But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Every believer is personally given grace measured out by Christ to fit the gift and work entrusted to each one. This giving belongs within one body and one Spirit with one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all and through all and in all, by Christ who first descended and then ascended far above all to fill all things and give gifts to men. Those gifts include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting the saints, for the work of ministry, and for building up the body until all come to unity of faith and full stature in Christ, growing up into the Head in love. The gift is received by walking worthy of the calling with lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in peace, with workers made purposely different in mind and ability so that no one stands alone but each supplies what another lacks. This measured grace grows as it is used in doing good and saving souls, bringing daily increase in strength and understanding, for it is the Lord's entrusted capital to be traded upon and returned with increase.
Grace Given in Measure
But unto every one is given grace in a measure corresponding to his gift, Christ assigning to each believer individually the grace suited to his gift and work, and this measured bestowal introduces the spiritual gifts He conferred after ascending to heaven to unite and perfect the church. The grace is given to every member, with differing measures distributed for service and for building up the body toward unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and growth toward His fullness and maturity. No single person is meant to stand for the whole, because the varied gifts and ministries are provided to equip the saints for ministry rather than to concentrate the burden in one mind, judgment, or ability.
The measure of the gift means that when God gave Christ to the world He gave all heaven, placing at the command of each believer all the facilities and powers of heaven. That measured grace increases as the entrusted talent is constantly traded upon and used in His service, so that if the talent is increased until doubled the grace is doubled, and all the grace and power that can be used in God's service will be supplied. Daily there is increase in strength, in knowledge of the truth, and in power of comprehension by embracing more as God's gifts are imparted to others, for His gifts are valueless unless they are used aright. The grace is the Lord's property extended as a loan purchased by His blood, and the interest required is in proportion to the entrusted capital, so talents small or great must not be degraded to selfish use, extravagance, or misapplication but employed in doing good to His glory in willing service and cooperation as laborers together with God in saving souls for whom Christ died.
The giving stands within one body and one Spirit with one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father above all and through all and in all, calling for walking worthy of the vocation with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It belongs to becoming new men and women in Christ Jesus who put on peace, grace, and righteousness, refusing evil speaking and suspicion, praying alone, and letting the Holy Spirit rule reason and conscience toward commendation and love. It is joined to Christ who descended first into the lower parts of the earth and ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things, who when He ascended up on high led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Those gifts include some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body, till all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of His fullness. Then they are no more children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceit, but speaking truth in love grow up into Him in all things which is the Head even Christ, with the whole body fitly joined together by what every joint supplies working in the measure of every part to increase itself in love, bringing God's people into unity under love as the law of His kingdom and lifting each one to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness, and longsuffering that bears much without seeking to be avenged by word or act.
Gifts Build Unified Church
The grace given to each one according to the measure of Christ's gift introduces the gifts the ascended Christ bestowed to unite and perfect the church. That giving belongs to Him who first descended into the lower parts of the earth and then ascended far above all heavens to fill all things, who on ascending on high led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. The gifts He gave include some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Their purpose reaches until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ. Then believers are no longer children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceit, but speaking truth in love grow up into Him in all things who is the Head, even Christ, with the whole body fitly joined together and supplied by what every joint and part provides working in its measure to increase itself in love.
God purposely makes His workers different in character, mind, qualifications and ministry. As no two leaves in nature are alike, as no two human minds are precisely alike, and as heavenly angels differ in qualifications and ministry, so truth speaks its own language through a diversity of gifts. The divine work is carried on by and through that diversity, all essential and all working to one end in expressing the mind and will of God through the perfecting of the saints and of His church. In this way complete unity in diversity meets every emergency in every kind of labor.
No one person is meant to stand for the whole or bear the burden of the work alone, because the varied gifts are given for the service and building up of Christ's body. No one's mind, judgment or abilities are complete or to be treated as the only ones God is using, and no one is meant to manage everything or to carry so many responsibilities that mind and body are worn out. Even those in responsible positions whose work is important are not the whole body, and none may disparage another's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from God's treasure house. The entire chapter sets forth the Lord's manner of working through a needed variety of gifts, with each worker learning from and helping others to supply what is lacking in plans, ideas or judgment, so the church may be completed in unity.
