Good Managers Of God's Varied Grace

So far in our discussion of spiritual gifts we have looked at three of the most common passages quoted: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4, both of the two '12s' and one of the two '4s'. We proceed now to the second of the '4s', I Peter 4:10-11, 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1Pet 4:10-11 ESV

As always, we must consider the context of Peter's words. He points out that Christ suffered once for the sins of all men that he might bring us to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was made alive in the spirit and proclaimed his victory over sin and death. This victory is ours. As Noah and his family were rescued from the flood and brought safely through it by the ark, so in our baptism the risen Christ has proclaimed to us that all our sins are washed away. We stand before God now with clean consciences, servants of the risen and ascended Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22).


Arm yourselves with this way of thinking, says Peter. You have died with Christ and risen with him to a new life in the spirit as opposed to your former life guided by your sinful human flesh. You have been reborn and like newborn infants, you can't get enough of the pure spiritual milk. It tastes so very good, ever reminding you of the Lord's goodness and mercy (1 Peter 2:2-3). That milk, that Word is His way of growing you up in Christ. Live now as people who have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Peter 4:1-2).

You are therefore a spiritual person, blessed with new life and faith in our risen Lord Jesus Christ. As a spiritual person you have also received a gift (charisma). Use it. That's why the Spirit gave it to you, to use. Use it to serve others in the body of Christ. Be a good steward and manager of God's varied grace.

Here are a couple examples:

• if you have a gift of speaking, speak the oracles or words of God (Matt.10:19-20)
• if you have a gift of serving, serve by the strength that God supplies (1 Cor. 3:10)

The purpose for using your gift, whatever it is, is to glorify and make God great through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. So be it. Amen (1 Peter 4:11).

As in all four of the passages studied, we find no instructions about taking a quiz, using a tool or studying a list to discover one's spiritual gift(s). We are instead told again and again to meditate upon the Gospel and to rejoice in the fact that we are God's beloved children by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We are alive in the spirit. We have the life of God's Spirit within us. And that same Spirit always gives gifts, special gifts by which we are empowered to serve one another and bring glory to the blessed name of Jesus. We know what those gifts are. We are gifted people. We are given opportunities to use our gifts. We are called and empowered by that Spirit in many and varied circumstances. Trust the Spirit.

Tomorrow I'll wrap up this brief study with a summary.

Spiritual Gifts And I Corinthians 12

We are looking carefully at the primary passages used in current discussions of spiritual gifts. We examined Romans 12. We move on now to the second '12' passage, I Cor. 12. I discussed that chapter in an earlier post about psychics and mediums. Much remains to be said, especially about the Apostle Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts.

As in his letter to the Romans, chp. 12, Paul emphasizes that faith in Jesus as the LORD (YHWH of the OT—Exod. 3:13-14, etc.) is God's gracious and good gift. Jesus Himself taught this to Nicodemus as He emphasized the need for rebirth from above (John 3:3-6). Everything depends upon God's gracious gift of life in the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 12:3). After creating new life in Christ the Spirit empowers believers to offer their entire lives as living sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

OK. Fundamental. But there's more to be said. So now, let's take a look at three distinctions or parts of this life in Christ among the members of Christ's body. How is this life in the Spirit divided, apportioned, distributed and sorted out among the members of the body (Luke 15:12)? It all depends upon the Spirit who does the empowering and manifesting of His life for the good of the entire body of Christ. Paul emphasizes three things. There are varieties or different kinds of . . .

• gifts (charismata)
• service (diakonia)
• activities or energies (energmata)

And all of it is the gracious gift of the same Spirit, Lord and God—Holy Spirit, Son and Father—revealing and manifesting themselves in the life of the Body for the good of all members (1 Cor. 12:4-7). Having said that, the Apostle will now demonstrate how this life of the Spirit works out among the members of Christ's body here on the earth.

Through, according to and by the same Spirit one or the other member of the Body is given . . .

• the utterance of wisdom
• the utterance of knowledge
• gifts of healing
• working of miracles or mighty works (Mark 6:5)
• prophecy 
• ability to distinguish between spirits
• various kinds of tongues
• the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:8-10)

Paul doesn't say who gets what gift and when. That's the Spirit's work. He doesn't say that the gifts are given permanently. That may be implied, but certainly not taught. Nor does He even say that a believer is to discover and own his gift. He simply says that all members of the Body, regardless of race or social status, drink from the same fountain, the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). The Spirit energizes and empowers each member to serve in whatever manner, whenever and wherever He chooses.

And he points out that the Body needs every member, just as our individual bodies need eyes, ears and noses. In fact, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker or unpresentable are indispensable. The Body needs each and every member. We are all the Body of Christ and individually members of it (1 Cor. 12:27).

Finally, Paul points out that God has first (prohtos in Greek) appointed apostles in the church, second prophets and third teachers (1 Cor. 12:28-29). The Apostles are first in rank, influence and honor. They are part of the church's foundation. They are the ones who were with Jesus Himself, heard Him teach, witnessed His power and His resurrection (Acts 1:13-26). They received the Holy Spirit through Him (John 20:21-23). Consequently, whenever apostles and prophets are listed, the Apostles are always listed first. So we read . . .

• . . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, - Eph 2:20 ESV
• And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd-teachers, - Eph 4:11 ESV

The Apostles now serve the Body with the Word, the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ. They demonstrate and proclaim Jesus as the fulfillment and center of all the teachings and prophecies of the Old Covenant. Now the Spirit works through the Word of the Apostles to create and sustain faith. That's why these gifts and these gifted people are so vital to the on-going life of the Body.

The prophets, evangelists and shepherd-teachers follow the Apostles in rank and importance, especially since theirs' is also the service, ministry and gift of teaching and proclaiming the Apostolic Word. We don't have room here to discuss what the Apostle Paul means here by the higher or greater gifts (charismata ta meizona in Greek). That would require us to move into chapter 13. Such a study will have to remain for another time. Instead from here we move on to the first of the two '4's', Ephesians 4.