The preachers quoted here describe spiritual gifts as the Holy Spirit empowering God's people for service: manifestations of the Spirit given as he wills, for the good of other believers. They compare them to the organs of a body, and one cautions that the New Testament lists are not a closed catalogue.
The New Testament word is charisma, a gift of grace.1 Paul's fullest treatment begins, "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4), and gives the governing principle: "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (12:7). Gifts are abilities given by the Spirit to each believer for the common good.
They are distributed by God's choice, not earned. The Spirit works them all, "dividing to every man severally as he will" (12:11). Paul's picture is the body, in which eye, hand and foot differ and need each other, and no member may despise another or itself (12:14-27). Calvin drew the same lesson: God "measures out the gifts of his Spirit to each of the members, so that nothing necessary to the whole body is wanting, since the gifts are bestowed for the common advantage."2
Four passages list gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11). They include teaching, serving, giving, leading, mercy, prophecy, healing, tongues and their interpretation. The lists differ from one another, which suggests they are examples and not a complete inventory. Peter sorts them into speaking and serving, and says, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).
Their purpose is to build up the church: "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:26), and "decently and in order" (14:40). Timothy is told not to neglect his gift but to stir it up (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).
Paul places the chapter on love in the middle of his teaching on gifts. Without love the most striking gifts are nothing (13:1-3). Gifts are not proof of spiritual health: Jesus warned of some who prophesied and did wonders in his name and were never known by him (Matthew 7:22-23). The order is, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Christians disagree about whether the miraculous gifts continue. Cessationists hold that gifts such as tongues and miracles authenticated the apostles and ceased with their age. Continuationists hold that Paul expected them to last until Christ returns (13:8-12), while insisting they be tested by Scripture. Both sides agree that every believer is gifted and that gifts exist to serve others.
- Strong's Greek 5486, chárisma: "a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e....".
- John Calvin, The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, "Chapter 8. of the power of the church in articles of faith. the...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Spiritual gifts are God empowering His people through the Holy Spirit for kingdom life and service, enabling them in attitude and action to live and minister in a manner which glorifies Christ.
Bob Kauflin
in Spiritual Gifts - Pitfalls to Avoid and Paths to Pursue
Listen at 1:38
Spiritual gifts are basically the manifestation of the Spirit.
Bob Hoekstra
in The Church: How Jesus Builds It #3 - Gifts and Fruit in Ministry
Listen at 11:34
You see, spiritual gifts are for the good of other believers.
Denis Lyle
in Look Who's Talking - Speaking Gifts
Read in context
The gifts of the Spirit are compared in 1 Corinthians 12 to the organs of the human body - the eye, the ear, the hands and the feet.
Zac Poonen
in Becoming a Blessing
Read in context
The gifts of the Spirit are given to people who are elect according to the Sovereign will of God, who by His Spirit divides to every man severally as He will.
Samuel Chadwick
in The Holy Spirit Is Himself a Gift
Read in context
And spiritual gifts are given that we may live in the spiritual world, that is, the Church, the Assembly, the Fellowship, the Body of Christ.
Stephen Kaung
in Spiritual Gifts
Listen at 17:18
Spiritual gifts are not a limited and defined group of activities spelled out in the New Testament.
John Piper
in Spiritual Gifts
Read in context
But the gifts of the Spirit are imparted after the gift of the Spirit.
Charles S. Price
in Concerning Spiritual Gifts
Read in context
Spiritual gifts are important to the believer.
Warren Wiersbe
in Concerning Spiritual Gifts: Foundation Facts About Spiritual Gifts
Listen at 8:51
What Scripture says
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 12:11 dividing to every man severally as he will
- 1 Peter 4:10 as every man has received the gift, so minister it
- Ephesians 4:11-12 for the edifying of the body of Christ
- 1 Corinthians 14:1 follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts
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