How to Understand the Gifts of the Spirit (Part 2)

Gifts of the Spirit (Part 2)

1^st Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-31; Romans 12:4-9

Introduction:

I have avoided any attempt, so far, to definitively describe the various gifts of the Spirit, partly because, as God reveals them in a believer, they are self-defining. They become obvious.

But we have a desire to “define” everything, and that is OK. Some of the gifts do require some clear definitions. Let’s read about the gifts, and consider what they each mean.

1^st Corinthians 12:8-10

⁸For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1^st Corinthians 12:28-31

²⁸And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Romans 12:4-9

⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; ⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. ⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

An Observation Regarding Gifts

Gifts are a manifestation of God working in a specific way through an individual. But the entire Body of Christ has a responsibility to God to be demonstrating the Character traits of Christ in our everyday lives. This is not “Gifting.” It is our Life.

Each of us is called to “grow up into Christ.” Ephesians 4:15. As we exercise whatever gifts have been entrusted to us, it allows other believers an easer path to growth as well. So, while we may not have “flashy” gifts, if we are doing what God has called us to do, we are blessing others and we are living in obedience to the Giver of our gifts.

The gifts are given for the edification (the “building up”) of the whole body. They are not there just for us to “feel good about them.” We all have the same core responsibilities, regardless of our individual gifts.

Spiritual Gifts Vs. Spiritual Responsibilities

(Most of the following is copied directly from the Nelson Study Bible:)

Spiritual gifts are extraordinary abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to a believer by which to build up and encourage and help the church. Even though such attributes as faith, teaching, and giving are considered “gifts,” all Christians are exhorted to develop these character “traits.”

Some Christians Are Given…	But All Believers Are Called…
Divinely supplied Wisdom (1^st Corinthians 12:8)	To Live Wisely (Romans 16:19, Ephesians 5:15, Colossians 4:5)
Divinely supplied Knowledge (1^st Corinthians 12:8)	To Grow in Knowledge 2^nd Peter 1:5
Extraordinary Faith (1^st Corinthians 12:9)	To Walk By Faith (2^nd Corinthians 5:7) and Abound In Faith (2^nd Corinthians 8:7) to Take Up The Shield Of Faith (Ephesians 6:16) and Pursue Faith (1^st Timothy 6:12: 2^nd Timothy 2:22)
Special Gifts of Teaching (1^st Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:7)	To Teach Others The Truths Of God (Matthew 28:20; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24)
Supernatural Ability to Help (1^st Corinthians 12:28)	To Serve One Another In Love, (Galatians 5:13) and To Minister To Others (Romans 12:7)
The Gift of Exhortation (Romans 12:8)	To Exhort One Another Daily (Hebrews 3:13)
The Gift of Giving (Romans 12:8)	To Give, Not Grudgingly Or Of Necessity (2^nd Corinthians 9:7)
The Gift of Mercy (Romans 12:8)	To Be Merciful (Luke 6:36. James 2:13)

**So, What Gifts Really Need Defining?**

Miracles—a display of supernatural power, changing physical reality in some way. Usually, miracles were done to meet a specific need, but they were ALWAYS to draw attention to the “person and message of God.” I say “were,” because there are many who teach that “miracles have ceased.”
They teach that that gift only existed during the time of the Apostles. I do not think that it can be Biblically proven that the miraculous sign gifts have ceased, so I will not go any further with this idea. I will, however, confess that I have never known anyone who genuinely possessed this gift, or any of the other “sign” gifts.
Healing—Same as above.
Various kinds of Tongues—these were (are) human languages, but not having been learned by the speaker. They are being used to give a message glorifying God, and drawing attention to Him, not to the speaker. The gift probably still exists, but in my experience, I have only seen it used falsely…not coming from God, as far as I can tell.
Interpretation of Tongues—same again. I have never known anyone who truly had this gift. That doesn’t prove anything. But, speaking from my own experience, I can say that everyone I have personally seen supposedly demonstrating this gift, was doing so falsely.
Discerning of Spirits—I am not even really sure what this gift is. Some people think it is “seeing demons,” or something similar. Perhaps it is the ability to “see through” what people are saying and doing on the outside to discern the reason behind the behavior, the “spirit” of the person involved. Possibly to discern the gifting of another person.

At the very least, it is a spiritual gift, not a natural ability. Acts 16 may beone example of a time when it was demonstrated. Paul discerned that the young woman following them around, and telling everyone that they were “servants of the Most High God, who are announcing to you the way of Salvation” was demon possessed. Does that mean that this gift is always used for that? Not necessarily. But it may be the ability to discern the source of teaching, whether (or not) from God, as well as other special situations.

Going Beyond Human Ability

Faith—some are gifted with supernatural faith. They can believe God when every circumstance shouts, “All is lost!” They are the ones saying, “Look what God is doing!” when all the rest of us only see impending doom. We all have chosen to believe God for salvation: that is saving faith. We all are called to believe God for daily living, and we all are commanded to learn to use the “Shield of Faith.” But there is a gift of Faith, that shines beyond the common faith upon which we all have laid our hands.

Prophecy and Preaching

In 1^st Corinthians 14:3, God states that “he who prophesies speaks to Exhortation, to Edification, and to Comfort.” In our culture we call that “preaching.” The word translated as “prophet” is the Greek word “profete.” It means “One who speaks for God.”

The King James Bible only uses the word “preaching” in the sense of proclaiming, or announcing. (1^st Corinthians 1:23 “We preach Christ Crucified…”) The word translated as “preacher” is “keruka:” a “declarer.” 2^nd Peter 2:5 says Noah was a “preacher of Righteousness.” Both Jesus and John the Baptist “declared” or “preached” the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Today’s pastors are called to “speak to Exhortation, Edification and Comfort.” We try to limit ourselves to speaking the Word of God, thus offering ourselves as a conduit for His Word. We seek His Wisdom as to what portion of His Word to present at any given time. We are at His mercy for the results.

Many times, I have arrived here, very unsure that the message I brought is what He wanted for that day. But frequently I get confirmation, either from circumstances or from other people that it was right on target. I have no way to discern that ahead of time. All I can do is go to God’s “sheep-food bin,” the Bible, and seek to fill my “bucket” with food for His Flock. Ultimately, He has to fill the backet. I am simply privileged to “carry the bucket.” That’s it!

What About “Declaring the Good News of Christ?”

We call that “evangelism.” If the job of the “Evangelist,” in Ephesians 4:11 is to “declare the Gospel,” then I have probably known several in that category. Everywhere they went, they led people to Christ. I have tried to be faithful to share the Gospel but usually it has met with “I’m not ready for that right now,” or some similar rejection of the message.

Ministry

“Ministry” simply means “serving.” We have confused the word in modern times, thinking it is a title of honor. (In Government, there are various “ministries” and no one seem to remember that a minister is a servant.) The word for “menial,” meaning a low position of servitude, has the same root as the word “minister.” If you reject “menial servitude,” then you are not a minister.

Teaching

Teaching transmits spiritual understanding from God’s Word to the willing heart. Teaching has not been accomplished, until learning occurs. This is not just the ability to “recite.” Rather, it is the ability to make it clear to the listener. It means listening to the questions and discerning what the real “missing piece” may be, so as to supply the “missing piece,” and produce understanding.

Giving

Some are gifted to give, freely, without hesitation. They also must be gifted with the wherewithal: they cannot give what they do not have. But they have the spiritual freedom from covetousness necessary to give from a free heart.

Exhortation

Exhortation can also be called “encouragement.” Some people are gifted to encourage others and to defend against despair or discouragement. They are vital to a healthy church.

Helps

Some are gifted to see a need and meet it, before others even see the need. By the time the rest of us wake up to the need, it has already been addressed by the helper.

Mercy

This goes along with Helps, in a way, but it is perhaps more geared to meeting emotional needs and meeting those needs with compassion, and without judgment.

Government, or Ruling

The “Bishops, Overseers, Elders, Presbytery, Pastors or Shepherds, (plural) are the assigned governing body of each local church. 1^st Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17. We may dislike that concept, but it truly is one of the gifts, though difficult and sometimes stressful. Fortunately, in this church, it has usually been a blessing and a joy.

Love, Above All

I think you can see how all these gifts contribute to a healthy Church. What binds them all together? Romans 12:9 says “Let Love be without dissimulation…” Don’t be a “phony” where the agapé love is concerned.

Allow the Lord to Love through you, so that the gifts He has given will be what shines, and so that HE will shine through you!

Lord Jesus, let us learn to Love You above all else, so that we learn how You intend to use us in Your Work. Allow us to serve, as the true Body of Christ.

January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

How to Understand the Gifts of the Spirit (Part One)

Gifts of the Spirit (Part One)

1^st Corinthians 12:7-18; Romans 12

Introduction

Over the last two weeks, we examined the Gifts of God, then the Gifts of Christ. Now we will begin to examine the Gifts of the Spirit. There is a partial list, here in 1^st Corinthians 12. There is another such list in Romans 12:4-8. The ones in 1^st Corinthians tend to be the “sign gifts,” or at least those that require divine manifestation. The ones in Romans are more given to service to God, and help to one another. We humans are far more interested in the “sign gifts,” and things that “smack of the miraculous.” But that may easily be from a wrong motive.

Remember that God gave the signs primarily for the Jews, and universally, he gave them to direct people’s attention to the Person of Christ and the Message of Christ. Jesus only healed one man at the Pool of Bethesda, though there were many there, seeking healing. He healed that one (on the Sabbath) to initiate a conflict between His message and that of the Pharisees and temple rulers: Theirs was a stance of 100% legal standing, and even that from wrong motives. His was a message of salvation, healing, rest, and redemption…Grace.

He was fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah. The hearers and those who witnessed the healings had a choice to make: Embrace the Gospel of the Kingdom, and its King, along with His healings, preaching, etc. or cling to the traditions of the elders, and reject the Person who brought life. The miracle served to bring the message into focus.

A Personal Example

On numerous occasions, I have prayed, “Lord, if You would give me the gift of healings, I would empty hospitals!” (And the answer immediately came to me: “Right! That is why you don’t have it! That is not the purpose of the gift!)

