The Gifts of Jesus
May God bless and guide us as we come to the heart of what Paul has been addressing concerning who we are as the body of Christ!
It is obvious from the amount of time Paul has spent using the analogy of the human body to describe the church, that there were many issues facing the Christians in Corinth. There were those who were being elevated above others because of their own prideful view of their status. There were others who felt that they were of lesser value because they held a lower or no position. The church had truly adopted the values of the world and it was causing both hurt and disfunction in the body.
Paul now reveals there are positions and in a since, he ranks them in priority, but he closes by opening the way to understand the purpose of the different positions.
Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Look at the list Paul gives, “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.” The fact that Paul uses a ranking, first, second, third, next, etc, reveals there are positions which are given by God. There are Apostles! We might say from our perspective there were Apostles! If you recall, when the Apostles were discussing the selection of a man to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, they set forth the criteria of who could be numbered among the Apostles. “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us - beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Acts 1:21-22
What did the Apostles require of the man to replace Judas and be numbered among the Apostles? A man who accompanied Jesus throughout His whole ministry, from His baptism to His ascension! So basically, once the first generation of Christians passed away, there were no more Apostles possible.
Matthias was added to the number of the Apostles, and then Paul by the selection of Jesus. Beyond them, the Church has historically not recognized any other Apostles in the official since. This does not mean that the term fell out of use. The term “apostle” simply means “one who is sent,” and many have been sent by the Church to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
The next term used is prophet! While we generally associate this term with the Old Testament prophets and their “prophecies” of the future coming of the Messiah, the prophets of antiquity spoke a timely message to the people of their day. The term used for prophet or prophesy has two meanings. One is to fore-tell the future and the second is to tell-forth the Word. Both are speaking God’s Word to God’s people! The point is that we do have prophets today. Those who are called by God to be the preachers of His Word. There are very few who are chosen to reveal future events for the age to come. The word prophet can correctly be applied to every preacher in every pulpit in the world.
Then, the following word, teacher, is used to identify a person God raises up who is gifted in giving instruction and direction to the Church. It is often used to speak of those who teach and train other leaders in the Church. Notice the progression continues downward in importance, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.
What do we see in the Church today? Sinful man reverses the order! Tongues become a proof of faith, the miraculous gifts are expected as proof God is present and working, and the role of the prophet and teacher has been diminished to the idea that anyone can simply do the functions required.
Let me be very clear! No one has the right to assume the role of preacher or teacher in the Church. The Church does not belong to us! The Church is the body of Christ, bought and paid for by the blood He shed on the cross. In the individual congregation, we believe God selects the pastor through the voice of people who are gathered to be the church in a particular place. So, even in the local congregation, a person cannot assume the role of pastor/preacher but must have the assent or approval of the body which they serve and to whom they are accountable.
So, what do we see? From one perspective the order given by Paul is turned upside down in priority and from another, there are those who elevate themselves because of the positions they hold or the gifts they possess. What has been forgotten by both sides of this equation is that all the gifts of God, all the positions established by God, all who are called by God and chosen by Him for service, all are to give themselves wholly to love those entrusted to their care. Be it the pastor of a congregation, the teacher with those being trained, or those gifted who are to be a blessing to the people in need. To be called by God is to be elevated to a position of being servant to all! It is never a call to be elevated above anyone!
Paul ends this section with a statement which opens the way to what he will reveal as the answer the people of Corinth need to hear, And I will show you an even better way, and with this he launches us into the section of 1 Corinthians which is the most familiar, the chapter on love!
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Russ
It is obvious from the amount of time Paul has spent using the analogy of the human body to describe the church, that there were many issues facing the Christians in Corinth. There were those who were being elevated above others because of their own prideful view of their status. There were others who felt that they were of lesser value because they held a lower or no position. The church had truly adopted the values of the world and it was causing both hurt and disfunction in the body.
Paul now reveals there are positions and in a since, he ranks them in priority, but he closes by opening the way to understand the purpose of the different positions.
Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Look at the list Paul gives, “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.” The fact that Paul uses a ranking, first, second, third, next, etc, reveals there are positions which are given by God. There are Apostles! We might say from our perspective there were Apostles! If you recall, when the Apostles were discussing the selection of a man to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, they set forth the criteria of who could be numbered among the Apostles. “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us - beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Acts 1:21-22
What did the Apostles require of the man to replace Judas and be numbered among the Apostles? A man who accompanied Jesus throughout His whole ministry, from His baptism to His ascension! So basically, once the first generation of Christians passed away, there were no more Apostles possible.
Matthias was added to the number of the Apostles, and then Paul by the selection of Jesus. Beyond them, the Church has historically not recognized any other Apostles in the official since. This does not mean that the term fell out of use. The term “apostle” simply means “one who is sent,” and many have been sent by the Church to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
The next term used is prophet! While we generally associate this term with the Old Testament prophets and their “prophecies” of the future coming of the Messiah, the prophets of antiquity spoke a timely message to the people of their day. The term used for prophet or prophesy has two meanings. One is to fore-tell the future and the second is to tell-forth the Word. Both are speaking God’s Word to God’s people! The point is that we do have prophets today. Those who are called by God to be the preachers of His Word. There are very few who are chosen to reveal future events for the age to come. The word prophet can correctly be applied to every preacher in every pulpit in the world.
Then, the following word, teacher, is used to identify a person God raises up who is gifted in giving instruction and direction to the Church. It is often used to speak of those who teach and train other leaders in the Church. Notice the progression continues downward in importance, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.
What do we see in the Church today? Sinful man reverses the order! Tongues become a proof of faith, the miraculous gifts are expected as proof God is present and working, and the role of the prophet and teacher has been diminished to the idea that anyone can simply do the functions required.
Let me be very clear! No one has the right to assume the role of preacher or teacher in the Church. The Church does not belong to us! The Church is the body of Christ, bought and paid for by the blood He shed on the cross. In the individual congregation, we believe God selects the pastor through the voice of people who are gathered to be the church in a particular place. So, even in the local congregation, a person cannot assume the role of pastor/preacher but must have the assent or approval of the body which they serve and to whom they are accountable.
So, what do we see? From one perspective the order given by Paul is turned upside down in priority and from another, there are those who elevate themselves because of the positions they hold or the gifts they possess. What has been forgotten by both sides of this equation is that all the gifts of God, all the positions established by God, all who are called by God and chosen by Him for service, all are to give themselves wholly to love those entrusted to their care. Be it the pastor of a congregation, the teacher with those being trained, or those gifted who are to be a blessing to the people in need. To be called by God is to be elevated to a position of being servant to all! It is never a call to be elevated above anyone!
Paul ends this section with a statement which opens the way to what he will reveal as the answer the people of Corinth need to hear, And I will show you an even better way, and with this he launches us into the section of 1 Corinthians which is the most familiar, the chapter on love!
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Russ
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