1990 Issue 6 - The Difference Between Gifts, Talents, Duties, Fruit and Offices - Counsel of Chalcedon

8/12/2019 1990 Issue 6 - The Difference Between Gifts, Talents, Duties, Fruit and Offices - Counsel of Chalcedon

1/7

I. THE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIFTS,

TALENfS, DUTIES, FRUIT

AND

OFFICES

A.Tiffi TALENTS OFEVERYPERSON (Gen.1:

27-28)

Whereas spiritual

gifts

are gifts and abilities given by

the Holy Spirit to the Christian to carry out Christian

Mission, talents are gifts and abilties the Creator

gives to men and women and youth, whom he has

made in his image, to enhance and develop human

life in general.

B

TilE

DUTIES OF EVERY CHRISTIAN (Deut.

12:1)

Every Christian

has

duties assigned him by Christ,

to

which he

is

called to be faithful -- evangelism,

hospitality, obedience to the Bible, intercession, etc.

These are not gifts assigned only to some Christians,

they

re

duties demanded

of

all

Christians.

C. TilE

FRUIT

IN

EVERY CHRISTIAN

Gal.

5:22)

Fruit produced

in

the Christian life

has

reference to

the manifestation

of

a Christian's new character in

Christ. A Christian bears fruit when he manifests a

Cluist-like mind, character and behavior, when he

manifests the fruit

of

the Spirit in his life and walk,

Galatians 5:22.

All

true Christians will bear fruit in

their lives. Fruit is something the Spirit produces

in us, gifts are things the Spirit works through

us

.

Gifts are imparted from without, and fruit

is

produced from within. Fruit

is

extremely important,

because, by their fruit you shall know them. Satan

cannot imitate the fruit

of

the

Spirit, but he can imitate

gifts, Mat 7:16-23.

D. TIIE OFFICES IN THE CIIDRCH (Eph .

4:llf; I Cor. 12:28)

An

office in the church is a position-task

to

which

Christ has appointed

us

and to which he has

ordained and equipped us through his Church and

by his Spirit. The offices in the church which have

ceased, because

of

their nature and purpose,

re _

apostle and prophet The offices that continue in the

church are minister, elder, deacon, teacher, and

evangelist. Only those Christians hold these offices

who

are

called

of

God, elected by the church, and

ordained by presbytery. God gives officers gifts

to

carry their office, viz. he gives ministers the gift

topreach.

E. THE GIFTS OF EVERY CHRISTIAN I Cor.

12:4-7)

The Spirit

of

Christ

has

sovereignly distributed a

unique pattern

of

gifts to each Christian,

so

that

each Christian will

be

able to minister effectively to

the

Body

of

Christ. As one has written: A Spiritual

gift is a supernatural gift

of

grace which is measured

and given out

by

God to each true Christian

as

a

stewardship for serving the church

of

Jesus Christ'-'

Tim Blanchard.

ll.

THE CONTEXT IN WIDCH GIFTS OF

THE

SPIRIT

FLOURISH

(Rom.

12:121)

A.

DEVOTION

TO

CHRIST (Rom. 12:1-2)

Spiritual gifts flourish only when

we are

fully

devoted to Jesus Christ in all we are and do,

inwardly and outwardly.

B. UNITY Rom.

12:3-8;

I

Cor. 12:12f; Eph.

4:13)

The Counsel of Chelcedon July

1990

Page 5


2/7

Spiritu& gifts flourish only when Christians

takt

seriously their unity and communion

in

Christ,

in

the

truth, in

love, and

in

the Spiri t They flourish

as

we,

together, submit to biblic& authority, show mutu&

esteem, .interdependence and hannony, and

as

we

realize that we have "property rights' in each other;s

life, gifts, and love.

C. DIVERSITY AND MUTUALITY (Rom. 12:3-8;

ICor.

12:14f)

Spiritu& gifts flourish when we keep in mind that .

God

u

different --personality, abilities, gifts,

functions, offices, etc

.,

I Cor. 12:11f. We

are .

complete only as we are together. We are each

unique, with our own sovereignly-bestowed, unique

pattern

of

spiritual gifts. But no one is

an

island,

complete in himself. . .