Every gift is essential to the success of the work, with many agencies included among God's husbandry and building when they work according to His plan. God's servants are to move so that no spiritual gift is lost, holding their own will in abeyance as broadminded, quick to discern, ready workers who understand the ways and will of their Leader. They are to continue thus until unity of faith and full stature in Christ is reached.
God has joined together people of different minds, talents, experience and abilities to counsel with and assist one another as members related to one another in the body of Christ. The deficiency in the experience and abilities of one is supplied by the experience and abilities of another. No member can claim independence or say another is unnecessary, since the members are joined together and depend on one another for the perfecting of the saints. These varied gifts, including means, speech and ability, are to work together to advance God's work as a whole, not to support separate or competing lines of service. They are to be employed in His service for the good of all by representing truth, not to glorify the possessor or uplift man but to uplift Christ the Redeemer, as His people help one another in doing their different duties and faithfully finishing the work given them to do.
Faithful Life Required
The measured grace belongs to walking worthy of the calling with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace within one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father who is above all and through all and in all. It is the grace of becoming new men and women in Christ who put on peace, grace and righteousness, refusing evil speaking and suspicion, praying alone, and letting the Holy Spirit rule reason and conscience toward commendation and love. It calls each one to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears much without seeking to be avenged by word or act, and it belongs to the work to be done in every church in bringing God's people into unity under love as the law of Christ's kingdom. It is joined to Christ who descended first into the lower parts of the earth and ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things, leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men, giving some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till 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 fullness of Christ. So perfected, believers are no longer children tossed by every wind of deceitful doctrine, but speak truth in love and grow up into Christ the head, with the whole body fitly joined and supplied by every joint and part working effectively to increase itself in love.
God's plainly revealed plan is that all may lay hold upon the truth through appointed means to keep unity in His church so its members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Those who receive this grace conform their lives to obedience to the commandments of God, are united in the faith of the Scriptures, are bound together as one in Christ Jesus with their lives hid with Christ in God, and practice doing to others as they would have others do to them. They bear a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son, appreciate the great gift of God, and make use of the provision made by heaven at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God. They become laborers together with God and partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and by courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy magnify the law of God and prove the law of the Lord perfect, converting the soul, loving and helping one another and cooperating with God in showing the transforming power of the gospel.
The grace supplies in needed measure what is required to serve others and share spiritual bread with the hungry, giving Christlike sympathy for those who have gone astray and words that give life and nourish the soul, made powerful through the life to come. Every converted person receives it to bear Christ's burden for souls and to do for others dead in trespasses and sins the same work Christ did for them, by personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring souls around them, every way as valuable as their own, to a knowledge of the truth. This grace includes gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed to each person individually as the Spirit wills; the gifts are already given in Christ, but their actual possession depends on receiving the Spirit, as the disciples received the Spirit's gift in its fullness after Christ's ascension when they had surrendered themselves through faith and prayer. God has a place and vocation for every willing child with responsibility proportionate to what has been entrusted, so a small or humble task faithfully done glorifies God and no one should refuse a humble role because it is not great, just as things in nature fulfill their appointed purposes by faithfully using the abilities and opportunities given.
The chapter contains instruction that means much and should be read most solemnly and impressed on the minds of hearers, teaching the working of the Holy Spirit and showing that hard-spiritedness comes from being strangers to that working. It calls for a great reformation in words and works and spiritual understanding, to catch the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts and daily to breathe the atmosphere of heaven. It stands as a warning every soul must take to help set the churches in order, close the door of unbelief, make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and stand against Satan's increasing seducing power that would deceive the very elect if possible. The measured grace requires ministers to examine their own hearts and requires workers to carry the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness of spirit for usefulness and success in presenting truth, making all dependent on Christ who reads hearts and knows motives and purposes. It requires helping one another without territorial lines and using the Lord's money where most needed, separating everything that would hinder success, so that as workers give themselves to the work angels impress hearts and many are brought into light.