Everyone eventually dies, often of some final disease. The miraculous healings never eliminated illness or death: they only drew attention to the message of Salvation! Jesus didn’t raise all the dead, during His earthly ministry: He raised three that we know of, or maybe four, thus demonstrating His authority over Death. So, what is the purpose of the Gifts?

What Does God Say About It?

⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ⁸For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The Purpose of the Gifts

⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Other translations say, “…for the common welfare.” The idea is that God gives every single believer one or more gifts by which the whole body of Christ is to profit in some way. In this chapter, we find that “there is one Body of Christ”, and every single believer is a part of that one Body, and every single member has a function. We are all designed to function. God calls no one to “just attend church,” but, rather, we are all called to personally serve the Lord Jesus, and to be a blessing to those around us.

We already learned elsewhere (Romans 8:9, John 14:16, 1^st Corinthians 6:19, etc.) that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, so the only question before us now, is, “What should I expect in terms of function, because I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit?”

Paul gives a list (again, not exhaustive), of types of “gifts of the Spirit.”

God Chooses The Gifts

Notice that God gives all the gifts as “He” (the Holy Spirit) wills. We do not get to “choose.”

¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Paul’s Examples

Paul lists a number of gifts, as examples, with the intent of demonstrating that all are for the Body’s general health and function. They are not for the glory of the individual believer. God does not give the gifts for our own enjoyment: They are for the blessing and health of the whole Body of Christ. I am not attempting to give a “scholarly discourse” on the meaning and function of every gift, here, today, but I do want to use this same figure of a “body” in a slightly more graphic way.

A Modern Demonstration

Consider a single cell, taken from a living human body: From an athlete, an inventor, a teacher, a fashion model, or any other person, common or uncommon. But let’s say that it is a cell from the body of someone who is extraordinary in some way: the reason for their status is immaterial.

The point is that this single cell, examined under a powerful microscope, displays none of the characteristics of “greatness” that we saw in the tissue donor. It will simply look like a tiny, ugly, nondescript, essentially shapeless, and seemingly useless blob of tissue. That is a simple fact.

What is Inside is the Key!

But, it is also a fact, that, regardless of the location within the body, where you obtained the sample, whether from the brain, the nasal mucous membrane, the stomach lining, or whatever, every single cell from that same human body has, in its nucleus, the entire genetic code for the whole body. Ponder on that idea, for a moment, and consider how it might apply to the relationship between an individual believer and the whole Body of Christ:

God designed that particular cell (from a human body) for a single task: to produce a specific endocrine, perhaps, or, to help form one of the protective layers of the skin. But that cell, along with all the other cells, collectively made up the whole body from which it was taken, and, along with the collective experience of the whole body, together, they produced the person.

What about the Body of Christ? Each individual believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and, in fact, according to John 14:15-23, we can safely say that we are each indwelt by the entire Trinity, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. We each, then, individually possess the key (the code) to what makes the entire Body of Christ what it is…we have Christ! (See Ephesians 3:17)

And collectively, we are the Bride of Christ, (though incomplete, as yet) and collectively, we are being built into the Temple of God, though, for now, we are scattered across time and space.

What Do I Need to Know?

I don’t need to know how all the gifts work together: a single cell, which, along with others like it, comprises a hair follicle, for example, knows nothing about the function of the neurons to which it is connected. But those neurons connect it to the brain, and if a tiny weight, even a fruit-fly, lands on the hair that follicle has produced, the brain will sense it, and make a decision as to whether the touch is a threat, an irritant, or something which may safely be ignored.

**Is It Fun to Have the Gift of the Spirit?**

Not always! The prophet Jeremiah had an incredibly unsatisfying ministry: He knew God selected him as a prophet (though he embraced the gift very reluctantly, as he didn’t feel qualified.) He was a “mouthpiece for God,” to speak to the unbelieving, backsliding house of Judah. But, as far as we know, during his ministry, only two people believed his messages.

Did that mean he was ineffective, or even a “failure,” perhaps? No, it just means that humanity, as a whole, rejects the word of God, on a habitual basis. The false prophets of his time were quite popular, by comparison. (Give that some thought! Do you think that might be true today?)

Consider Ezekiel’s case: he always brought only what God said. But, it turned out that the people came to him for the entertainment value, not because they were receptive to the Word of God. (Ezekiel 33:30-32) They had no television, so they went to listen to Ezekiel!

Your gifting may not be particularly obvious, and may not result in human praise. Our calling is to do what God calls us to do: be a blessing to one another in ways that will profit the body of Christ, which will help or bless those in our circle of associates, and which, above all else, will honor God.

Sometimes it will be very satisfying, sometimes less so. Some of the gifts are fairly obvious, some are not. If you commit yourself to honoring God, and serving Him with your life, then He will reveal how he intends for you to function at your best. That does not mean that you will only do that one thing.

Consider Paul

Paul was an Apostle, and a teacher, and a prophet, I suppose we could say; but he was also a tentmaker; and when God required it of him, he served in that capacity.

Did people honor him, in that capacity? Well, I suppose we could say so; at least enough so that he earned enough money at it, for himself and his entourage to proceed with their journey. But, did they honor him as an apostle?

Sometimes…But sometimes they physically and verbally attacked him: they savagely beat him, stoned, whipped, and imprisoned him. Nearly everywhere he went, they verbally abused him, and, eventually, they executed him! Was he faithful to God? Yes, absolutely!

Was he always happy and comfortable in the process? I don’t think so! He suffered physical pain, and mistreatment many times, and he was grieved at the misbehavior of other believers, and sometimes of other apostles. He wept for the ones not obeying the Lord, just as Jeremiah did, and he asked to be relieved of a particular physical ailment, and was denied.

God told him that the ailment made it clear that God was the source of the power and life-changing message, not the messenger. Paul accepted God’s decree and he chose to rejoice in the ailment, knowing that it brought greater glory to God and made his own ministry stronger.

We will continue to examine the spiritual gifts, next week. Until then, if you want to read ahead, read Romans 12:4-8, and review 1^st Corinthians 12:7-18

Lord Jesus, focus our attention on You, the Giver, instead of the gifts themselves, as being of primary importance. Help us to understand Your Word, and to apply it to our own lives in a manner that honors You.

January 10, 2026January 10, 2026

Learn How to Understand the Gifts of Christ

How to Understand the Gifts of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-16

**Gifts given by Christ**

These are “Office Gifts”, or “Ministry Gifts” to the Church

Introduction:

Jesus gave some gifts to the Church (as opposed to individuals.) His gifts are not exhaustively listed in this passage, but this particular type of gift is exhaustively listed here. The “ministry gifts” or “office gifts:” These gifts are people who have been gifted to serve. They serve either the universal church (the church-at-large) or the local assembly, each in a particular way.

The gifts named here, under the title, “the gift of Christ” are all ministry gifts, and specifically, “office” gifts. This is in the sense that, the person holds that “office” within the church. He is there for the benefit of the whole church. The four gifts are not a “hierarchy” of church authority: they simply have different functions.

What Are the Gifts?

¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets, and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

He Gave Some Apostles

The Apostles are named first, but it cannot mean just the original eleven apostles, nor even Paul and the Eleven. There are other apostles named in the book of Acts, including Barnabas, Apollos, and possibly Aquila and Priscilla. So, it has a broader meaning than we may like.

The word “Apostle,” (“apostolos”) means, “sent one.” It is a specific office in the Universal church (all the believers within the church age.) Most people believe this gift to have ended sometime soon after the book of Acts was completed. (Or, perhaps, whenever the last original Apostles finally died, about the end of the first century.) From my experience alone, I might tend to agree. I don’t know of anyone in history, after that time, who was “clearly identifiable” as an apostle.

Some teach that, “Only the Apostles could write down the Word of God.”

That is false teaching: Only four of the Apostles (Matthew, Peter, John, and Paul) even wrote scripture. All the other writers of the New Testament were not called Apostles, in scripture. The “James” of the epistle was evidently Jesus’s physical half-brother, not “James, the Apostle,” who was martyred much earlier. And Jude was another of his brothers. Mark is the same young man (John Mark) who was rejected for ministry by Paul. But he was salvaged, and taught discipleship by Barnabas.

The Time-Clause

However: Verse 13 gives the “time-clause,” the service period for all four of the “gifts of Christ” . It says, “till we all come in the unity of the faith…etc.”

I don’t think anyone suggests that we already have “all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

So, there’s a possibility that apostles exist today. If they do, I would suggest that they are among the missionaries “sent” by God to reach people who have never heard the Gospel. Is there authority attached to that office? If you restrict it to the original twelve (including Paul) then, yes, there was. There did seem to be an “Apostolic Authority” given to the Eleven, and to Paul.

If “apostles” includes church-planters throughout the 2000 years following the death of Christ, then I would guess it does not carry special authority, unless there is some sort of a “hidden authority” that we don’t see. I have known many church-planters and missionaries, and none of them claimed any such authority.

And, of course, it is possible that the “until” in v.13 does not actually indicate a time period, but rather a directive, only meaning “to the effect that.” But the Greek word translated “till” or “until” is “mechris,” and every single time it is used in the New Testament, it is translated “till, until, or up to”, in a “time” sense. As the things attached to it in this passage have not yet happened, I have to conclude that, in the sense Paul meant it, it has yet to be completed or fulfilled. You can make of that what you will….

Some Prophets

Prophets are a little easier, as a concept. The word “prophet” only means “someone who speaks for God:” a “mouthpiece, or spokesman, for God.” In the Old Testament, and through the book of Acts, it usually also carried the idea of predicting the future. But that was only a small part of the work of a prophet:

In 1^st Corinthians 14:3 and other places, Paul states that the current ministry of prophecy “…speaks to exhortation, edification and comfort.” That is called “preaching,” in our culture. Those who are called by God to encourage, build up and comfort the believers from the Word of God, thus, speaking for God, are the usual New Testament prophets. There are definite instructions given to them, as to how they are to carry out their work. There are also definite instructions given to others, as to how to respond to them.