D. HUMILITY (Rom. 12:3-8)

Humility is absolutely essential for spiritual gifts to

fl?urish.

t

comes when

~ a s

a

i ~ h

( B i b ~ c ) ,

VIew

of

God, and

a

low

(B1blical),

VIew

of

himself.

The,humble person does not over-estimate himself

he is only an jnstxument in the hand

of

God Nor

does he under-estimate hithself -he recognizes that

he

dres

have spiritual gifts

in

his life, and is

therefore important

iii

the church

of

God. He

is

content with God's will in his life and with the

measureof faith that God has allotted him.He has a

wilUngness to use gifts for the buildiDg \lP

of

.

others; and he has a willingness to be ministered to

by the gifts

of

others. He is not afraid to admit to his .

dependency on Christ and to Christ's Body.

m THE COMPONENTS

OF

A GIFT OF .

THE SPII,UT (Rom.12;3; I

Cor.

12:11)

A.

TilE

GlFrS

OF

THE SPIRIT'

I

Cor. 12:1)

They are, in Greek, "pneumatika," i.e., Spirit

produced gifts. They are not "natural," they are

"supematur&,"

in

that

they

are

superilattirally

produced and manifested in one's life. The Spirit

sovereignly bestows these gifts as He pleases, and

on whomsoever

He l e a s e s ~

1 Cor. 12:

18.

We

catinot pick and choose our gifts.

B.

TH

GlFTS.

OF

GRACE{I Cor. 12:4) .

They are, in Greek, "charismata," i.e., Grace-gifts.

They are graciously and mercifully bestowed gifts

from God. They are not deserved; and they cannot

be earned

or

secured in some way by human merit,

effort or obedience. They

are

free gifts ofGod's free

and sovereign grace.

I

C. TilE

OPPORTUNITY OF :MINISTRY

I

Cor.

12

:5)

When God bestows spiritual gifts, He also gives us

Page 6 Julg 1990 The

counsel

of Chaltedon

a "ministry/' i.e., .

opportuniti.es

to use those

gifts

so ..

.

as

to benefit others. He gives us apersonal sphere

of

influence, where we can use those

gifts

for the.

.edification

of the

Body.

.D.

THE EFFECTS

IN

THE

MINISTRY OF GlFTS

(I Cor. 12

:

6)

When

we faithfully.use our spiritual gifts in the

specific miliistries, which God places in our lives;

there

are

always "effects," i.e., good results. God

promises that, when we use our gifts, He

will

make

them effective and successful in ministering to

others. ;

E. THE FAITH IN CHRIST. (Rom. 12:3) .

Spiritual gifts are given

"as

God has allotted to each

a measure of faith." No gift can be used apart

from

faith, which is

directed

to Jesus Christ, Acts.

16:31;

Phil.

4:13, because Christ

is

full

of

grace and truth

and power without measure. We are utterly

~ n e n t

upon Christ for usefulness and effect.

Sprritual gifts

.

are nothing on their own, separated

from the living Christ. He fills them with His

own

JX>Wer

, grace and truth, making them effective in the

building

up

of

the Body

of

Christ.

IV. m PURPOSE OF GIFTS OF THE

SPIRIT

A. TO

ENHANCE UNITY

lN

,THECHURCH

I

Cor,

l2

:

19f)

.

The purpose

of

spiritual gifts is to enhartce,

strengthen, develop and mature the unity christians

share with each other in Christ and in the church.

B. TOEDIFYTHECHU'RCH(ICor.14:1-

5,12,18,19,26) .

Paul is emphatic

iri

I Corinithia.ns. Spiritual

gifts

serve no real,

o d ~ a p p o i n t e d

purpose unless

they

are

edifying

.ajld

buildfug

up

other people

in

faith

and

obedience. Edification

in

Greek is "oikodoma,"

which is

made

up

of

two words meaning "to build

up a home." Hence, edification refers to the building

up of

another pe Son, I I Cor.

13,

i.e., the promotion

of

the spiritual growth and the development of the

character

of

another

pe Son,

EP,h: 4:15-16.

