SPIRITUAL DIAR FOR 3/12/2019
11:30 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-3 “The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ephesians 4:7
Message of the verse: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
We continue to talk about grace and first want to look at Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” This highlighted portion of Romans 5:2 talks about the grace in which we stand, and not only does it save us, but enables and that is the sense of the term here. Verses that speak of God’s grace enabling us are Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; 1 Tim. 1:12; and 2 Tim. 4:17.
Now as we look at our verse for today I want to say that Paul makes it clear there that grace was given to each believer. John MacArthur writes that “the definite article (he) is used in the original text, indicating that this is ‘the grace,’ that is, the grace unique to Christ. The term for grace is charis and signifies that what is given is not the charismata (the special gifts indicated by this word in Rom. 12:6-8 and 1 Cor. 12:4-10) but the subjective grace that works in and shows itself through the life of a believer. This ‘grace’ is the enabling power that makes the special gifts function to the glory of God.”
MacArthur continues “The distinction is clear for the rest of Paul’s statement, ‘according to the measure of Christ’s gift.’ Enabling grace is measured out to be consistent with what is necessary for the operation of ‘Christ’s gift.’ The term dorea (‘gift’) does not focus on the undeservedness of the gift as does chrismata (the special ‘gifts’; cf. Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10) nor on the spiritual source of the gift as does pneumatikon (‘special gifts,’ lit., spiritual things; cf. 1 Cor. 12:1), but on the freeness of the gift (cf. Matt. 10:8; Rom. 3:24).” I know that is a mouthful, and so I want to look at this time at Matthew 10:8 and then Romans 3:24 “"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware” (1 Cor. 12:1).
Every believer has a unique gift as the measure or specific portion given is by sovereign design from the Head of the church. I keep going back to Ephesians 2:10 which I believe goes along with what we are looking at “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” It is the Lord who has measured out the exact proportion of each believer’s gift and this can be seen in Romans 12:3 where we will see these words “the measure of faith.” “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” This “exact proportion of enabling grace on the part of God is linked with the exact proportion of enacting faith on the part of each believer; and God is the source of both. The sum of this is that God gives both the grace and the faith to energize whatever gift He gives to the full intent of His purpose.”
In light of what we just wrote about it is clear that since they are sovereignly given as can be seen in 1 Cor. 12:4-7, and 11 there are not gifts that should be sought after, we have to take what the Lord has given to us and use it to His glory as we serve in His church. Another thing we need to say and that is that no gift should be unused, and that since they come from the Lord, no gifts should be exalted as seen in Romans 12:3, a verse that I have made my verse for this year. Paul talks about people who wanted the so called “showy gifts” when he writes to the Corinthians.
MacArthur writes and we will close this SD with this quote: “We each have a ‘gift’ that is measured out to us—with certain distinct capabilities, parameters, and purposes. Each of us is given a specific gift (singular) through which we are to minister in Christ’s name. ‘As each one has received a special gift,’ Peter says, ‘employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God’ (1 Peter 4:10).”
I have to say that after listening to John MacArthur’s sermon on this section yesterday that I still have some things to have cleared up for me that is between the gift (singular) and the spiritual gifts, which we will get into in our next SD.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Trust the Lord to continue to show me what it is that He desires for me to do as I serve Him. Trust the Lord to help me to better understand these difficult truths from the book of Ephesians.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord to work in my heart as I continue to think about Romans 12:3 and also Ephesians 4:7.
Scripture verse that goes along with yesterday’s quote: “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).
3/12/2019 12:56 PM
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