Every believer is personally given grace measured out by Christ to fit the gift and work entrusted to each one. This giving belongs within one body and one Spirit with one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all and through all and in all, by Christ who first descended and then ascended far above all to fill all things and give gifts to men. Those gifts include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting the saints, for the work of ministry, and for building up the body until all come to unity of faith and full stature in Christ, growing up into the Head in love. The gift is received by walking worthy of the calling with lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in peace, with workers made purposely different in mind and ability so that no one stands alone but each supplies what another lacks. This measured grace grows as it is used in doing good and saving souls, bringing daily increase in strength and understanding, for it is the Lord's entrusted capital to be traded upon and returned with increase.
Grace Given in Measure
But unto every one is given grace in a measure corresponding to his gift, Christ assigning to each believer individually the grace suited to his gift and work, and this measured bestowal introduces the spiritual gifts He conferred after ascending to heaven to unite and perfect the church. The grace is given to every member, with differing measures distributed for service and for building up the body toward unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and growth toward His fullness and maturity. No single person is meant to stand for the whole, because the varied gifts and ministries are provided to equip the saints for ministry rather than to concentrate the burden in one mind, judgment, or ability.
The measure of the gift means that when God gave Christ to the world He gave all heaven, placing at the command of each believer all the facilities and powers of heaven. That measured grace increases as the entrusted talent is constantly traded upon and used in His service, so that if the talent is increased until doubled the grace is doubled, and all the grace and power that can be used in God's service will be supplied. Daily there is increase in strength, in knowledge of the truth, and in power of comprehension by embracing more as God's gifts are imparted to others, for His gifts are valueless unless they are used aright. The grace is the Lord's property extended as a loan purchased by His blood, and the interest required is in proportion to the entrusted capital, so talents small or great must not be degraded to selfish use, extravagance, or misapplication but employed in doing good to His glory in willing service and cooperation as laborers together with God in saving souls for whom Christ died.
The giving stands within one body and one Spirit with one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father above all and through all and in all, calling for walking worthy of the vocation with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It belongs to becoming new men and women in Christ Jesus who put on peace, grace, and righteousness, refusing evil speaking and suspicion, praying alone, and letting the Holy Spirit rule reason and conscience toward commendation and love. It is joined to Christ who descended first into the lower parts of the earth and ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things, who when He ascended up on high led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Those gifts include some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body, till all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of His fullness. Then they are no more children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceit, but speaking truth in love grow up into Him in all things which is the Head even Christ, with the whole body fitly joined together by what every joint supplies working in the measure of every part to increase itself in love, bringing God's people into unity under love as the law of His kingdom and lifting each one to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness, and longsuffering that bears much without seeking to be avenged by word or act.
Gifts Build Unified Church
The grace given to each one according to the measure of Christ's gift introduces the gifts the ascended Christ bestowed to unite and perfect the church. That giving belongs to Him who first descended into the lower parts of the earth and then ascended far above all heavens to fill all things, who on ascending on high led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. The gifts He gave include some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Their purpose reaches until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ. Then believers are no longer children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceit, but speaking truth in love grow up into Him in all things who is the Head, even Christ, with the whole body fitly joined together and supplied by what every joint and part provides working in its measure to increase itself in love.
God purposely makes His workers different in character, mind, qualifications and ministry. As no two leaves in nature are alike, as no two human minds are precisely alike, and as heavenly angels differ in qualifications and ministry, so truth speaks its own language through a diversity of gifts. The divine work is carried on by and through that diversity, all essential and all working to one end in expressing the mind and will of God through the perfecting of the saints and of His church. In this way complete unity in diversity meets every emergency in every kind of labor.
No one person is meant to stand for the whole or bear the burden of the work alone, because the varied gifts are given for the service and building up of Christ's body. No one's mind, judgment or abilities are complete or to be treated as the only ones God is using, and no one is meant to manage everything or to carry so many responsibilities that mind and body are worn out. Even those in responsible positions whose work is important are not the whole body, and none may disparage another's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from God's treasure house. The entire chapter sets forth the Lord's manner of working through a needed variety of gifts, with each worker learning from and helping others to supply what is lacking in plans, ideas or judgment, so the church may be completed in unity.