A spiritual gift "is not first

of

all

or

pritttarily

a

spiritual privilege for the individual, for

his

own

edification,. enjoyment or distinction. As a service, a

gift is given for

others;

it

is

there for the church. A

gift cannot be said to exist for the individual

if

it

is

not employed for the church. You cannot take a gift

home with you."

D.

Bruner,

A

THEOLOOY

OF

TilE

HOLY SPIRIT.

.

C. TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS 1N

MISSION (Eph. 4:

llf)

.


3/7

Spiritual gifts were given

to

enable the Church to be

effective in its divinely appointed mission to the .

world in the Great Commission, Mat. 28: 19f. "The

spiritual gifts are the divinely ordained means and

powers whereby the King enables his Church to

perform its task on earth. Whatever the form of the

task, the Church always needs spiritual power to

perform it; a power not in itself,

but

which the King

must supply. Every means afforded by

the

King for

the doing of his work is a gift ofgrace."-Abraham

Kuyper,

THE

WORK

OF Tiffi

HO.LY SPIRIT.

V THE

TWO

GENERAL CATEGORIES

OF

THE GIFTS

OF

THE SPIRIT

.A. TilE :MIRACULOUS, EXTRAORDINARY,

TEMPORARY GIFTS (I Cor. 12-13)

According to

I Corinthians 13:8-13, those gifts

of

the Spirit connected with the transmission and

authentication of divine revelation ceased with the

apostolic age. Those miraculous, extraordinary,

temporary gifts are listed, along with extraordinary

o ~ c e s

in I Corinthians 12:28. This particular list of

gifts appears

to

be comprised ofextraordinary gifts

because: 1) Some are obviously miraculous, viz.

healing and tongues; 2) Others appear to be

miraculous: although all christians have the gifts of

wisdom, knowledge, and faith, here

we

are told that

these three gifts are not distributed to all christians;

3) Although we cannot be certain of what is meant

by "helps and administrations," it is apparent that

t h e ~

are som.ehow connected with those gifts that are

obviously mrraculous; 4) These gifts are listed with

offices that are obviously extraordinary, viz.,

apostles;

5

The

whole context

of

I Corinthians 12-

14 is concerned with the use and abuse of the

extraordinary, miraculous gifts of the

Spirit

Although many have written much on the nature of

these gifts,

as

a matter of fact, the Bible tells us

nothing further about the nature of many of them

viz., "the word of wisdom," "the word of '

knowledge," "the gift of faith," "helps,'

"administrations." However, since these are

x,nenti() led

~ o n g with the gifts of "healing,"

'effecting mrracles," "prophecy," "distinguishing

spirits,'' "tongues," and "the interpretation of

tongues,'' we can assume that, since the latter are

directly related

to

the transmission and authenticatio

of divinely given, infallible, verbal revelation, the

former must

be

as well.

It

would also seem such by

their very designations- "word ... wisdom ...

knowlroge."

I Corinthians 13:8-12 teaches us that, whereas the

~ x t r a o r d i n a r y gifts of the Spirit are temporary, love

1s p e r m ~ e n t . Love abides forever. L o v ~

is

superior

to the mrraculous. The argument goes like this:

(13:8) The gifts of tongues, prophecy, and

knowledge have a joint termination point. What

affects one, affects all three. These three gifts are

revelatory gifts, and are said

to be

temporary.

(13:9) These revelatory gifts bring piecemeal ,

partial, bit-by-bit, possibly sporadic,

and

mcomplete, but true and inerrant, revelation from

God.

(13:10)

From

Paul's historical perspective,

something was coming that

would

be in contrast to

fu s incomplete,

b i t ~ b y b i t

r e v e ~ a t i o n . This "perfect"

bffig would supercede the partial and do away with

1t

-when the perfect comes the partial wi ll

be

done

away.

