An Exposition of 1Cor. 12-14
Study 1: The Spiritual Gifts (12:1-11)
Introduction
a.
The church at Corinth: - Corinth was a very idolatrous and pagan city-port :
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a church blessed with spiritual gifts:
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a church with many spiritual problems :
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Apostle Paul wrote to deal with these spiritual problems:
b.
In chapters 12-14, the apostle Paul deals with the matter of spiritual gifts and
their exercises in the church.
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a general ignorance of the purpose of the spiritual gifts:
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the abuse of spiritual gifts has caused many problems in the church :
1. Some Necessary Reminders (12:1-3)
a.
'I would not have you ignorant…” I do not want you to remain ignorant...'
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the Corinthian believers are ignorant concerning spiritual gifts; it’s humbling
to be reminded of this fact!
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ignorance of truths is the root cause of many problems in the church, e.g. the
abuse of gifts, disorder in worship, etc. The apostle deals with these later.
cp. 2Tim 3:16-17
*
Knowledge of spiritual matters (gifts) is indispensable... Apostle Paul goes on
to instruct them.
*
Even believers can be ignorant of many spiritual things. We certainly need to
be instructed too.
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their pagan background only makes the situation worse.
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their present spiritual problems are closely related to their pagan past.
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their present conduct (which causes the spiritual chaos in the church in Corinth)
is compared to their past conduct when they were led by unclean spiritual
forces... which they could not understand nor resist.
*
Remember your pagan past... see Rm 12:2.
*
Live as a transformed and informed Christian, with a renewed and sound mind. Be
guided by the Scriptures, not our imaginations.
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'to understand' and 'ignorant' are opposites but come from the same root word.
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the criterion for distinguishing the work of the Holy Spirit from that of the
unknown unclean spirits of idols:
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Apostle Paul recognizes the need to distinguish the work of the Holy Spirit
from the devil's imitation:
*
Spiritual activities per se are no
real evidence of the Holy Spirit's work. They may be demonic. see 1Jn 4:1.
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'accursed': this is a rejection of the claims and teachings of Jesus as Lord
and Saviour. see. Jn 16:8-15.
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Jesus describes the believers 'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me.'
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this is an absolute statement of fact without exception. See Jn 3:1-8
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to say 'Jesus is the Lord' is to acknowledge and believe that He is indeed what
and who He claimed Himself to be; the eternal Word made flesh, Son of God who
came to save His people from their sins, and make them citizens of His kingdom,
and to rule over them as His people. It is to submit to His lordship over us.
see Jn 10:27.
*
True spirituality is the fruit of the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in
regenerating sinners dead in their sins.
*
The genuine work of the Holy Spirit always exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. see Jn
16:13-15.
*Loyalty
n submission to Christ in doctrine and conduct are evidence of true
spirituality, not the gifts one may have.
a.
Many spiritual gifts were given to the church at Corinth
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the diversities of gifts are repeatedly emphasized in v4-6.
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this most basic truth about the spiritual gifts is forgotten by the Corinthian
believers. Many became obsessed with one or two spiritual gifts on the one
hand and neglecting and despising all the other gifts.
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the gift of tongues is just one among a whole host of spiritual gifts given to
the church in Corinth.
*
Obsession with the spectacular and 'showy' gifts is common - in some churches
as well as in the world!
b.
Examples of the rich diversities of spiritual gifts to the church
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nine spiritual gifts are mentioned to prove the point:
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the list is obviously not exhaustive. Many other spiritual gifts are not
mentioned. see Rm 12:4-8; 1Cor 12:28.
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viewed in relation to the Holy Spirit, they are gifts bestowed by Him; charismatoon.
- viewed in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ, they are ministries for the service
of Christ and His church; diskonioon.
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viewed in relation to God the Father, they are operations because of the power
of God; energematoon.
*
There is that perfect unity in the midst of rich diversities; unity in the
source and the purpose of gifts.
3. The Source of the Gifts (12:4-7,11)
a.
'same Spirit... same Lord... same God...'
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All the three persons of the Triune God are actively involved. But why did
apostle Paul remind the Corinthian believers of this basic and fundamental truth
about the spiritual gifts? Obsession
with spiritual gifts causes a heretical
emphasis upon the Holy Spirit. They practically end up worshipping the Holy
Spirit only - another form of Unitarianism! see Jn 16:13-15.
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'it is the same God which worketh all in
all...' (v6)
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'one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will” (v11) The emphasis is upon the Spirit, not
the gifts. But the Corinthian believers are carried away by the gifts.
*
The doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation to the whole scheme of redemption -
in its execution and application as well as in its conception.
b.
'given to every man...', 'through the Spirit...', 'by the same Spirit...', etc
- all these manifolds spiritual gifts are from the same divine source, the
Triune God.
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they are all gifts, bestowed by the sovereign grace of God; not earned or
merited. To each one who is sovereignly born of the Spirit of God, the Holy
Spirit sovereignly endows with spiritual gifts (and graces too.)
*
Therefore, there is no ground for boasting at all. see 1Cor 1:26-31; 4:7.
c.
'dividing to every man severally as he
will…'
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All spiritual gifts are distributed sovereignly to each believer (each church
too - the church in Corinth were endowed with more spiritual gifts, not because
of any merit, but entirely but the sovereign will of God.)
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The Spirit of God sovereignly determines the distribution of spiritual gifts.
*
There are presumptuous believers who have the cheeks to demand to be given certain
gifts... who insist that every believer must have a certain spiritual gift, e.g.
the gift of tongues. Such impudent folks repudiate the Spirit's sovereignty!!
*
Therefore, there is no ground for complaint nor ground for boasting. No ground
for carelessness or negligence.
*
There is neither ground for fatalism because each believer is commanded to
'earnestly desire the best gifts' (12:31) - gifts which are able to build up
the whole church.
4. The Purpose of the
Spiritual Gifts (12:7)
a.
'… to profit withal” - for the profit of all in the church body:
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spiritual gifts, though so rich in diversities and sovereignly distributed, yet
they have one common purpose. They are distributed to each believer
individually for the profit of all, all the believers in the body, the church.
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this truth of the spiritual gifts is so contrary to the common and popular
worldly view of gifts... basically individualistic and selfish to the core,
like the ways of the godless unbelievers.
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a popular worldly view of gifts: exclusively for the benefit and gratification
of those who possess them.
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but spiritual gifts are graciously given & sovereignly distributed to the
believers by the Holy Spirit are for the profit of all; they are for the edification
(literally building up the house) of the spiritual body, the church.
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this must be the guiding principle for the believers, for those who are led and
guided by the Holy Spirit.
*
Beware of selfishness - abusing the gracious gifts for self-gratification - an
unmistakable mark of worldliness!
*
The priority is upon the community - individual believers made up the church,
the body of Christ.
b.
Apostle Paul will elaborate on this central point - 'for the profit of all' -
in the rest of chapters 12-14.
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this is the context to understand many other statements in the rest of the
chapter. eg 14:2,4,14.
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When Paul says, 'He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself', (14:4a),
the apostle is rebuking the selfishness and the lovelessness of such conduct –
“thou selfish swine!”
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A gift meant for the profit of all has been abused and squandered for personal
edification! It is sin against the Giver of the gift, it is also a sin against
the fellow believers for whose benefit the gift was intended.
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How important it is to interpret Scriptures in their context. Amen.