Every gift is essential to the success of the work, with many agencies included among God's husbandry and building when they work according to His plan. God's servants are to move so that no spiritual gift is lost, holding their own will in abeyance as broadminded, quick to discern, ready workers who understand the ways and will of their Leader. They are to continue thus until unity of faith and full stature in Christ is reached.
God has joined together people of different minds, talents, experience and abilities to counsel with and assist one another as members related to one another in the body of Christ. The deficiency in the experience and abilities of one is supplied by the experience and abilities of another. No member can claim independence or say another is unnecessary, since the members are joined together and depend on one another for the perfecting of the saints. These varied gifts, including means, speech and ability, are to work together to advance God's work as a whole, not to support separate or competing lines of service. They are to be employed in His service for the good of all by representing truth, not to glorify the possessor or uplift man but to uplift Christ the Redeemer, as His people help one another in doing their different duties and faithfully finishing the work given them to do.
Faithful Life Required
The measured grace belongs to walking worthy of the calling with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace within one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father who is above all and through all and in all. It is the grace of becoming new men and women in Christ who put on peace, grace and righteousness, refusing evil speaking and suspicion, praying alone, and letting the Holy Spirit rule reason and conscience toward commendation and love. It calls each one to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears much without seeking to be avenged by word or act, and it belongs to the work to be done in every church in bringing God's people into unity under love as the law of Christ's kingdom. It is joined to Christ who descended first into the lower parts of the earth and ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things, leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men, giving some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till 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 fullness of Christ. So perfected, believers are no longer children tossed by every wind of deceitful doctrine, but speak truth in love and grow up into Christ the head, with the whole body fitly joined and supplied by every joint and part working effectively to increase itself in love.
God's plainly revealed plan is that all may lay hold upon the truth through appointed means to keep unity in His church so its members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Those who receive this grace conform their lives to obedience to the commandments of God, are united in the faith of the Scriptures, are bound together as one in Christ Jesus with their lives hid with Christ in God, and practice doing to others as they would have others do to them. They bear a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son, appreciate the great gift of God, and make use of the provision made by heaven at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God. They become laborers together with God and partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and by courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy magnify the law of God and prove the law of the Lord perfect, converting the soul, loving and helping one another and cooperating with God in showing the transforming power of the gospel.
The grace supplies in needed measure what is required to serve others and share spiritual bread with the hungry, giving Christlike sympathy for those who have gone astray and words that give life and nourish the soul, made powerful through the life to come. Every converted person receives it to bear Christ's burden for souls and to do for others dead in trespasses and sins the same work Christ did for them, by personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring souls around them, every way as valuable as their own, to a knowledge of the truth. This grace includes gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed to each person individually as the Spirit wills; the gifts are already given in Christ, but their actual possession depends on receiving the Spirit, as the disciples received the Spirit's gift in its fullness after Christ's ascension when they had surrendered themselves through faith and prayer. God has a place and vocation for every willing child with responsibility proportionate to what has been entrusted, so a small or humble task faithfully done glorifies God and no one should refuse a humble role because it is not great, just as things in nature fulfill their appointed purposes by faithfully using the abilities and opportunities given.
The chapter contains instruction that means much and should be read most solemnly and impressed on the minds of hearers, teaching the working of the Holy Spirit and showing that hard-spiritedness comes from being strangers to that working. It calls for a great reformation in words and works and spiritual understanding, to catch the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts and daily to breathe the atmosphere of heaven. It stands as a warning every soul must take to help set the churches in order, close the door of unbelief, make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and stand against Satan's increasing seducing power that would deceive the very elect if possible. The measured grace requires ministers to examine their own hearts and requires workers to carry the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness of spirit for usefulness and success in presenting truth, making all dependent on Christ who reads hearts and knows motives and purposes. It requires helping one another without territorial lines and using the Lord's money where most needed, separating everything that would hinder success, so that as workers give themselves to the work angels impress hearts and many are brought into light.