The

parallel

is

between the partial and the

r?rfect, i.e., the complete, mature, full. Since the

'partial" pertains to the incomplete revelation that

came through the gifts of tongues, prophecy and

knowledge, the "perfect" (or complete) , which

would replace these,

must

represent the perfection

and completion

of

the revelatory process which

resulted in

the New Testament canon.

a The inscripturated word is not piecemeal, it

is

perfect, i.e., the completed and complete, and

t h e r ~ f o r e

all sufficient, revelat ion

of

God, the Bible,

II T1m. 3:17.

b. In the fmished product, the sixty-six books of

the Bible,

God

has revealed

to

us everything he

wants us to know until Jesus returns

at

the end of

history,

II

Tim. 3:17.

c.

For

helpful books on this issue see: Ken

Gentry's Crucial Issues Regarding Tongues;

Roland Barnes'

Understanding the Miraculous

Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Leonard Coppes'

Whatever Happened to Biblical Tongues

Walt Chantry's Signs of the Apostles; B.

B:

Warfield's Counterfeit Miracles;

and

Robert

Reymond's What About Continuing

Revelations and Miracles in

the

Presbyterian

Church Today?

(13:1.1)

Paul

illustrates his point

with

his

own

phys1cal growth. In verse 10,

the

contrast

is

between

the partial and the perfect

In

verse 11, the contrast is

between childhood and adulthood. In verses 8-10

the partial includes three revelatory gifts; and

in

verse 11 ~ a u l refers to three means

by

which a child

commumcates and receives communications. There

seems to be a purposeful parallel between the h r e e ~

fold reference in each of the two states represented

by partiality and childhood.

Ton&ues - speak as a child

Knowledge - understand as a child

Prophecy - think as a child

The

Counsel of Chnlcedon

July

199

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5/7

3.

THE GIFT

OF EXHORTING (Rom. 12:8)

Exhortation in Greek is '.parakaleo, meaning to

stimulate and encourage.

As

teaching

is

directed to

the understanding; exhorting is directed to the

conscience.

It

includes everything from counseling

to

admonition to consolation. Study Hebrews 3:12-

13

and 10:23-25. It can only

be

dor.e in the r.?wer of

the Holy Spirit, who is our great Paraklete, ' which

is

the Greek word for Comforter.

The opportunities for service

for

one with the gift

of

exhorting could include

many

of the same

opportunities listed under the gift of teaching, along

with evangelism, street preaching, personal

(nouthetic) counseling ministry, cnsis pregnancy

counseling, visiting the sick, shut-ins, newcomers,

and others.

B

THE SERVING GIFTS ( M1NISTRY )

(Rom.12:7)

1.

THE NATURE OF SERVICE OR MINISTRY

(Rom.

12

:7)

Service

is

diakonia in Greek, also translated

ministry.

It is

the word from which we get the

English word, deacon or diaconate. It is concerned

with the meeting of the needs

of

health, education

and welfare in the Body ofChrist, Acts

6:1

;

11

:29;

12:25. It

is

Christ-like servant-spirit and servant

ability, Mark 10:45. The Diaconate is the office in

the church appointed to identify and develop this gift

in the Body. Regarding this class

of

gifts, two .

things must be avoided: (a). Neglect Since it is

concerned largely with material, physical issues, its

value can be underestimated, I T1m. 3:13.

(b).

Ambition. For the very reason that it is concerned

with the material, physical needs, some people long

to take other authority and functions more obviously

profitable.

2. THE GIFT OF SHARING AND GIVJNG (Rom.

12:8)

This gift is concerned with sharing to meet

someone's basic life-needs.

It s

not merely

skimming off the top

of

our life and possessions to

help

an

other person.

I t

involves caring so deeply

about people that we are moved

to

share deeply

of

ourselves, our energy, time, money, possessions,

love - taking from ourselves what even may

be

essential

to

our well-being,

Lk:.

3:11; 1\1k.10:45, in

order to meet the life-needs

of

another person. God

causes this gifted person to prosper, so he will have

something to give for others fmancially, Eph. 4:28.

This sharing is with

s ~ g l e n e s s of

motive - to glorify

God, not self, and

to

benefit the other person, with

no thought

of

recognition or gratitude

or

profit,

II

Cor. 11 :

3.

