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