Some Problems

Some have declared, on the strength of 1^st Corinthians 13, that prophecy has also ceased to exist. They say the phrase “when the perfect comes” means the completed scriptures, and that prophecy has therefore ceased. There is nothing in that passage (or any other) to suggest that this is what is in view. My first guess would be that the “perfect” is not the scriptures, but the Church—when the church is complete, there will be no further need for that gift. But the problem with that is that there will be a huge flock of prophets that arise during the Great Tribulation, after the completion of the Church. So that doesn’t really fit either. So, what is left?

Take a look at the rest of the passage: it says, “…now we know in part and prophesy in part, but when the perfect is come, then that which is imperfect shall be done away…Now we see through a glass, dimly, but then face-to-face! And, Now I know in part, but then shall I know (fully) even as also I am (fully) known.”

Does anyone today really think they have seen Jesus face-to-face? Or; do they know Christ as completely as He knows them? If not, then I would say that the “Perfect” has not come. What is that “Perfect”? I think it has to be Christ, returned in the flesh, and reigning on earth, or possibly the completion of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Some Evangelists

Notice that the gift is not “evangelism” but “Evangelists.” Evangelism, the job of carrying the Gospel to others, belongs to the whole church: that is our stated task, for life. But an “evangelist” seems to be a person with a special gift for evangelism. Unfortunately, there is very little said about such people in the Bible.

We remember Phillip as “the evangelist.” We can see that he did take the Gospel everywhere he went, with great success.

Titus and Timothy

But in 2^nd Timothy 4:5, Paul told Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.” The specific things he was also told to do, were to “strengthen the churches” and “to ordain elders (plural) in every church (singular.)”

He and Titus were given nearly identical tasks. But only Timothy was told to “do the work of an evangelist.” If the instructions to Timothy and Titus are characteristic of an Evangelist, then perhaps our modern-day view of an “evangelist” is somewhat skewed by our cultural viewpoint.

Present Day Contrast

Possibly men like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham, etc. are not what God calls evangelists. Perhaps an evangelist is supposed to have an itinerant ministry, going from area to area, preaching, teaching and ordaining leaders in local assemblies as needed. A person who trains up leaders within the local assembly, and then moves on, might be what is called an evangelist, in God’s Word.

So, What is an Evangelist?

Notice that both Timothy and Titus were told to get the job done and to report back to Paul. They did not have a stationary ministry. The Elders, on the other hand (See Acts 20:28) were told to stay put, and to feed that flock! I won’t quibble over someone being called an evangelist: there simply isn’t enough information to be certain: But if the work of (and the gift of ) an evangelist is just to “excel at evangelism,” then I have no problem with that definition being applied to anyone who seems to fit that description.

I have actively shared the Gospel of Christ with those around me for many years, but very few have responded in faith. So, I would guess that I am not an Evangelist. However, that does not release me from the job of evangelism: It is still the stated life-purpose of all believers.

Think: Of all the things we are to do as believers, what is the only thing which could not be “better done in heaven,” after we no longer have our earthly flesh and our old sin natures? We will certainly love more fervently, and we will worship from a purer heart, and we will obey perfectly. But we will never again share the Gospel with an unbeliever after we leave this earth. Only the living members of the Body of Christ have that privilege: Even the angels can’t do that work, in this age: (See Acts 10:1-6 the Angel said “…send for a man…”)

Some Pastors and Teachers

There seems to be “one office” meant by the joint term, “pastor and teacher.” The words for pastor, elder, and overseer, (alternately translated as “shepherd, presbyter, and bishop”) are all applied to the same group of men. The Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17, 28) are called all three: Paul called the elders (same word as presbyters…always plural) of the church (singular) at Ephesus (v. 17), and told them (v.28) that the Holy Spirit has made them overseers (same word as “bishops”), and then he told them to “feed” the flock of God. (the Greek word is “poimaine:” shepherd) Finally, he says they are to protect the flock against “wolves”—false teachers).

In 1^st Timothy 3:1-8, where Timothy is given instructions about ordaining elders, he is told that an elder has to be a teacher. There is no “office” of “teacher” in the local assembly: The elders are all supposed to be gifted to teach, whether they do so every week or not. Therefore, I see this as a joint gift, though there are teachers who are not called to shepherd the flock, but just teach.

Jesus used two different words when he confronted Peter about his ambivalence toward the job he had been assigned. He said “feed” my sheep, and “tend” my sheep. The word “bosko” is translated as “feed” and means just that. The word “poimaine” is translated as “shepherd, or tend”, and, as we saw earlier, it includes the entire skill-set of shepherding a flock, as laid out in Ezekiel 34:1-10.

The Seven Tasks Are:

Feed the Flock
Strengthen the diseased
Heal the sick
Bind up that which is broken
Bring back that which was driven away
Seek the Lost, and
Protect from predators (implied, here; spelled out in Acts 20:28)

It is a tough job…and it is always to be carried out by a team of two or more: never just one man. Diotrephes (See 3^rd John 9, 10) is the only counterexample in scripture…and a bad one.

Shepherds and Teachers

Interestingly, it is possible for a “shepherd” to not be an elder, or an overseer. A shepherd feeds the flock, and cares for the flock. Usually, that person is also an overseer, but not always. But an overseer must also be a shepherd: and an elder must be a teacher.

These people are the “gifts of Christ” to the church, and their job is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry. They are called to lead by example (1^st Peter 5:3), and not to simply “dictate” what the believers are to do. If a shepherd wants to see the flock behave in a certain way, then he and his team had better behave that way, themselves!

Shepherds as Sheep

The fact that they are to train the saints for the work of ministry does not release them from the work of the ministry, themselves; but it definitely means that they are not the only ones called to the work. The work of the ministry is the calling of the whole body of Christ, and we will talk more thoroughly about it later. In the meanwhile, the overall result of all of the “gifts of Christ” is as follows in verses 12-16. The office gifts are given,

¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

(Why?)

¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The rest of the gifts (plural, usually) named in the New Testament are given by the Holy Spirit, to all born-again individuals: Those who have received Eternal Life from God, through Jesus Christ.

Next week we hope to begin examining those gifts.

Lord Jesus, draw us along as Your followers, to be true disciples walking with You and earnestly desiring to be taught by Your Word. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit, and keep us from sin. Allow us to serve as Your hands and Feet, speaking as You speak, Loving as You love, and seeing the fallen World through Your Eyes,

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026

How to Refocus on the Gifts of God For the New Year

Re-Focus on the Gifts of God For the New Year

John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1^st Peter 1:3; 2^nd Peter 1:2-4; James 1:17

Introduction:

Last week we spoke briefly about the whole concept of “spiritual gifts.” We observed that God structured an outline of sorts, in 1^st Corinthians 12, that there are many gifts, but one Spirit, etc.

1^st Corinthians 12:4-6 reads, ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Since there are more gifts of God listed in the various scriptures we will read today, and since the majority of the gifts of God are unconditional, I would like to begin by re-focusing our attention upon the Gifts of God, as we begin the New Year.

The “Gift of God” (Singular)

All of us have heard on multiple occasions, the verse we know as “John 3:16” where it says that the manner in which God demonstrated His love toward us is “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That means Jesus is the Gift. He is the Central Gift that makes all others possible.

Because of that “Central Gift,” the latter half of Romans 6:23 became a reality. (The first half was already true!) “The wages of sin is death (already true!) but the GIFT of God is Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!” This latter half is a living reality today, for whoever chooses to place their faith in Jesus for salvation.

Salvation is not earned…at any level! If your “good works” are involved at any point in securing your salvation (getting saved or staying saved) then ultimately, your salvation depends entirely upon your works, because, without question, your works will always be the “weakest link.”

But God spells it out for us in Ephesians 2:8, 9. He says, “By Grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourself, it (the salvation) is the Gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Paul also reiterates the point, in Galatians 2:21, saying “I do not frustrate the Grace of God, for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (The point being that, if it is at ALL possible for our works to save us, then Jesus died needlessly.)

So, How is that “Central Gift” Implemented?

Acts 16:31 assures us that it is very simple: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!”

And John 1:11-13 says,“¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power (authority…the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Born of God!)

Everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus: (Everyone who trusts in His finished work at the Cross, for salvation,) immediately is reborn as a child of God: they are His legitimate offspring.

1^st Peter 1:3 says that “God has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” He sired you! You are his genuine offspring, in Christ! He is your REAL Father!

At that moment, another thing took place as well: The Holy Spirit placed you into the Body of Christ. (1^st Corinthians 12:13 literally says, He immersed you…baptized you…into the Body of Christ, so that you are permanently identified with Him in every area! (His righteous life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement. See Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:6)

And then, from that moment forward, all the other Gifts of God could take hold in your life!

The “Gifts of God” (Plural)

To every believer, God says that He has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly places, “In Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) Then He lists about sixteen more things:

If you have placed your dependence upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, then:

You were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. (v.4)
You are holy and blameless before him, in His Love. (v.4)
You are predestined to be recognized as a full heir of God. (v.5; compare Romans 8:23)
You are predestined to fulfill the good pleasure of His will (v.5)
You are predestined to be to the praise of the Glory of His Grace. (v.6)
You are already accepted in the beloved (that is, “in Christ”). (v.6)
You already have been redeemed through His blood. (v.7)
You already have full forgiveness of your sins, according to the riches of His Grace. (v.7)
God has already abundantly blessed you in His wisdom and prudence. (v.8)
He has made known unto you the mystery of His will…one piece at a time. (v.9, 10)
Your inheritance in Him is secure. (v.11)
You will eternally be to his glory and praise. (v.12)
Your position in Him is sealed by the Holy Spirit. (v.13)
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the earnest or “down payment” of the rest of the glorious inheritance promised to you.
You are absolutely secure in Christ because He says so, (John 10:27-30) and because
The Holy Spirit is your guide, your guard and your seal until the redemption of the purchased possession. (v.14) (See also John 14:16-23; 1^st John 4:4)

Precious Gifts

I count all those to be precious gifts: And the most precious thing about that list is that every one of them is unconditionally yours as a believer. They do not depend upon you walking by faith, or somehow “keeping your end of the bargain.” (Here’s some more good news for you: There IS no “your end of the bargain.” Jesus did it all at the Cross! You did not enter into Christ by good works, and you cannot leave by bad works! Your works have nothing to do with the Gift of God!

