Sunday, August 18, 2013

A Spiritual Gift


For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (Romans 01:11-12, NKJV).

There has been much controversy (argument) over the centuries regarding the topic of spiritual gifts, ranging from what they are, are they still extant (continue to exist), who can get them, Who gives them, and what are their purposes?

The old saying goes is that if you get three theologians in a room discussing these things, you will, if you listen long enough, hear at least five different opinions; some of them mutually exclusive.

The Apostle Paul will deal with spiritual gifts in greater detail in Chapter 12, but we are a long way from there, so his mention of them in the focus verse above is an opportunity to provide a brief introduction.

First, the Bible teaches that spiritual gifts are given by Christ to His people, as He wills, in order to benefit His church, and to affirm His loving oversight.

Depending on how systematically you choose to organize them, there are several broad categories of gifts listed in the New Testament, among them are the gifts of miracles (supernatural acts), teaching, healing, prophecy, mercy, administration (leadership), knowledge, exhortation (firm correction or guidance), helps, hospitality, angelic language (tongues), and encouragement.

If you expand your study into the Old Testament, the list becomes much broader, especially in the context of the divinely inspired construction of both the Tabernacle and the Temple of ancient Israel.

There you will find that God gifted a wide variety of artisans (skilled trade workers in the fields of metal or cloth), craftspersons (artists expert in various media), and construction workers (miners, builders, and architects) to exactly reproduce these two places of worship according to God's blueprints, delivered to Moses on the mountain (for the tabernacle), and then some 400 years later to King David (for the temple, which his son Solomon subsequently built).

Perhaps the most contentious question about gifts can be summarized by the debate that takes place even today: what gifts, if any, are operative in the modern era?

In a kind of hot-button subtext (an idea underneath a larger subject), are specific issues about the gift of tongues.

Much detail could be written about the human arguments swirling around these topics, but like many such things, the answer lies in the authoritative Word of God, and not in the minds of fallen men.

What does the Bible say? Spiritual gifts will exist until they are no longer needed, which will not occur until Christ ushers in the New Heavens and the New Earth at the end of the Millennium (the 1000 year reign of Christ that takes place after the Tribulation).

These are granted to Christ's people as He sees fit when He deems they are needed. Some of the more astounding manifestations (evidences or actions), like miracles, special knowledge, prophecy, and supernatural healing, appear to take place mostly in areas of the world where the Bible is not prevalent (widespread). Missionary reports from these areas contain many such instances.

This fits perfectly with the historical accounts in the New Testament, where we are specifically informed that these “signs and wonders” follow the preaching of the gospel in order to confirm its reality.

Once the Canon (officially recognized collection) of Scripture was closed (at the end of the 1st Century), the only gift that ceased to be was the Gift of Special Revelation given by God to the 12 Apostles to form the written foundation of Christian Doctrine.

In other words, with the completion of the Bible, no new doctrinal (formal teaching) revelations were ever needed again, since the complete faith was once delivered to all the saints.

Aside from that, the other gifts, including speaking in angelic tongues, continue to operate where and when God sees fit. For more specifics also read 1 Corinthians 12 through 14.

Now some believe, incorrectly, that certain gifts must be evident as proof of salvation (being saved), but in truth, according to Scripture, there is only one spiritual proof necessary, and that is the Source of all the other gifts: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Himself.

From Him comes all the other manifestations of a changed mind and heart, and a life walking with Christ that bears the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Without these, no other “spiritual” manifestation, however sensational, has any meaning.

One final thought. Paul's desire to impart to the Roman believers some “spiritual gift”, as he writes above, aside from whatever else he had in mind, is a recognition that the ONLY gifts that will endure for all eternity are those pertaining to the spiritual realm.

All other bestowals (gifting) are temporal and material and will thus fade away. It is only those things that the Book of Hebrews says cannot be shaken - in other words, those things that originate and are maintained in the realm of the spirit - that will remain.

What therefore is the greatest gift? The Bible makes it unequivocally clear (without doubt or possibility of argument). It is agape love (1 Corinthians 13).

The same love that motivated God to create us, even though He knew our existence would require the death of His beloved Son on the Cross for our sins.

The same love that compelled Christ to go to that Cross as our substitutionary sacrifice.

It is the love that only God can pour out in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Without faith in Christ, that love is not humanly possible.

So then what is the greatest gift that can be given by anyone, to anyone, especially a parent to a child?

It is simply the love and knowledge of God that leads to faith in His Son.

Love,

Dad