Opportunities for people with the gift of sharing

could include: diaconate, church treasurer, usher

greeter, nursery, women's work, crisis pregnancy

work, prayer groups, kitchen help (church

u p p e r s ~

prayer breakfasts, helping the homeless, ,

unemployed and

disadvan.taged.,

m . a i n t e n . a n . ~ ~

work,

fund-raising, building committees, school board,

planning and development, etc.

3.

THE GIFT OF CARING (SHEPHERDJNG,

LEADlNG, MANAGlNG)

I

Cor. 12:8)

This is loving, protective care of those who in some

way need assistance

in

caring for themselves,

I.

Tim. 3:5,

12.

Jesus made clear that a leader

is

a .

server-carer,

Lk.

22:24f. The traits of a caring leader

are found in I Thess. 5:12f. (1). He is committed to .

the ministry

of

self-sacrificing work, 5:12a, which

includes, the edification of the church, the eternal :

salvation of souls, the restoration of the world, and

in short, the kingdom ofGod and Christ, -John

Calvin. (2) . He is committed to the ministry

of

shepherding, 5:12b,

Mk

10:45;

Mat.

20:27. A

shepherd-leader puts the interests and welfare of

others above his own, Phil. 2:3f. See I .

Thessalonians 2:1 -12. (3) . He is conunitted to the

ministry of counseling 5:12f; Acts 20:31; I Cor.

4:14; Rom. 15:14, which includes loving concern,

loving confrontation, and loving correction.

A person with this gift of caring and shepherding

could find opportunities to use his gift in the areas

of: the diaconate, usher-greeter, the work of elder,

various church committees, church administration,

planning and development, assimilation committee,

Sunday School superintendent, school board, camp

director youth director, Vacation Bible School

director, etc.

4.

TIIE GIFT OF SHOWING MERCY (Rom. 12:8) .

Thisgift involves direct personal ministering to

those helplessly caught in distress

or

misery,

whether or not they deserve their misery. This is the

way

God shows mercy to us, in spite

of

our just

desserts . Our mercy is a poor imitation ofGod's

mercy. It is sacrificial, although the gift-bearer does

not always

see

it

as

a sacrifice, because mercy

is

shown gladly. It may include the sacrifice

of

personal plans, goals, resources, comfort and health

for the rescue of another. It is the willingness to

risk

all to help and relieve, much like the Good .

Samarian, Lk. 10:37, and especially like Christ, 1\1k.

. 10:45. This gift

will

not

be

us

ed

grudgingly

or

mechanically, because it is motivated by real

christian love, I Cor. 13, compassion, pity, and

sympathy. Manifesting a willing spirit in this is

essential to the proper effect

of

the object

of

your

mercy.

The ounsel of thnltedon

July

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99

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6/7

Opportunities for a e ~ o n with this gift include:

diaconate; greeter.,.usher, counseling, hospital

visitation, ministty

to

shutins,

ministry

to the

bereaved; hospitality ministry, ntirsecy, kitchen

ministry, mirustry to homeless, unemployed,

disadvantaged, crisis pregnancy counseling, help in

areas

of

drug addiction, mental retardation, remedial

reading, etc.

CONCLUSION; HOW DO

I

FIND .OUT

WHAT Y SPJRITUAL.

GIFTS

ARE?

1. There are seve;ral popular methods in detennining

spiritual gifts, which are artificial and conceived in

the mind f man, and which produce in. hose who

f o l i o ~ them a superficiality, u d g ~ e n ~ - s p i r i t

arrogance and self-centeredness. This type of . .

behavior ancJ attitude is nqt o n t e x t in which true

gifts 'of the Spirit flotirish. .

2.

The answer is more simple than complex:

a ALL

Christians

c a l l e d

by God to do AIL

FIVE of these things:

(1). Teach (Mat. 2S:20)

(2). Exhort (Heb. 3:

13

(3). Share (Eph 4:28) ;

(4). Care Shepherd (Tit. 3:14) . .

(5).