In fact, in Romans 8:38, 39, He also points out that “no created thing can separate you from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus!” Some people suggest that “Well, while Jesus will not cast you out, you could still walk out!” My reply is to have them read Romans 8:38, 39. I ask, “Is that God’s Word?” (They reply, “Yes!”) I then ask them, “Are YOU a created thing? Are you part of the Creation?” That frequently seems to be a new idea to them, so I leave it for them to draw the obvious conclusion.

More Gifts of God (2^nd Peter 1:2-7)

Some of the Gifts of God are not unconditional: They are still gifts, but they could possibly be thought of as “goals,” in that He made it all possible for us, but we have to learn to walk in them for them to be effective.

2^nd Peter 1:2-4 says,

²Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Verse two gives us the underlying caveat: “if you want these gifts, they are only available through pursuing the (ginosko) “knowledge” of (an ongoing, experiential, living relationship with the Father and the Son.”

Verse three says that God has already given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. No believer is re-born a “spiritual cripple” who is “lame from re-birth.” In your new self, you have been given the ability to choose to walk with Jesus. Because you have come to know Him, you have access to all the rest.

How Does it Work?

How? Verse four tells us how we are to see these realities worked out in our lives: He has given us “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises!” Peter says that by means of those promises in God’s Word, we have the privilege of beginning to partake in the character, and nature of God, Himself: And, in so doing, we escape the corruption that is in the World through the ungodly desires of our old nature. In reality, this is part of our inheritance in Christ: we are His real children, and we should expect to grow into His likeness.

Collectively, the desires of the World and those of our old natures are completely in opposition to all that God is. His Righteousness and Holiness are utterly repugnant to the World, and to our old Sin Nature.

We escape the corruption of the world and of the flesh by applying God’s Word to our lives. Diligent application of His Word produces further results: We could think of them as “goals.”

The Goals (2^nd Peter 1:5-7)

Diligence in applying the “exceeding great and precious promises” as well as the rest of the admonitions, corrections and encouragements in God’s Word will produce the following things:

⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

So, There are Seven Things to Look For:

Virtue
Knowledge
Temperance
Patience
Godliness
Brotherly kindness
Charity (Agapé love)

Please note that all of these seven things are still under the condition Jesus spelled out in John 15:5, saying “apart from me ye can do nothing.” Is it possible to produce a “cheap imitation” of each of these things by our own efforts? Certainly, it is!

But all these things, if produced by the flesh, (our old sin nature) are also contaminated by the flesh. The Old Self is not only corrupt, but is continually being corrupted. So, for the realities of each of these values to be born in us, they have to be coming from an ongoing walk with Jesus, in full fellowship with Him. He has to be the source and the power. (Philippians 2:13)

God’s Perfect Gifts

In light of that truth, James 1:17 seems especially appropriate: “¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

The real gift is not wavering or “on-again-off-again.” If it is from God, it is not preferential as to who and how the Love of God is applied: it simply does as the Lord directs, and with Joy.

There are other passages referencing the Gifts of God: Many of them overlap the gifts called the “Gifts of the Spirit, or Gifts of Christ.” That is not surprising: the Holy Spirit is God! Jesus is God! So, the “labels” may often overlap.

(I am not going to waste time by attempting to explain the Trinity in human terms: I do not claim to understand that mystery, But God clearly states it in His Word, so I am required to faithfully teach it.)

Next week, we hope to address the “Gifts of Christ.” If you want to read ahead, the main four are listed along with their purpose, in Ephesians 4:7-16.

Lord Jesus, Savior, God: Help us to focus on YOU, the giver of all good gifts, and not to be distracted by the “flash and glitter” of the exciting “sign gifts.” Help us to learn to walk in the unconditional gifts You have given, so that the conditional gifts and goals will also be ours.

December 31, 2025December 31, 2025

How to Understand Biblical Adoption vs. The New Birth

Biblical Adoption vs. The New Birth

So, What is The Problem With “Adoption?” (As Opposed to “Re-birth?”)

Adoption by human standards always involves taking legal and relational responsibility for someone who is not your child.

Obviously, adoption by human standards could never produce a new nature: birth provides a nature, and the New Birth produces a new nature.

Adoption by human standards can never produce an individual who carries God’s “genetic information.” 1^st Peter 1:3 says that “God has ‘begotten us again’… through the resurrection of Jesus.” He sired us…we are conceived as a new creature, and born again with a new nature which is “created in the likeness of God, in righteousness and true Holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

In John 3:3, Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (Not, “Except a man be adopted by God….”)

But, Ephesians 1:5 says that as believers, we are now “predestined to the adoption of sons” unto God, by Jesus Christ.

**So, What is the Adoption all About?**

We are told in five places in scripture about our adoption: Ephesians 1:5 is one such place. (Galatians 4:5, Romans 9:4, Romans 8:15, and Romans 8:23 are the others.) In fact, Ephesians 1:5 is also often misused to claim that we were predestined to become God’s Children. But the predestination is only for believers, and to become “Sons” of God (His publicly declared heirs) not just His offspring.

Unfortunately, there are several instances where a translation uses the word “sons” when “children” or “offspring” would have been correct.

In John 1:11-13, we see that as believers we were given the right (authority: “exousia”) to become (be generated as: “genesthe”) the Children (“teknoi”) of God. But many translations say, “He gave us the power to become the Sons of God.” On the other hand, everyone who was regenerated as a child of God (His offspring) is also guaranteed to become a Son: a full-grown heir of God.

This seems confusing to us, in Western culture. But in Greek or Roman culture, a rich man might have plural wives, thus numerous offspring, but only one would be named his heir…the one inheriting all his wealth and his authority.

In Genesis 24, Isaac was named the heir of Abraham, so that ALL the wealth Abraham had, now belonged to Isaac, and was under his authority. Interestingly, when the servant returned with the Bride, he reported to Isaac, not Abraham.

So, When Will Our “Adoption” Occur?

Romans 8:23 gives us the answer. Paul says that we (and the whole creation) are all waiting for the “Adoption of Sons” (“huiothesis”)…the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:14-17 says, we currently have the Spirit of Adoption, and that, positionally, we are His Sons. But the “Placement of Sons” (“Huiothesis”… always translated as “adoption”) will occur when we receive our newly redeemed bodies.)

What About the New Birth?

This is not a poetic way of saying “And, I started over, right then!”

It is not at all what John Denver described, in his song, “Rocky Mountain High.” He said his first exposure to the Rocky mountains was a life-changing experience. He sang, “He was born in the summer of his 27^th year, coming home to a place he’d never been before…He left yesterday behind him, You might say he was born again…”

(Well, No! I wouldn’t!)

Rebirth requires a new parenting…a new Father. And it implies a familial relationship by rebirth, We did not “join a team,” or even “join a family.” We were sired by God, and born into His family.

In 1^st John 3:9, God says of His little children (teknoi…offspring) that we cannot continue in sin, because His seed (genetic information…DNA, essentially) remains in us so that we cannot continue in our old way of life.

That could not happen through our human understanding of adoption. It required the new birth, with God as our literal Father…. So that we are literally His offspring. You are his child by birth…the second birth!

December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

How to Understand the Spiritual Realities and Gifts

Introducing The Spiritual Realities and Gifts

1^st Corinthians 12:1-14

Introduction:

In 1^st Corinthians chapters 1-11, Paul corrected a number of serious issues in the Corinthian Church. But now in chapter 12, (also corrective teaching) he goes back to the foundation of our existence in the Body of Christ. He shows how He put us there, and the results of the Holy Spirit having placed us there.

¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

We should compare John 4:23, 24. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Spiritual Reality

Jesus told the Woman at the Well that God seeks those who worship from their spirit, and in complete truth. So, it is important that Paul not allow the Corinthian believers to remain ignorant. They would have no standard by which to measure “truth” or “falsehood.” It is also important that they understand there is such a thing as “Spiritual Reality:” Not all claims of “spiritual things” are true.

A woman once showed me a large painting her daughter had made. I could describe it as “ethereal.” It had swirls of cloudy, nearly shapeless, ascending color. But she claimed it was a “very spiritual” painting. I saw it as rather creepy modern art, with zero spiritual value. I had already attempted to share Christ with her. She had no interest. So, I said nothing in reply: I only nodded politely.

But there is a Spiritual Reality. And that is what God wants in us.

Spiritual Falsehood

Paul gave an example of spiritual falsehood. He said, ²Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

The word “dumb” here, means speechless. The idols were wood, stone or metal carvings. They had no life in them, no ability to give life, to move, or even to speak. Paul says that they were led to those idols by others. The spiritual lies tied to those idols enslaved them.

We know of the spiritual enslavement the people of the Dom tribe have escaped through Christ. They lived their lives in fear of the evil spirits associated with their fetishes and taboos. The Gospel came to them through Jim and Judy Burdett, and The Holy Spirit set them free from that fear: They learned to live the Reality of their relationship with Jesus.

Falsehood and Reality

³Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

It seems clear that a true believer, speaking by the Spirit of God, will never malign the Lord Jesus. We have no trouble with the first statement: But the second clause is another matter.

People often used this verse attempting to “sort out false brethren.” They had the idea that it is “physically impossible” to say “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. So, they made a person “repeat those words,” as some sort of “proof of Spiritual Reality.”

However: Many unbelievers also quote this passage. They “repeated those words” as “proof” that God’s Word is not true. So, we seem to have a problem! And the problem is not whether God’s Word is true: The problem is whether we understand it correctly.

Compare Scripture with Scripture

Remember what Jesus told the Woman at the Well: “God seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth!” And while unbelievers can verbally, orally say that “Jesus is the Lord,” their spirit will continue to control their actions (and their other words) in such a way as to give the lie to that statement. They did not say it “in spirit and in truth.” They are “mouthing good words,” but it means nothing to them. Their “good words” are cloaking an evil, unrepentant heart. They know that we think it is impossible to “say those words” apart from the Holy Spirit. So, they are deliberately seeking to deceive us by their use of those words.

A Practical Example

I knew a missionary, many years ago, who told me how an unbeliever (in a primarily Muslim nation) accosted him at a bus stop or some similar location: He said, “You Christians say that no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit! Well, ‘Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!’ What do you say to that??”

