Truths about Spiritual Gifts Studies in 1 Corinthians

Truths about Spiritual Gifts Studies in 1 Corinthians Series [27] 1 Corinthians 12: 1 -11 February 8, 2015 Pastor Paul K. Kim

CONTEXT OF THE CORINTHIAN ISSUE CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS • Their pride: the Corinthian church was experiencing so many spiritual gifts that were powerfully spectacular even during public worship; in their own eyes, they were quite “spiritual. ” • Their confusion: they brought in their own skewed ideas and baggage from their pagan religious experiences of the past. • Their obsession: they were obsessed with a few miraculous gifts such as speaking in tongue, healing, and signs over other less “visible/spectacular” ordinary gifts. • Their chaos: because of all this, their public worship was full of extraordinary phenomenon with inconsiderate and selfseeking chaos.

WHAT ESSENTIAL TRUTHS DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 1) The VALIDITY of true spiritual gifts is in the work of the Spirit who illumines the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST to each believer. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (vs. 1 -3) 1 Ø Before Paul gives specific teaching on spiritual gifts, he lays a foundational criterion for discerning true gifts of the Spirit. Ø Negatively, any one with the gifts of the Spirit cannot curse Jesus; positively, he/she will submit to Jesus as the Lord of all. Ø Thus, true spiritual gifts have this mark of the primary role of the Holy Spirit—pointing to & glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.

Floodlight ministry of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit’s distinctive new covenant role, then, is to fulfill what we may call a floodlight ministry in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. . . When floodlighting is well done, the floodlights are so placed that you do not see them; you are not in fact supposed to see where the light is coming from; what you are meant to see is just the building on which the floodlights are trained. The intended effect is to make it visible when otherwise it would not be seen for the darkness, and to maximize its dignity by throwing all its details into relief so that you see it properly. This perfectly illustrates the Spirit’s new covenant role. He is, so to speak, the hidden floodlight shining on the Savior. Or think of it this way. It is as if the Spirit stands behind us, throwing light over our shoulder, on Jesus, who stands facing us. The Spirit’s message is never, “Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me, ” but always “Look at him, and see his glory; listen to him, and hear his word; go to him, and have life; get to know him, and taste his gift of joy and peace. ” — J. I. Packer

WHAT ESSENTIAL TRUTHS DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 2) The ORIGIN of various spiritual gifts is the TRIUNE GOD—the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (vs. 4 -6) 4 Ø Spiritual gifts are many and diverse but their origin is only one and same—the Triune God. Ø More specifically, spiritual gifts are from God the Father, through Lord Jesus the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. Ø What unites all believers with various gifts is this unity and oneness; what makes all believers not identical is this diversity in the roles of the Triune God!

WHAT ESSENTIAL TRUTHS DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 3) The PURPOSE of spiritual gifts is the manifestation of the Spirit for the COMMON GOOD of the church. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (v. 7) 7 And he gave. . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4: 12 Ø Unlike the Corinthians’ confusions (ours), spiritual gifts are NOT about us, which means the light is not on us but Christ. Ø Christ’s life and glory is now shown in the church—the body of Christ; hence, the purpose is to edify/build up the Body. Ø We are to look to the needs of the body of Christ and serve the church with our spiritual gifts for the glory of Christ!

WHAT ESSENTIAL TRUTHS DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 4) The RECIPIENT of various spiritual gifts is EVERY BELIEVER— given by the Spirit as he wills. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (vs. 8 -11) Ø The key point to remember is that ALL true believers HAVE one or more gifts given by the Spirit as he decides for ours. Ø Some view miraculous gifts as temporary (cessationists); but some view them still functional (continuationists) as we do.

A spiritual gift is “a capacity for service which is given to every true Christian without exception and which was something each did not possess before he became a Christian. ” Ray Stedman

WHAT ESSENTIAL TRUTHS DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 4) The RECIPIENT of various spiritual gifts is EVERY BELIEVER— given by the Spirit as he wills. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (vs. 8 -11) Ø The key point to remember is that ALL true believers HAVE one or more gifts given by the Spirit as he decides for ours. Ø Some view miraculous gifts as temporary (cessationists); but some view them still functional (continuationists) as we do. Ø We are to discover our own gifts by focusing on needs of the body of Christ and use them selflessly for the common good!

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. What one truth about spiritual gifts is most encouraging to you? Why? 2. If the origin of various spiritual gifts is the same Holy Spirit, how does this truth change your attitude toward discovering and using your spiritual gifts? 3. In what ways does the purpose of spiritual gifts challenge you in using them? What is your first step in so doing?