Show mercy Mat 18:33; Jude 22)

Therefore, we must be obedient

in

-all of these five

areas, at all levels ofour lives, and we will soon feel

more at home and more effective in one or mote'of

them. As

we

faithfully and perSeveringly t i e ll

five

of

these dJities at

hotl1e,

in the congregation, and

in the world, our gifts

will

become evi


7/7

diligence, thoroughness, dependability, security and

patience; while avoiding: self-in9ulgence, disrespect,

slothfulness, incompleteness, inconsistency, anxiety

and restlessness.

c. Those with.THE GJFT OF.EXHORTING

(ENCOURAGING) should work to manifest:

wisdom, c e r n m e n t faith, discretion,

unconditional love, creativity,

and

enthusiasm; while

avoiding: a critical spirit, presumption, over

simplicity, selfishness, underachievement, and

apathy.

d. Those with

ANY OFTHE

SERVING

GIFI S should manifest: alertness, hospitality,

generosity, joyfulness, flexibility, availability,

and

perseverance; while avoiding: insensitivity,

loneliness, stinginess, self-pity, self-centeredness,

and being a quitter.

e Those with THE GIFr OF SHARING

should manifest: thriftirless, resourcefulness,

contentment, punctuality, tolerance, caution, and

thankfulness; while avoiding: extravagance,

wastefulness, covetousness, tardiness, prejudice,

rashness and unthankfulness.

f. Those with 11ffi GIFT OF CARING

AND SHEPHERDJNG should manifest:

orderliness, taking the initiative, responsibility,

humility, decisiveness, determination, consistency,

and loyalty; while avoiding: disorganization,

shyness, unreliability, pride, double-mindedness,

faint-heartedness, and unfaithfulness.

g. Those with 1HE GIFT OF SHOWING

MERCY should manifest: attentiveness, sensitivity,

fairness, compassion, gentleness, deference, and

meekness; while avoiding: a lack of concern,

callousness, partiality, indifference, harshness,

rudeness

and

anger.

4. Properly speaking, the charismata, (spiritual

gifts), are given to the CHURCHES, not to

individual persons. When a ruler selects

and

trains

men for officers in the anny, it is evident that he

does this not

for

their personal enjoyment, honor, or

aggrandizement,

but

for the efficiency and

honor

of

the army.

He

can search for

men

with talents for the

military service, and train and instruct them; but

he

can

not create such talents.

But Jesus is not thus limited. He is independent;

unto Him all power is given in heaven and earth.

He

can create talents,

and

freely impart them to

whomsoever

he

will. Hence, knowing what the

Church requires for its protect ipn

and

upbuilding,

He can fully supply all its need. His purpose is not

merely

to

please

or

enrich individuals, much less to

give to some

what

He withholds

from

others; but

with the persons thus endowed to adorn and favor

Tiffi

WHOLE

CHURCH We do

not

put

a

lamp

upon the table to show it a special

favor or

because it

is more excellent than chair

or

stove; but simply

because thus

it

serves its purpose, and the whole

room is lighted.

To

consider the charismata as

intended merely

to

adorn and benefi t

the

person

endowed would be

just

as absurd as to say: 'I light

the fire to warm not the room, but the stove'; and to

be

jealous of the charismata given

to

others in the .

Church would be just as foolish as for the table to be

jealous of the stove because it gets all the fire.

The charismata, (spiritual gifts),

must

therefore

be

considered in an economical sense.

The

Church is a

large household with many wants; an n s t i ~ t i o n to

be made efficient by the means of

many

things. They

are to the

Church

what light and fuel

are

to the

household; not existing for themselves,

but

for the

family,

and

to

be

laid aside when the days are long

and warm. This applies directly to

the

charismata,

many

of

which, given

to

the apostolic Church, are

not of service

to

the Church of the present day.'' -

Abraham Kuyper,

The Work

of

the Holy

Spirit.

~

f you would

l ike

to

houe

the toped

series

o

the

three sermons

by

Reuerend Moret:roft

bo

sed

on the outl ine

oboue,

they ore

ouoiloble or

4.00 or each

tope.

Order f rom:

SPEC IHL TY MED I H SERU ICES

P ~ Q .BDH

28357

IJ

30358...:0357

The

Counsel

of

Choltedon

July

1990

P e ~ g e 11

Documents

1990 Issue 6 - The Difference Between Gifts, Talents, Duties, Fruit and Offices - Counsel of Chalcedon