Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ.
The three categories of spiritual gifts we have been studying are very fascinating. It must be noted that 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 in context are all discussed in context of the metaphor of “the body of Christ.” To the extent that believers reflect the fulness of Christ in the church, we accurately reflect Him to the world.
This begs the question; “Did Jesus manifest the spiritual gifts in His life and ministry?” The answer is intriguing. During His public ministry, Jesus used and manifested every one of the spiritual gifts!
When this thought first occurred to me, I spent considerable time studying His life and ministry through the four Gospels with the above question in mind. Sure enough, they were all present at various times in His ministry. Why?
Spiritual gifts are expressions of His Divine nature and attributes. He was and is the fulness of Deity in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9) Therefore, He was the only One who could manifest all of the spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:7 says; “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Because the Holy Spirit is part of the trinity, He also manifests all of the Spiritual gifts. He is the source of the spiritual gifts and He distributed them within the body of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 12:11)
Because the gifts are distributed among believers by the Holy Spirit, we need one another. Every gift is important and fills a crucial role in the body of Christ.
This is the crux of Paul’s argument to the Corinthian church as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Every member of the body is needed to have a whole and functioning body. The eye cannot function by itself. Neither can the ear, hand or foot. Every part is needed and necessary.
The same is true of the church. The body of Christ is like a physical body. Every member is needed and should function together for the whole to be complete. We need one another and should work together toward maturity as the body of Christ.
So which spiritual gifts has the Holy Spirit given you. Are you developing your gifts? Are you fitting into the local body of Christ? Are you accepting and making room for others. Are you open to the Holy Spirit manifesting other spiritual gifts through you as needed? Are you developing an appreciation for each of the spiritual gifts recorded in the New Testament or are you rejecting part of Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
This subject might challenge you, but it is important. You will never arrive at maturity in your walk with God apart from accepting and developing your spiritual gifts and making room for others and their gifts. We need one another.
The Promise of the Father included these manifestations of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global
Sent from my iPhone
The three categories of spiritual gifts we have been studying are very fascinating. It must be noted that 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 in context are all discussed in context of the metaphor of “the body of Christ.” To the extent that believers reflect the fulness of Christ in the church, we accurately reflect Him to the world.
This begs the question; “Did Jesus manifest the spiritual gifts in His life and ministry?” The answer is intriguing. During His public ministry, Jesus used and manifested every one of the spiritual gifts!
When this thought first occurred to me, I spent considerable time studying His life and ministry through the four Gospels with the above question in mind. Sure enough, they were all present at various times in His ministry. Why?
Spiritual gifts are expressions of His Divine nature and attributes. He was and is the fulness of Deity in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9) Therefore, He was the only One who could manifest all of the spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:7 says; “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Because the Holy Spirit is part of the trinity, He also manifests all of the Spiritual gifts. He is the source of the spiritual gifts and He distributed them within the body of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 12:11)
Because the gifts are distributed among believers by the Holy Spirit, we need one another. Every gift is important and fills a crucial role in the body of Christ.
This is the crux of Paul’s argument to the Corinthian church as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Every member of the body is needed to have a whole and functioning body. The eye cannot function by itself. Neither can the ear, hand or foot. Every part is needed and necessary.
The same is true of the church. The body of Christ is like a physical body. Every member is needed and should function together for the whole to be complete. We need one another and should work together toward maturity as the body of Christ.
So which spiritual gifts has the Holy Spirit given you. Are you developing your gifts? Are you fitting into the local body of Christ? Are you accepting and making room for others. Are you open to the Holy Spirit manifesting other spiritual gifts through you as needed? Are you developing an appreciation for each of the spiritual gifts recorded in the New Testament or are you rejecting part of Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
This subject might challenge you, but it is important. You will never arrive at maturity in your walk with God apart from accepting and developing your spiritual gifts and making room for others and their gifts. We need one another.
The Promise of the Father included these manifestations of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global
Sent from my iPhone
