of healing by the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:9)

The faith here is not saving faith, but living faith.

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)

The gift of healing is the same type of gift as faith. In the early churches, the Apostles had the gift of healing, meaning, commanding or laying hands-on someone, and they were healed. The healing of the sick was an act of faith.

That gift is no longer valid and was confined to the early churches as a sign to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. The Apostle claimed Jesus was the Messiah, and they had the same power to do miracle. He had which showed Jesus was the Christ and they were His servants. He was crucified but resurrected, and they continued His ministry and message to the Jews.

The Book of Hebrews, written to the Jews explains this saying, “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)

“To another (allos) the working of miracles; to another (allos) prophecy; to another (allos) discerning of spirits; to another (heteros) divers kinds of tongues; to another (allos) interpretation of tongues:” (1 Corinthians 12:10)

The word “another” is the word “allos” and means the same kind. So faith is a gift of God and healing are the same type of gift. HETEROS = in the Greek word meaning a different type.

However, the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues (languages) was a different (heteros) kind of gift that the other gifts.

The word “tongues” in 17th-Century English simply meant a language....not ecstatic speech. This was soundly refuted by Paul in Chapter 14 and there is no further mention of these gifts in the New Testment.

Ephesians 4:11-16 gives the later list of gifts. READ

READ 1 Cor. 13:18-11. These special gifts were done away with once the need for them no longer was valid.

Gifts given in the context of the local church. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31. It is God who gifts the gift as it pleased Him. READ verse 18.

One commentator gives a summery of gifts saying gifts:

List of gifts: The number of gifts mentioned in the New Testament are listed as between seven and twenty-three. I think that in the list of seven, you can find every gift God gives:

There also was the sign gift of speaking unlearned languages, healing, foretelling prophecy. I will deal with those later in another message as they are a different class of gifts, which are not active today.

God gives the gifts to a believer for the edification of the congregation. In 1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12, 17,26; Eph. 4:12 the Lord is clear that gifts are given to benefit others. Each of these verses states that the purpose of gifts edification.

There is a personal benefit in having a gift in the sense that we use it for other, and we receive the blessing of ministering to others.

CONCLUSION:

Your gift is to be exercised and developed so you can best serve the Lord.

There are different gifts given to believers in a local congregation. Your gift is important to someone because your gift is given to serve others in the name of Christ.

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