GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 13, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 41.

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.

CHRIST is the Head of the church. The church is the body of Christ, “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” His believing children “are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” They become His body by the Spirit of God. “For 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.” 1 Cor. 12:13.

As the human body in its normal condition is perfectly organized, each member having its own functions to perform, without which the whole would suffer more or less, so also is the body of Christ. If one or more of the organs or members of the body are wanting, the person is deformed or crippled, and his work is defective. The defective body and its members can not properly and fully and consistently represent the head. So it must be with the church, or body of Christ.

If the head says, “Hear the message,” and the ear is wanting, the message is not heard. If the head says, “Speak the message you have heard,” and the tongue is wanting or diseased, the message can not be given. If the head should say, “Write the words I tell thee,” and the hands were wanting, the message would never be written. If the head should say, “See the warning, that you may give it,” and the eyes were wanting, or blinded, the warning would never be given. Once again, if the head should say, “Run and speak the message to that weary soul,” and the legs were wanting or broken, the soul would never hear what he might have given him. And so we might carry on the thought to every organ and function.

The body of Christ is His church; and just as truly as the members and functions of the normal human are necessary to effectual, consistent service, so it must as truly be so of the body of Christ. It must as truly retain in use the gifts and powers and members and functions, in order that it may do acceptable service for God.

As founded by our blessed Lord, His church possessed every gift; His body, every needed member; each member, every needed talent.

This especial fitting of the body for service, the church for work, the individual for service, are set forth in several scriptures, namely: (1) In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30); (2) in the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11–27); (3) in the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12; Rom. 12:3–8; Eph. 4:7–16. These all teach the same great lesson, each with additional detail. We shall be able to get but a brief though comprehensive view of the great subject.

The parables of the talents and pounds are one. The talents and pounds represent gifts of God, most precious—the symbols used in each case representing a money unit of the highest value; “talent,” the greatest unit measure of Jewish money; “pound,” the greatest unit measure of Roman money.

The “nobleman” who “went into a far country,” represents Jesus Christ. He left His church, with which He identified Himself, to go to that heaven, where dwells the Father, “to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return.” Luke 19:12; Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 25:31. His returning is at His second advent.

He leaves His servants, His church, here to represent Himself—“Occupy till I come.” So Jesus said to the Father, “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world.”

That His servants—“His own servants”—might fitly do His work, He bestows upon them the needed gifts or capital. But before He does this they must be His own servants, those who have yielded to Him, and whom He has consecrated by His Spirit; for “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Those upon whom the Lord bestows His gifts, are those baptized into His Spirit, those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Note also in these parables that the time when He gave the gifts was when He went away, and that they were to be used by His own servants, and His own servants were to “occupy” till He returned.

In the other scriptures above referred to, the figure is laid aside and we are told just what these talents and pounds are which Christ has given His own servants; they are “spiritual gifts,” or gifts of the Spirit. About these the Lord would not have His people ignorant. 1 Cor. 12:1. Let us inquire:—

(1) When did the Lord by His Spirit bestow these gifts? (2) What are they? (3) To whom are they given? (4) For what purpose are they given? (5) For how long? All these questions are clearly answered.

1. When were they given? “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Eph. 4:8. When He went away to the far country, we are told in the parable of the pounds. And its first marked fulfilment came on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1–4.

2. What are these gifts?—“And He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4:11. 1 Cor. 12:8–11, 28 enumerates the following: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, workings of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, apostles, prophets, teachers, helps, governments. Rom. 12:6–10 adds these precious gifts to the list: ministry, exhortation, giving, ruling. Not one of these lists give all the gifts; nor do all of them name them all. In them is the very fulness of God for absolutely perfect and effectual service. Nothing earthly or human can add to them that which will make them better.

3. To whom are they given?—“But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Eph. 4:7. Wonderful gift! “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit.” “All these [gifts] worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as He will.” 1 Cor. 12:7, 11. “God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.” Rom. 12:3. “His own servants. . . . To each.” Matt. 25:14, 15. “God is no respecter of persons;” He gives to each one of His children some one or more gifts as he can use, and for the use of which God will hold him responsible. What has God given you? How are you using it?

4. For what purpose are the gifts given?—“For the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.” Eph. 4:12. “To profit withal.” 1 Cor. 12:7. “Trade ye herewith till I come.” Luke 19:13. The Spirit divides these divine gifts not as we will, but as He will; for He knows us better than we know ourselves. They are given that the people of God may be made perfect workers—“for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministry.” God makes them effectual workmen, ministers of His in the great needy world, and witnessing for Christ and gathering out living stones and building up the body of Christ.” Strength, union, power, are included in this building plan. It contemplates no divided church, broken into fragments by discordant creeds, but one harmonious body, bound, grown, together with the one life of Christ, each member an effectual and faithful servant of the body.

5. For how long are these gifts bestowed?—The answer is no less equivocal: “Till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13. “Till I come.” Luke 19:13.

These gifts were all in the church once. Some of them are in the church now. What church does not see the necessity of pastors, evangelists, teachers, governments? What Christian would not say these were necessary? But if these, why not prophets, apostles, gifts of healing, etc.? The same Spirit which gave one till Christ should come gave all till perfect union is reached, till Christ’s body is complete, till the work of God in the earth is done. Why not all these gifts now? Why should the church of Jesus Christ continue on her way blind, and halt, and lame, and weak, and deformed? Reader, think of these things. We have yet more to say. Hear the Word. Dare in His name to follow where His Word leads.