The challenge shocked and surprised the missionary. He never saw the man before. He had no idea why the man chose to challenge him. The missionary looked off to one side and saw a group of Muslim men chatting on a street corner. So, he shouted to them, “Hey! This man says that Jesus is the Lord!” The men turned and looked at the man, who now was frozen in terror: He turned and sprinted away into the crowd, and in moments, he had disappeared. You see, the statement had held zero truth in him, and his behavior immediately revealed his spiritual reality.

We are trying to determine spiritual reality. A false spirit will eventually show itself, either through behavior or through heretical teaching, designed to turn people away from the Gospel.

What about the Gifts?

⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Notice that there seems to be a division, here: A separation of ideas. He calls out three categories of Gifts:

Gifts (gifts of the Spirit)
Administrations (gifts of Christ: the Lord)
Operations (gifts of God)

Do I think I understand all this? No! I don’t. But I must point out the stated structure as it is given. I cannot just set it aside and “ignore it,” because I’m not satisfied that I fully understand it.

God lists three different “sets” of gifts. We will see the “Gifts” called out as gifts of the Spirit in this chapter.

God lists some of the Gifts of the Lord, (Administrative gifts) in Ephesians 4:11-16. He says these gifts are people: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds and teachers. He gave them to raise up the believers into maturity as true disciples: they build children of God into true Followers of Jesus.

Some of the “Operations,” Gifts specifically attributed to God, we can see in 2^nd Peter 1:1-15, and in Ephesians 1:3-14. We can see that He gave many of these gifts unconditionally: They are ours whether or not we are actually walking with God in obedience. He gave others, however, as conditional gifts: goals to be pursued and added to, through diligent pursuit of the God who calls us to walk with Him and to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. They are still gifts, only available to believers, but we can neglect them and miss out on their blessing.

And What is the Purpose of ALL the Gifts?

⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Some translations render this sentence as, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”

NO gift of the Spirit is given for self-blessing, or entertainment, much less self-aggrandizement. All the gifts are for the blessing, help and profit of the entire assembly, and ultimately the broader Body of Christ. They are to produce unity and promote the Agapé love, never to produce pride, selfish behavior or division.

God warns us of false gifts in James 1:17-21 and of false wisdom in James 3:13-18.

A Partial List of Gifts

Some commentators deny that any of the “Sign gifts” are still in existence. They virtually always cite 1^st Corinthians 13:8-12 as “proof.” The problem with that allegation is that they also insist that the “perfect” in that passage refers to the “completion” of the canon of scripture. So, they say that since the canon of scripture has been completed, (and I agree that it is complete) all of the things in that passage have ceased to exist.

However, I have never heard one of them also include the part that says, “Now we know in part, and prophesy in part, but then shall we know fully even as we are fully known.” None of them is so bold as to claim that they know Jesus fully: (literally “as well as He knows them!”)

Nor do any of them (usually) claim to have seen Jesus, face to face, when that passage clearly says we will! So, the completion of the scriptures cannot be the “Perfect” or “the completion” that is to come. So far as I can tell from scripture, all the gifts are still extant, but the sign gifts are very limited as to when and where they appear.

What About Sign Gifts?

1^st Corinthians 1:22 says that “The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.” And (possibly without exception) every time the Spirit chose to perform a healing, or a miracle, or a manifestation of tongues, etc., there were Jews present who still needed convincing, at some level. In Acts 3, where Peter and John were used to heal the lame man, it was for the specific purpose of drawing attention to the message of the Gospel and to convince the crowds of watching Jews that the Holy Spirit was indeed at work among them.

In Acts 10, when Peter and a group of other believing Jews went to Cæsarea, and presented the Gospel of Christ to a group of Gentiles (the household of Cornelius,) the entire group believed the Gospel, and were born again on the spot! They also spoke in tongues: The languages that those Jews understood, and which the speakers had not learned. Why? Because the Jewish believers needed proof that the Gentile believers did not have to “become Jews to be saved!

As far as I can see from scripture, the usual manifestations of miraculous sign gifts are (a) to draw attention to the message of Christ, and (b) to convince the children of Israel that Jesus truly is the Messiah. As far as I can see, the modern obsession with tongues and signs does neither. You can make of that what you will.

The Underlying Source of ALL the Gifts

¹¹But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

These gifts, regardless of how they manifest themselves and through whom, and at what times, are for the general profit and blessing, and edification of the Church at large. And, we do not get to choose what gifts we will have.

We can earnestly desire to have certain gifts. (Paul tells us to “desire prophecy! Preaching! See 1^st Corinthians 14:1) But the Holy Spirit is in charge, and He alone decides who gets what gift. He uses our physical body as an illustration of that concept.

We are not going to spend a lot of time on this verse, but the baptism (immersion) of the believer BY the Holy Spirit INTO the Body of Christ, is the “real” baptism. Water baptism only commemorates the true baptism which occurred at the moment of saving faith.

Comparison: Body to Body

¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many.

The point, here, is “every part of the physical body has a function.” They all work together for the good of the whole. An arm hair can transmit tiny vibrations to your brain, warning you that a mosquito has landed: Respond quickly, and you may avoid a bite. Ears can detect storms long before they are close enough to do damage. Respond promptly, and perhaps you can find cover.

Similarly, all the members of the Body of Christ work together to strengthen, feed, and protect the flock. We will look at this concept in more detail in the following messages. Meanwhile, read ahead: read Romans chapter 12 and Ephesians chapter four. Consider how God may want to use you to bless the other believers around you.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the Spiritual Realities you reveal in Your Word. Give us Grace to respond to your call, and serve one another in simplicity, to worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

December 20, 2025December 20, 2025

How to Understand What the Old Hymns Teach About Christmas

What do the Hymns really teach?

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 12; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1-5, 14; Hebrews 11:3;
Matthew 2, Luke 2

Introduction:

To begin with, even when we deliberately set aside what the World thinks of Christmas, when we, as believers, think about Christmas, we pretty much focus on Luke 2. Clearly, the entire chapter speaks of the actual birth of the Messiah, and what immediately followed. Furthermore, sometimes we mix in things that actually occurred a little later—the coming of the Magi, and the flight into Egypt, to escape the slaughter of the innocent babies in Bethlehem.

And, sadly, sometimes, when we were young, we mocked some of the early hymns, because we didn’t understand them. I remember as a child, singing, “We three kings of orient are, trying to smoke a rubber cigar: It was loaded, it exploded…Silent night!” (Very funny, to an irreverent pre-teen.)

**What do the Hymns Really Say?**

But let’s think about some of the scriptures that gave rise to those hymns.

To begin with, why did the hymnist assume there were three wise men? The ones he called kings? Undoubtedly, it was because the scripture named three gifts, in Matthew chapter 2. The magi came to worship the newborn Messiah, whom they recognized as King of the Jews. Obviously, they knew something about him that no others had guessed, yet: Those gifts, (gold, and frankincense and myrrh,) were prophetic in nature.

**The Hymnist spelled out that prophecy, in the rest of the hymn.**

Firstly, the Gold revealed His royal birth: “Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again! King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign!”

Second, The Myrrh also was prophetic, speaking of His ministry as the eternal sacrifice, that was to be given once for all. It predicted the death of the Lord: “Myrrh, have I; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom: suffering, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb!”

Finally, the Frankincense predicted His priesthood and deity. “Frankincense to offer, have I: King, and God and Sacrifice! Aleluia! Aleleuia! Worship Him, God on High!”

Not so funny, after all. And, historically, it turns out that these wise men from the east were most likely the descendants of the prophet Daniel’s disciples. He had predicted the coming King, the Messiah. Though, as far as we know, he said nothing about a star, they had combined what they knew from Daniel’s teaching with the arrival of this supernatural star. They correctly discerned that the Messiah had been born. And they took their journey on the basis of that faith. That is not only “not funny:” that is pretty amazing! Would you have taken a long journey on that evidence?

What about Charles Wesley’s Hymns?

We sing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and we feel good about the Lyrics. Where did they come from, though? Charles became a born-again believer, in 1738, when he was 31 years old. His older brother, John was born again a few days later.

Charles began a Bible Study, at their college, trying to methodically study and teach the Bible, but not long afterward, John took it over. John and Charles made a powerful team: John preached sound doctrine, turning people’s hearts to Christ, and Charles wrote powerful hymns teaching the same doctrines in musical form, so that the teachings could be repeated and stick in people’s minds.

During their ministry together, they “salted down” all of England with the Gospel, so that while the French Revolution was raging in France, just across the channel, England was having its collective heart drawn into a strong relationship with God. During that time Charles wrote about 7,000 hymns. We still sing some of them today. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” was written when Charles was experiencing his second Christmas as a born-again believer. He was eighteen months old in the Lord.

What had John preached? I can only guess at that, but the doctrines in the hymn are very clear:

The Beginning

Christ by highest heaven Adored; Christ the Everlasting Lord

Before the Creation, Jesus, Creator God, the Son, was worshipped by angels. And yet, he was already the designated sacrifice for a world that had not yet been created. Revelation 13:8 says that He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Rise, the Woman’s Conquering Seed, Bruise in us the Serpent’s Head

Historically, the first promise of that Savior came in Genesis 3:15, where God promised that the Seed of the Woman would crush the Serpent’s head. And Revelation 20:2 identifies just which serpent He meant: there he is called “that old Serpent, and the Devil, and Satan.”

Come, Desire of Nations, Come

Not all nations have looked forward to the coming Messiah, but believers have done so throughout History. Job pre-existed Israel, but he said, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and at the latter day He will stand upon the Earth, and I shall see him with my own eyes!” (Job 19:25) That is referring to the second coming of the Messiah! After Job’s resurrection. But Jesus physically became our redeemer during His earthly ministry. Job looked forward through time as a prophet, and called out the death and the resurrection and the return of Jesus, his Redeemer!

Fulfillment Begins

Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s Womb!

