Sunday, September 18,
2011 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
(38)
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Cor. 12:1-3
Tonight we continue our study of 1 Corinthians.
The past few lessons we have been dealing with issues concerning
worship including the Lord’s Supper and the submission of women in the
worship services. Tonight we
begin to examine what Paul said about spiritual gifts.
This is the longest discourse on a subject in this book
consisting of chapters 12-14 as we have divided it.
The ultimate concern is still dealing with worship as we shall
see in chapter 14. In
our lesson today we want to talk about spiritual gifts then and now and
examine the opening verses of this text.
An
outline of the subject in chapters 12-14 would be as follows.
·
12:1-3 – Paul identifies
the subject
·
12:4-11 – he notices
that while there are diversities of gifts, they all originate with the
same Spirit.
·
12:12-27 – Paul
acknowledges that different people have different abilities and lets
them know that each member is equally important and needed.
An appeal to unity in the body.
·
12:28-30 – Noting these
differing abilities, Paul challenges them to do and be the best with
what they have, BUT there is “a more excellent way” that can bring them
together.
·
13:1-8 – That “more
excellent way” is the way of Christian love (agape)
·
13:9-13 – He then lets
them know that the way of miraculous spiritual gifts is temporal, but
the way of love is permanent.
·
14:1-5 – Paul now
focuses on the use of these gifts in the assembling of the saints (i.e.
worship). He begins by
explaining why some gifts are better than others – not superior, but
because of the effect they produce.
Prophecy is better than speaking in tongues because it is
revealing the word of God through exhortation and edification of others,
while speaking in tongues is simply revealing God’s word in an unknown
language (to the one speaking).
·
14:6-25 – Paul in
details explains the gift of tongues.
In so doing:
o
14:6-18 - He cautions
these brethren that their special gifts were not given for the purpose
of exalting one over the other, but rather for building up the body of
Christ. He emphasizes
how these gifts should only be utilized in worship services to the
extent that they build up the congregation (body)
o
14:19-25 - He explains
how tongues are designed to teach unbelievers (bear in mind, these are
days BEFORE the New Testament was translated into various languages, or
even completed for that matter).
Thus they are not a tool of exhibition in the assembly.
·
14:26-40 – Paul
concludes with a call for order in the worship service.
This includes:
o
14:26- let all things be
done for edification (building up the body)
o
14:27-33 – let the
service be orderly and without confusion
o
14:34-35 – the
limitations of women speaking in the worship service
o 14:36-40 – that all things be done “decently and in order”
·
We will examine these
points in detail in the coming months.
I.
What are spiritual
gifts?
a.
In this text, they refer
to gifts with a miraculous ability provided by the Holy Spirit.
i.
“Gifts” – Interestingly,
the word “gifts” is not found in vs. 1 of our text, but rather it is
supplied with the word “spiritual.”
It is appropriate and the obvious point when you consider the
context which will discuss these “gifts” in great detail, beginning in
vs. 4.
ii.
The word “gifts” (vs. 4)
is from the Greek word,
xa/risma
(charisma), which indicates something that is a gift.
It is the same Greek word from which the word “grace” is derived
and it IS certainly related as grace has reference to God’s favor (with
gifts) which He bestows upon us.
iii.
The word
gifts:
1.
Can have a miraculous
connotation, as found throughout this chapter we are beginning to
discuss (1 Cor. 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31, Rom. 1:11).
2.
But it can also refer to
that which God gives us that is NOT miraculous – Rom. 6:23 says, “the
gift of God is eternal life.”
3.
AND it can have
reference to natural abilities we all possess which can still be as
beneficial to us as miraculous gifts (Rom. 12:6, 1 Pet. 4:10)
b.
Do we still have these
gifts today?
i.
Not the miraculous ones.
Let us take a few moments to show WHY we do not have miraculous
gifts today?
ii.
What is a miracle?
1.
It is important that we
identify what a miracle is before we discuss it.
2.
Like so many Biblical
words, its meaning has been manipulated throughout history.
Today the word can mean anything that is a step above normal
occurrences (i.e. coincidences), it can mean an unexplained phenomena
(i.e. the miracle of birth), etc.
3.
Biblically, the term
miracle means something that
God accomplishes through supernatural means.
“An event occurring in the natural
world, observed by the senses, produced by divine power, without any
adequate human or natural cause, the purpose of which is to reveal
the will of God and do good to man”
(McCartney, in Twelve Great Questions About Christ).
In other words, it is an act of God that cannot be duplicated through
natural processes. Look at
the miracles of the Bible and you will see what I mean – walking on
water, INSTANT healings, etc.
iii.
What was the purpose of
miracles? To verify the
truth of God’s word
1.
Throughout the times of
scripture, whenever we find miracles (supernatural gifts) being
performed, overwhelmingly it was times when God’s word was being
revealed. That is true of
Moses, Elijah & Elisha, the conquest of Canaan, etc.
IT was certainly true during the first century.
2.
Miracles were NEVER
performed just to entertain or amaze (cf. Luke 23:8)
3.
Matthew 9:1-8 so ably
demonstrates this. Jesus
heals a paralytic, but He also forgives His sins.
He uses the miracle of healing to PROVE that He has the ability
to forgive sins (which cannot be verified with the natural senses).