From Human perspective, it seemed late: they had been waiting over 4,000 years since the original promise. But Romans 5:6 says He was right on time! It was at the perfect time, according to God’s Timetable! Furthermore, the Virgin Birth was not an “extra detail:” it was an absolute necessity. Jesus is the only one in History who was literally “the Seed of the Woman!” Obviously, all the rest of us are the Seed of a man and a woman.

Further, if Joseph had been Jesus’s father, Jesus was automatically disqualified from being king anyway, because there was a curse on one of Joseph’s great grandfathers: Jeremiah 22:24-30 said that no offspring of Coniah (also called Jeconiah, and in Matthew 1:11, Jechonias) would ever reign in Jerusalem again. But Jesus was the King!

Veiled in Flesh the Godhead See: Hail the incarnate Deity!

In Genesis 1:1, we saw God speak the World into existence. In Hebrews 11:3, we see it confirmed that the World was created by the Word of God. And, in John 1:1-5, 14, we see that that Word not only was the Creator, but that He (the Word) was made flesh, and that He in fact was Jesus. And Colossians 2:9 says that “in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily!” I am not required to understand that fact: I am only required to accept it by faith, and to proclaim it in obedience to the God who gave it.

Pleased as Man, with Men to dwell; Jesus our Emmanuel

Philippians 2:5-8, which we discussed earlier, tells how Jesus chose to become a human. But it was not a surprise. Isaiah 7:14 told us in advance that “the Virgin shall be with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” That prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus.

Mild, He lays His Glory By: Born that Man no more may die,

Philippians 2:5-8 also tells how He emptied Himself of His prerogatives as God the Son, and became a human for the express purpose of dying for our sins.

Born to raise the Sons of Earth, born to give them second birth!

He said he came to offer His life a ransom for many. He told Nicodemus “Ye must be born again.” He also told him that “whosoever believeth” in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. And in Ephesians 2:6, it says that He has already raised us up as believers, to sit with Him in the throne…that we are already there with Him.

**How to Receive Him**

Hail the Heaven-Born Prince of Peace!

Isaiah 9:6, 7 called Him the Prince of Peace…(don’t forget that it also identified Him as the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father!) But this line of the hymn is a command: it says, “Hail Him!” it means “Salute Him” as the Prince of Peace: Greet Him as Who He really is! Accept Him as your Savior and Master! Receive Him as your Redeemer and God!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness, Risen with Healing in His Wings!

Malachi 4:2 says, “but unto you who fear my Name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with Healing in His wings.” That is a direct quote of the prophecy!

The Result of Faith

Light and Life to all He brings

John 1:4 says that “In him was life and the life was the light of men” These are direct quotes from God’s Word! These are not the hymn-writer’s “imagination running wild!”

Come Desire of Nations, Come: Fix in us thy humble home.

In John 14:16-23, and other places, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would immediately and permanently indwell whoever received Him as Savior. In fact, He said that, in the person of the Holy Spirit, the entire Godhead would dwell in each believer.

Adam’s Likeness now efface; Fix thine image in its place!

God has recreated us in the image of Christ. We now have two natures. Our new nature is sinless and created in true righteousness. God will eliminate our old Sin nature at death, and it will never plague us again.

Second Adam, from above, Reinstate us in thy love!

In 1^st Corinthians 15:45-47 spells out that Jesus is the head of a new race. He is called the second Man, and the Last Adam. 1^st Corinthians 15:22 says that we are either in Adam or in Christ. That is “positional truth.” If your position is still in Adam, you are still spiritually dead. If you are in Christ, you are eternally alive in Him.

Our Marching Orders:

Joyful all Ye Nations Rise! Join the Triumph of the Skies!

We are saved to serve! How? Every one of us is called to be an ambassador of Christ. And all the nations that have rejoiced in the Savior, have also rejoiced in Missions, at least for a time. That is how we Join the triumph of the Skies. We proclaim His birth…and His death, burial, and resurrection. We can offer the Hope and Joy of Christmas every day of the Year.

With th’ Angelic Host Proclaim, Christ is Born in Bethlehem

Proclaim! That is our job! It should be our passion and our joy to share the faith! In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work!” In that context, He was talking about Evangelism! That is the Work he wants done!

The Results of the Gospel

Peace on Earth, and Mercy Mild; God and Sinner Reconciled.

We can experience the Heavenly peace God offered in Bethlehem on an individual basis. Romans 5:1 says, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” Obviously, if enough people possess that peace with God, they tend to also have peace between one another, as we do, here in our little church. However, the only lasting peace for the whole Earth will come when Jesus is eternally reigning on the new Earth.

Hark! The herald Angels Sing! Glory to the Newborn King!

Finally, the word, “Hark!” means listen! God calls us to hear: to give heed to the message, and to realize that we have a very temporary privilege of serving with Jesus: To Work with Him, taking the light and joy of His Gospel to the world we live in. This is our one opportunity to serve!

In Conclusion, what are we going to do about it? If we say, “Happy Birthday Jesus! But I’m not going to do what you asked!” it seems a pretty shabby response. Let’s change that into a pattern of reverence and obedience, and share His joy and peace with those around us… We can say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus! I bring myself as an offering to You!”

We all have that gift to bring.

Lord Jesus, fill us with Your love and transform us to be like You in every way. Raise us up as your soldiers and servants. Teach us to live for your Glory.

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

How to Understand God’s Teaching Regarding the Lord’s Table

Understanding God’s Teaching Regarding the Lord’s Table

1^st Corinthians 11:17-34

¹⁷Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Paul Tells Us How to Behave

²³For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

³³Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

³⁴And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Introduction:

In the matter of the Lord’s Table, the Corinthian believers were already in trouble: they just didn’t know it yet. Many among them were sick as judgment for sin, and some had died…God says so! Most of the time when we read about the Lord’s table, we begin in verse 23, but the context is important, so that we can see the background, and understand why they were in such trouble. So, today we will begin in verse 17.

What Was The Problem?

When we have a “pot-luck supper, in the church of today, everyone brings what they can, but we all share. If someone has nothing, (whether because they were not aware of the potluck, and so were unprepared, or because they are physically unable to bring something, or financially unable,) they are just as welcome as the one who brought a huge quantity of food. And there is usually food left over in our potlucks. We enjoy sharing and providing for one another.

But the Corinthians got together to eat, all right, and actually called it their communion, but they did not share, The rich went home stuffed with food and drink…sometimes actually drunk. The poor went home hungry and left out. Rather than fostering unity, they were producing division rooted in what they were calling the Lord’s Supper. Do you see the evil that was happening? They were splitting the church, causing deep resentment and disunity over the very thing that was supposed to draw them together.

A Root of Division

¹⁷Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

Paul clearly condemned what they were doing, and said this is NOT the Lord’s Supper. He said, that this practice was fostering schisms in the group. Today we might politely call them “cliques.” But it is still a division. And from chapter one we saw that Paul addressed the divisions in the church, and condemned the roots of those divisions: (Pride and self-will, as they were separating on the basis of who their favorite teacher was, and who baptized them.)

Divisions in the Church are always a bad thing. If the divisions are caused by bad teaching, false doctrine, etc., then the bad teaching is a problem, but the division is the real problem.

Jesus Gave the World Three Criteria by Which to Judge the Church:

Agapé Love (See John 13:34, 35 “³⁴A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”)
Unity. (See John 17:21 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”)
Good works. (See Matthew 5:15, 16 “¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.“)

And all three concepts were being violated, there in Corinth, when they continually dishonored the Lord and His church by their self-centered way of approaching the Lord’s Table!

Unity was Discarded, and the Poor were Shamed

²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Better that they never actually ate together, if they failed to share freely, in Love and Unity. If they could not share, he said to leave the “feast” at home, and only share the bread and the cup.

Does this rule out pot-luck dinners? Nope! It rules out self-centered pride and selfishness in general. It rules out causing divisions where there should be none. As we share, and the bounteous meal is spread out for all to enjoy, we usually do not even know who brought what food, unless we ask, wanting the recipe, or when the dish has been washed, wanting to know with whom to send it home. That is not the important thing. Sitting down to eat together, as a local assembly of God’s Family is what is important.

**So: What Should Happen in Celebrating the Lord’s Table?**

²³For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: ²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. ²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

So, the general practice is laid out, here in 1^st Corinthians 11:23-26. In some countries and in some cultures, they still use ONE loaf, from which each person pinches off a small piece, and ONE single cup, passed around the room, from which each person takes a sip.

Our culture shares the “one cup” in the form of dozens of tiny cups. In similar manner, we share the “one loaf” in the form of dozens of tiny unleavened crackers. I seriously doubt that this is offensive to God. But approaching the Lord’s table in an unworthy manner, causing disunity, and shame, and hurt, is definitely offensive to Him.

Where Did Paul Get His Information?

Paul laid out that which he had received from Jesus, personally, regarding the Lord’s Table.

When did Paul receive this information from Jesus? Evidently during the three years he seems to have spent in personal training under the Lord Himself. (Galatians 1:11-18) Paul received some teaching that the other Apostles did not have. Jesus specifically trained Paul to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:13) Paul was also the one through whom the “mystery of the Church” was primarily revealed. And The Church is absolutely Holy to God.

Why all the Warnings Associated with the Lord’s table?

In 1^st Corinthians 3:17, God warns that if anyone defiles the “temple of God” (which in that context He states clearly is the Church, the Body of Christ,) then God will destroy them. God is not “playing games,” nor being unclear about His motives. The Church at Corinth was defiling the Church, and He evidently was destroying at least the worst offenders.

²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

There are a Couple of Keys to Understanding this Passage:

The word “Unworthily” is an adverb: It modifies the verbs “eat,” and “drink.” It is not an adjective, modifying “whosoever.” Yes, on our own, we are all “unworthy.” But by God’s Grace, through faith in Jesus’s blood at the Cross and His resurrection, we have been declared righteous. (Romans 5:1) But in this passage, the word “unworthy” specifically refers to the behavior the Corinthian Church was practicing, regarding the Lord’s Supper…not the people themselves.
The command in verse 28 is for us to examine ourselves (for our motives, and behavior, and our attitude toward the Lord and the believers around us), and “so to eat of that bread, and drink of that cup!” No one is turned away from the Lord’s Table, except for obvious disrespect or flippancy or openly active disunity. We are not “examining one another for secret sins.” We examine ourselves, and we come to the table in unity and Love, confident in God’s Mercy and the acceptance we collectively have as His Children.