4.
Consider the following
passages which demonstrate the purpose of miracles:
a.
Heb. 2:3-4 – the message
was “confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness
both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Spirit, according to His own will.”
b.
2 Cor 12:12-13, “Truly
the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all
perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”
c.
Rom. 15:18-19, Paul
spoke of his work on his missionary journeys, “For I will not dare to
speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through
me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient —
19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of
God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ.”
d.
John 3:2, Even Jesus,
when Nicodemus came to him acknowledged, “Rabbi,
we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these
signs that You do unless God is with Him.”
e.
John 10:37-38, Jesus
Himself would make appeal to these things.
He challenged His critics to believe Him not because of Him but
the works that He did. They
PROVED that the Father was with Him.
iv.
1 cor. 13:8-12 tells us
these spiritual gifts (i.e. prophecy, tongues and [supernatural]
knowledge) would be done away with.
In summary, Paul noted that when they fulfilled their purpose,
there would no longer be a need for miracles.
That time came with the completion of the Word of God (i.e. when
that which is perfect has come, cf. Jas. 1:25).
More on that as we examine that text.
v.
Perhaps the biggest
evidence we have that miracles have been done away with is that we do
NOT see real miracles of the caliber we read of in scripture.
Instead, the word has been redefined, as mentioned above.
c.
BUT we ALL DO have gifts
from God –
i.
The term can have
reference to abilities which each of us has – that do differ one from
another. And as we examine
the text of 1 Cor. 12-14, we can make practical application of the
principles therein with whatever abilities we do have.
We will see this throughout our studies.
ii.
Rom. 12:4-8 Paul speaks
of various “gifts” in vs. 6.
In vs. 4, we read of different “functions.” That is ALWAYS true.
Notice the list in vs. 6-8.
Only “prophecy” has a necessary miraculous connotation, and even
it has a non-miraculous counterpart today (namely preaching the revealed
word of God – which not everyone has the ability to do).
iii.
1 Pet. 4:10-11, “As
each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him
speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with
the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever
and ever. Amen.”
iv.
Also consider cf. Matt.
25:14-30 – the parable of the talents.
Notice vs. 15 where the master gave to his servants talents
“according to his own ability.”
v.
Perhaps this can be
summarized in Eph. 4:7, “But to
each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s
gifts.”
vi.
WHATEVER abilities and
“gifts” you have, use them to build up the body of Christ and to bring
glory to God.
II.
Concerning Spiritual
gifts
a.
Vs. 1 - Paul’s desire to
inform (or remind) them.
i.
A transition comment
throughout this book.
ii.
Paul desires that they
be informed. That is ALWAYS
a noble desire.
May we seek to put away ignorance
in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Ignorance was associated with the former life of Christians – (cf. Acts
17:30 tells us ignorance is no longer an excuse.
Heb. 9:7, 1 Pet. 1:14).
b.
Vs. 2 - Their former
conduct and its deception.
i.
Paul reminds these
brethren that before “the real thing” came along; they were deceived by
so-called miraculous works.
ii.
Often associated with
the occult and pagan gods were supposed miracles.
At times they were induced with drugs or deceptions.
Recall how in Samaria, we read of a magician, Simon, who “previously
practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria,
claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the
least to the greatest saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’”
(Ac. 8:9-10)
What is interesting to notice is that he realized “the real thing” when
he saw it.
iii.
Beware of false
deceivers. As Paul begins his
discourse on spiritual gifts he deals with the deceptions of idol
worshippers.
There is a reminder in this that there are deceivers who will use
whatever they have to amass followers.
And many will follow them.
1.
Romans 16:18 speaks of
those who are teaching false doctrine, “For those who are such do not
serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words
and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
2.
1 John 4:1 - Test the
spirits whether they are of God.
3.
2 Thess. 2:9-12 says, “The
coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all
power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the
truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send
them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all
may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.”
c.
Vs. 3 – The test of one
with spiritual gifts – He does not contradict Christ!
i.
At the beginning of this
subject, Paul makes what we would see as an obvious statement.
It doesn’t matter what one does if he contradicts the
foundational principles of the gospel he is NOT from God.
Even under the Old Law, we read this warning of one who prophesies –
Deut. 13:1-3.
ii.
Obviously the point is
not that one cannot say he doesn’t believe in Christ or that he does
(cf. Matt. 7:21-23) – BUT one with these “gifts” will teach the truth
(i.e. the gifts validate the message).
iii.
When you “test the
spirits” you don’t just look at what they do, but also what they say.
There are many so called “faith healers” and those who “speak in
tongues” today who doctrinally contradict scripture.
Some prominent television ministers have made outlandish
proclamations that supposedly came from God. Such statements
AUTOMATICALLY render the speaker a false prophet and thus to be TOTALLY
rejected.
iv.
For what it’s worth, we
need to weigh these things ourselves before we speak.
Can we backup our message with scripture?
That is all we have (and need) today!
And
thus we see the introduction to this theme.
I conclude with this observation.
In vs. 3, notice what Paul said one from God would confess,
“Jesus is Lord”. What about
you? Is Jesus your Lord?
Will you confess Him as such?
Think about it!