So, What Do We Do?

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

³³Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

³⁴And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

To begin with, we recognize that we are fallible human beings. We desire to do things God’s way, and we examine how and why we do what we do. Why? because we fear the Judgment of God, even though we know it is chastening, not condemnation, so we earnestly try to be obedient to God’s Word, as best we understand it.

We keep the Lord’s Table separate from any other meal. And, as we pass out the bread and the cup, we wait until all have been served, and we partake together. Is this “exactly” right? Maybe. Maybe not. But we earnestly seek to follow Jesus, as His disciples. We are not just “going through the motions.”

The Lord’s table is not just a ritual. It is one of the two ordinances given to the church. (The other is water baptism.) Both ordinances are commemorative in nature.

When a believer chooses to “follow the Lord in Baptism” they commemorate the fact that they have already been baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. (1^st Corinthians 12:13)

When we join with one another in celebrating the Lord’s Table, we commemorate the facts of Jesus’s Death, burial, resurrection and second coming! And we do so regularly, until He returns!

Conclusion of Chapter Eleven

Paul said ³⁴And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

If they could not learn to share at meals, then they were to stop their supposed “church dinners.” And, he said, there might be more that needed to be discussed, but that he would address those things in person. There are certainly things we fail to understand as we read God’s Word. None of us has a corner on correct doctrine. So, we, too, can accept that Jesus will straighten us all out, face to face. In the meantime, we do not break fellowship over minutiae.

Lord Jesus, heal our hearts of any disunity, and allow us to truly embrace the simgularity of the Body of Christ, and Love one another as Family

December 6, 2025December 12, 2025

How to Understand 1st Corinthians Chapter 11 Part One

1^st Corinthians Chapter 11 Part One

1^st Corinthians 11:2-16

Introduction:

Chapter Eleven has two main divisions: verses 2-16 discuss separation from the world, in the matters of grooming and clothing. Verses 17-34 discuss the Lord’s table. Remember that both passages are corrective teaching (as is virtually all of both 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians.

We remember the specific circumstances of the city of Corinth, where Paul planted this church. We remember that gross immorality ruled this city. Aphrodite’s temple was there, with all its filth, depravity and disease. That environmen heavily affected the people. They had multiple carryovers from their old life. The Spirit had released them from the extremes of the Corinthian pit. But they still had to shake free from the effect on their lives.

When we read Paul’s corrections of those behaviors, we want to “listen within the context.” Ask “what was happening there.”

Paul gives a profound, powerful command, here, in 1^st Corinthians 11:1

¹ Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

However, there were no chapter or verse divisions in the original manuscripts. So the command was in regard to 1^st Corinthians 10. Paul gave a long statement saying the believers must not endanger the unity of the Body of Christ. They could do so by careless, self-centered behavior. He said that he, himself, sought to “please all men.” He did not seek his own best interest (“profit”.) Rather, he tried to do what was profitable for many, for the express purpose of possibly leading them to Christ.

In that context Paul said, “be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ.”

²Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

So, in general, the Corinthian believers tried to follow his example. Paul concludes “that is Good!” But he immediately follows up with some exceptions:

Clothing, Hair, and Head-Coverings

Remember, again, where the Corinthian church was located, and the utter corruption of the society surrounding them. Consider how the rest of their city was living. All the visitors to Corinth came specifically for the depravity that was there. That can give us some understanding of what follows.

In our present-day time, we have a city that literally advertises itself as “Sin-City!” People who vacation there are cheerfully admitting that they want to enjoy the excesses of that city. Years ago, that city briefly attempted to “re-invent itself” as a “family” city. But it did not work! Everyone knew the truth and everyone preferred the truth of that sin.

So, Las Vegas, Nevada went back to its old way, flaunting its depravity. And the people that desired it to be that way were happy to see their “return to the pit.”

Why Did People Visit Corinth?

The main attraction in Corinth was the temple of Aphrodite. With a working force of 10,000 prostitutes, male and female, they had visibility all over the city. People came there to join in the immoral behavior of that city.

If a Corinthian believer did not want to associate with that filthy lifestyle, something had to change. If they did not want to look like part of that society, they had to change their ways. They had to live in such a way as to “shine in the darkness,” not “blend in.”

Did God tell them to “crusade against the sin in their city?” No, not necessarily. But He did call them to “come out from among them and be separate.” (2^nd Corinthians 6:17)

**So, What Visible Difference Would be Most Obvious?**

Flagrant sin filled Corinth. Transvestite male prostitutes and brazen female prostitutes were everywhere. Clothing, personal grooming and hair length would be a first line of defense, as an easy way to set oneself apart.

I believe this is the primary goal, here in 1^st Corinthians 11:2-16. However, some teachers see this as a “rule for Christian living,” and have interpreted it as a “Christian Dress Code.” They exclude people from churches based on whether they “obey this rule” or not.

This rule has affected our courts, though they mainly applied it to women: Women were not allowed in a courtroom without a hat: a man was required to remove any head-covering. It is possibly instructive to note that the long hair issue was not applied to the men, and men in our colonial period wore their hair long, and in a braid.

If they had short hair, they wore a wig to court, emulating longer hair. To this day, in England there is an industry, making white wigs for lawyers and judges, called “perukes,” as a shortened form of the word “periwig.” Why does the tradition persist?? I have no idea! It would seem that law should have applied equally to men and women, but that has not always been the case. Seventy years ago, women in the USA always wore a hat in church or in court. Men were not allowed to wear a hat in either place. And the rule sprang from this passage of scripture.

What does the Rest of Scripture Say?

The problem that gives me pause is the issue of a head-covering for men being an offense, and a lack of such for women being an offense. If it were mentioned in the other epistles, it would be clear that it applies to all believers everywhere. But it is not: it is only mentioned here.

Verse three (so long as I limit it to the marriage relationship) is mentioned elsewhere. The marriage relationship is supposed to be a picture of Christ and the Church. (Ephesians 5:26-32) The relationship in marriage is clear. This passage does not clearly state that the relationship is limited to the marriage relationship, so some groups use it (and other similar passages) to declare a general superiority of men over women. (That is false teaching, by the way.)

³But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

This teaching seems plain, but it is uncomfortable in our egalitarian society. We don’t want to admit the sovereignty of God over our lives: Far less the authority of one human above another.

Other Scripture?

But herein lies my problem: I can’t find any other place in the Bible that clearly is about the issue of hair length or the importance of veils or lack of such. As a general rule, we find that the Bible is the best commentary on the Bible: That is, we can usually find somewhere else that confirms the meaning of an otherwise obscure passage. But in this case I have found either nothing, or maybe things that are a real “stretch” to try to apply to this.

Cultural Roots

So, Why do the orthodox Jewish men cover their heads with a “tallith” (prayer shawl) when praying? Two Christian commentators said it was because the rabbinical commentators misunderstood why Moses had covered his face when he left the tabernacle. Not to confirm the authority of God: It was to hide the “fading away” of God’s glory from people watching him. Moses had not been aware that his face was glowing after he had been in the presence of God. When he became aware of it, and that it was beginning to fade, he covered up, specifically so that the watching people would not see the “fading” of that glory. (But I still have questions.)

What Does It Mean?

⁴Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ⁵But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. ⁶For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

People interpret this to say that women should always have their hair covered with a shawl, a scarf, a kerchief or the like. Then (some) say that to her own husband, she does not wear a veil, but is free in his presence to display the glory of her hair.

The problem I see, is that Rebekah, in Genesis 24, had not been veiled when crossing the desert with Abraham’s eldest servant and ten other servants. But when she saw Isaac in the distance, and knew that it was he, she got off the camel, veiled herself, and fell on her knees before him, with her face to the ground. (I don’t know any Christians saying this is a part of Christian life!)

And the Men?

⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Furthermore, the priesthood (at least the High Priest) had to wear a special hat (KJV says “fair mitre”…a pointed hat) when he served in the temple, bringing a sacrifice on behalf of the people and himself, and praying for the people and himself.

I can’t find anything in scripture, to explain this: I can simply accept that there is a truth here that I don’t understand, and I promise that if I ever have better light on it, then I will re-teach it according to that better understanding.

What About The Creation Testimony?

⁸For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. ⁹Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

This is in the Creation account. We can either accept the truth of it, or deny it: or, short of actually denying it, we may attempt to explain it in some way that erases the cultural offense. The plan is for Man to be incomplete without Woman. God says so. (Genesis 2:18) The relationship between the Man and the Woman is supposed to be a picture of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:26-32.) That prefiguring of Christ and the Church is demonstrated where Genesis 2:24 is quoted, verbatim, in Ephesians 5:31. (Believe it, or don’t! That is what it says.)

And the Woman was created specifically to fill the lack in Man. (What kind of lack? Possibly just the ability to reproduce, as with all the rest of the animal creation. Perhaps the lack of fellowship and companionship.

Possibly it is tied to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. (“⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? ¹²And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”)

**What about the Angels??**

¹⁰For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

I have no idea what verse ten means, unless it is somehow related to Genesis 6:1-5 where certain angelic beings chose to “cross over” and interbreed with humans. Those fallen angels were punished by confinement in chains of darkness, awaiting final judgment. (Jude 6; 2^nd Peter 2:4) Is the head-covering a message to the angels that, “I belong to my human husband!”? Maybe, but I doubt it. Is it just a “message of submission,” as part of the things that God says the angels will learn through the church, according to Ephesians 3:10? Perhaps. But I really don’t know.

More from the Creation

¹¹Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. ¹²For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

This still ties to the Creation: Eve was literally “taken out of man,” and formed from part of him. On the other hand, every man since Adam has been born of woman: taken back from her. But all are under the authority, protection, and sustenance of God.

¹³Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? ¹⁴Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? ¹⁵But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Evidently in many cultures, long hair in a man is not seen as shameful: So, I don’t know how to interpret this. Someone told me years ago that the Greek work “phusis,” here translated as “Nature,” could also be translated as, “Culture.” However, I looked up the word “phusis” in the Greek New Testament, and it is ONLY translated as “nature,” or “naturally.” So, I don’t know where they got that idea…clearly, it was not from the Bible!

Final Word on Head-coverings and Hair length:

¹⁶But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

It seems that the final word is “Don’t allow this to become a point of division: it isn’t worth it. This is not a cardinal doctrine. In the Corinthian culture, at least, it was a needed change in their behavior, because they were too closely reflecting the evil around them. The principle of “separation from the world” remains today, but I do not believe that Head-coverings and hair length were given as “legal requirements” or “rules” for believers.

Lord Jesus, give us greater light, and help us to apply Your Word to our lives so as to honor You and draw others to Your Grace.

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

What Have We Learned in 1st Corinthians 1-10?

What Have We Learned in 1^st Corinthians?

Return To Corinthians

We are returning to complete our study in 1^st Corinthians. We had stopped at the end of chapter ten. Subsequently, we went all the way through Ephesians, 1^st John, 2^nd John, 3^rd John and Jude. But now we hope to go back and complete what we began in our Corinthian studies.

By way of review, I will summarize what we learned, going through the first ten chapters:

In Chapter One, we Learned:

The letter is to all believers in every place and throughout all history.
There is much for which to give thanks, regarding the Church.
God Desires Unity in the Church: That is one of the three things by which the World can judge the Church. The others are the Agapé love and our behavior as believers.
We saw that Disunity can have several sources:
- Doctrinal Differences
- Personality Preferences (Who is YOUR favorite teacher? Who baptized YOU?)
- Other sources
We saw the Wisdom and Power of God as opposed to what the World thinks.
We saw that the Door to the truth is the Will, not the intellect. We choose to believe God.
We learned the nature of our calling before God. We truly are nothing Special: He is!
We learned that Jesus is the only person we can boast about.

In Chapter Two, we Learned:

That “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” is the core issue of the Good News we have to offer. We should allow Nothing else to obscure those truths.
We see that there is such a thing as a Godly “fear,” under which we serve, fearing to do things in such a way as to obscure God’s light, by leaning on Human “wisdom.”
We learned that humans do NOT know what heaven is like, beyond the limited information God has given us. He says we can’t even imagine it.
We learned the difference between a “natural man” and a “spiritual man.”
We learned our privilege: Having the “Mind of Christ.”

In Chapter Three, we Learned:

That a third type of individual exists: the Carnal man. He is a believer, but he lives in the flesh. He is not walking with Jesus, not obeying His Word.
We learned that there are eternal results for either obedience or disobedience: Rewards or loss of reward.
We learned that Salvation is a gift: Rewards are “wages” for works.
We learned that Jesus is the foundation in our lives, and that He gives us freedom to build upon that foundation. How we choose to build affects eternal rewards.
We also learned that some “wisdom” does not come from God.
We learned that the “Temple of God” is the Body of Christ—all believers as a group.
We learned that the Lord protects His church, and will punish those who willingly defile it with bad teaching or evil influence.

In Chapter Four, we Learned:

God requires Stewards to be faithful: All servants of God are stewards at various levels. God requires faithfulness to His values and His standards. He holds us accountable.
Paul pointed out that the Apostles were nothing special…and that we are nothing special, either. Jesus is the judge, over all of us.
- Thus, we learned the Humility of Discipleship.
- We learned that pride and self-will have no place in a disciple’s life.
- We learned that we are emissaries of God.
- We learned the responsibilities of the Ambassadors of God.

In Chapter Five, we Learned:

How Paul commanded the Church to deal with flagrant, open sin.
We learned that Judgment is a command: Not all judgment is bad…Most is good.
We learned the various Greek words for Judgment. God forbids some kinds, while He requires others.
We learned what five judgments believers face, or have faced.
We learned of the Coming Judgment which will NOT affect believers.
We learned why God will exclude believers from the Coming judgment.

In Chapter Six, we Learned:

God calls the Church to handle interpersonal problems between believers.
We learned what God means when he calls the believers “righteous,” and what He means when he condemns the “unrighteous.”
We learned that we were the unrighteous, but that He has taken our sins upon Himself, transferring us from darkness into the Kingdom of Christ.
We learned that because God literally owns us, Body, Soul, and Spirit, we are no longer our own, and we are not free to choose immorality.
We learned that Sexual immorality causes Spiritual, internal damage and it has lasting effects.

In Chapter Seven, we Learned:

The principles of a Godly marriage.
- A gift from God.
- No immorality allowed.
- The marriage Covenant
- Mutual care
We learned that there is a parallel between a Godly marriage and the relationship between Christ and the Church
We learned something about the responsibilities of marriage.
We learned that God hates divorce.
We learned about the calling of God, and how it should affect us.
We learned that in certain times and places and harsh circumstances, marriage might not be a good idea.
We learned that regardless of circumstances we are not to allow either the World or our relationships (including marriage) to alter our relationship with Jesus.

In Chapter Eight, we Learned:

God says to govern Knowledge by Agapé Love. Knowledge puffs up: Love builds up.
Food sacrificed to idols remains physically unchanged.
The idol itself is nothing: It is a block of non-living material.
The spiritual issue is there, especially for unbelievers, but evil spirits cannot undo the work Jesus accomplished at the Cross.
While we are free in such matters, we are not to use our freedom in such a way as to weaken another believer. There are times when we abstain from our freedom in order not to cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble.

In Chapter Nine, we Learned:

The Burden of the Gospel as borne by God’s messengers.
We saw Paul defending his position as an apostle, though it seems unclear what the attacks were or what the motives for the attacks might have been..
We saw why Paul chose to forgo receiving pay for his teaching.
We saw that he worked to learn Christ-likeness, and to follow Jesus. He took his Christian life very seriously. And, He encouraged us to do the same

In Chapter Ten, we Learned:

We learned that all the experiences, good and bad. that the Children of Israel endured were examples from which we are to learn.
We learned that the Spiritual Rock from which they received millions of gallons of physical water, was, in fact, Christ Himself!
We learned that There is a sharp division between the spiritual life of the world religions and the spiritual life of followers of Jesus.
We learned that “Communion” means Fellowship. Shared experiences, values, and goals.
We were warned that the world does not have the same experiences, values or goals. We are not to join in fellowship with the world. We do not take part in their worship.
He says we are not to attempt to mix light with darkness.
He also says that we do enjoy freedom that others may lack. But we are not to misuse that freedom.
We want to live in such a way that others see the truth of God’s Word alive in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is never an offensive thing.

Chapter Eleven Holds Rich Lessons, Too!

We will learn how we are to follow Paul as he follows Christ…
We will learn why the Corinthian believers were given special instructions as to hair length and head coverings
We will learn why the Corinthian believers were being chastised for their treatment of the Lord’s Supper

Next week, we will begin 1st Corinthians Chapter Eleven.

1st Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-31; Romans 12:4-9

Introduction:

1st Corinthians 12:8-10

1st Corinthians 12:28-31

Romans 12:4-9

An Observation Regarding Gifts

Spiritual Gifts Vs. Spiritual Responsibilities

So, What Gifts Really Need Defining?

Going Beyond Human Ability

Prophecy and Preaching

What About “Declaring the Good News of Christ?”

Ministry

Teaching

Giving

Exhortation

Helps

Mercy

Government, or Ruling

Love, Above All

1st Corinthians 12:7-18; Romans 12

Introduction

A Personal Example

What Does God Say About It?

The Purpose of the Gifts

God Chooses The Gifts

Paul’s Examples

A Modern Demonstration

What is Inside is the Key!

What Do I Need to Know?

Is It Fun to Have the Gift of the Spirit?

Consider Paul

How to Understand the Gifts of Christ

Gifts given by Christ

These are “Office Gifts”, or “Ministry Gifts” to the Church

Introduction:

What Are the Gifts?

He Gave Some Apostles

Some teach that, “Only the Apostles could write down the Word of God.”

The Time-Clause

Some Prophets

Some Problems

Some Evangelists

Titus and Timothy

Present Day Contrast

So, What is an Evangelist?

Some Pastors and Teachers

The Seven Tasks Are:

Shepherds and Teachers

Shepherds as Sheep

(Why?)

Re-Focus on the Gifts of God For the New Year

John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1st Peter 1:3; 2nd Peter 1:2-4; James 1:17

Introduction:

The “Gift of God” (Singular)

So, How is that “Central Gift” Implemented?

The “Gifts of God” (Plural)

If you have placed your dependence upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, then:

Precious Gifts

More Gifts of God (2nd Peter 1:2-7)

2nd Peter 1:2-4 says,

How Does it Work?

The Goals (2nd Peter 1:5-7)

So, There are Seven Things to Look For:

God’s Perfect Gifts

Biblical Adoption vs. The New Birth

So, What is The Problem With “Adoption?” (As Opposed to “Re-birth?”)

So, What is the Adoption all About?

So, When Will Our “Adoption” Occur?

What About the New Birth?

Introducing The Spiritual Realities and Gifts

Introduction:

Spiritual Reality

Spiritual Falsehood

Falsehood and Reality

Compare Scripture with Scripture

A Practical Example

What about the Gifts?

And What is the Purpose of ALL the Gifts?

A Partial List of Gifts

What About Sign Gifts?

1^st Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-31; Romans 12:4-9

1^st Corinthians 12:8-10

1^st Corinthians 12:28-31

**So, What Gifts Really Need Defining?**

1^st Corinthians 12:7-18; Romans 12

**Is It Fun to Have the Gift of the Spirit?**

**Gifts given by Christ**

John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1^st Peter 1:3; 2^nd Peter 1:2-4; James 1:17

More Gifts of God (2^nd Peter 1:2-7)

2^nd Peter 1:2-4 says,

The Goals (2^nd Peter 1:5-7)

**So, What is the Adoption all About?**

**The Hymnist spelled out that prophecy, in the rest of the hymn.**

**How to Receive Him**

1^st Corinthians 11:17-34

**So: What Should Happen in Celebrating the Lord’s Table?**

1^st Corinthians Chapter 11 Part One

1^st Corinthians 11:2-16

Paul gives a profound, powerful command, here, in 1^st Corinthians 11:1

**So, What Visible Difference Would be Most Obvious?**

**What about the Angels??**