Body Ministry – BT2: Spirit’s Grace-gifts are functions, not people, positions, offices, or titles
Body Ministry – BT2: Spirit’s Grace-gifts are functions, not people, positions, offices, or titles
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Countering this fleshly tendency from the previous BLOG, Paul explains that the Spirit’s unearned/undeserved/unmerited grace-gifts are simply “functions, sustained activities, deeds, and/or responsibilities” (a) – not “special” people, positions, offices, or titles. In Ephesians 4:4-16 Paul says that “Christ gave unearned/undeserved/unmerited grace-gifts to men . . . He gave these [grace-gifts] apostles, these [grace-gifts] prophets (b), these [grace-gifts] evangelists (c), these [grace-gifts] shepherds (d) and/coupled teachers (e).” <Notes> a) praxis: Romans 12:4, b) see the Prophetic page, c) euaggelistes, d) poimen, e) didaskalos – see the Coaches and Facilitators and Teach One Another pages.
These are all verbal-nouns describing praxis functioning grace-gifts, thus given by Christ based on unearned/undeserved/unmerited unconditional-loving-favor-of-grace. They are NOT just simply nouns identifying people, positions, offices, or titles. They have nothing to do with your natural talents, even if used FOR God – that would be the “might and power” of Zechariah 4:6 prohibited in the completely different-in-kind New Covenant.
Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “There are varieties of grace-gifts [given to a Christian] but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services/ministries [thru a Christian to others], but the same Lord; and there are varieties of energized, working resultant-effects (a) [inside the ‘others’ being served], but it is the same God who [Spirit] empowers them ALL in every one. TO EACH is given the manifestation/demonstration of the Spirit for the common good.” God takes credit for the entire process of INTO the Christian, thru the Christian to others, and INSIDE others. The grace-gift a person functions with is a manifestation of the Spirit, not your own natural “might and power” talents FOR God. <Notes> a) “activities or operations” are poor translations.
The fact that they are functions is clear from a parallel passage in Romans 12:3-5, “I say to EVERYONE among you that you are NOT in possibility to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, but instead to think with a temperate/sound mind (a), each down-from/according-to the [standardized] measuring-cup (b) of/belonging to [singular] trusting-relying-faith (c) [The Christian Faith] that God has already measured out into portions (d). For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same praxis FUNCTION (e) so we, though many, are one Body in Christ, and individually members [of] one of another [implies belonging to each other]. Having unearned/undeserved/unmerited grace-gifts that differ [only] down-from/according-to the unearned/undeserved/unmerited unconditional-loving-favor-of-grace given to [each of] us, [I strongly urge you to] let US use them.”
<Notes> a) sophroneo, b) metron: measures out a set, equal amount of a substance to insure fair trade like a 1/2-cup used for everyone rather than a 3/4-cup for everyone, c) pistis: relational conviction of trusting reliance, d) merizo: from metron and the non-partial character of God, these would be equal, fair, just portions, e) praxis: sustained activities, deeds, and/or responsibilities.
Paul then lists prophecy, serving, teaching, ‘alongside counseling, advising, encouraging, comforting’ (a), giving, “in-front” managed care-giving-leaders (b), and mercy. We know from Paul’s lists in other places, this wasn’t meant to be a complete list, only to illustrate his main point here of everyone USING their grace-gifts for the betterment of the whole Church. It’s not supposed to be a one-man show or even that of a so-called “ministry staff!” These grace-gifts don’t “differ” in the quantity of trusting-relying-faith or unconditional-loving-favor-of-grace or skill/ability or anything else we can think of, but by definition of metron (b) standard-measuring-cup and standard-measurement merizo (d) they instead “differ” based on what’s INSIDE the standard-measuring-cup, that is 1 Corinthians 12:4-7’s “varieties” of “manifestations of the Spirit” here explained as different praxis FUNCTIONS (e) in Body-of-Christ ministry THRU us to serve others so God can also powerfully work INSIDE others! That’s HOW God ministers to US and OTHERS thru US. He wants to koinonia partner with us! <Notes> a) parakaleo just as the Holy Spirit, b) proistemi – see Coaches and Facilitators.
Spiritual Education, Church positions office titles NOT taught in bible, Spirit’s grace-gifts are simply different functions, Spirit’s grace-gifts are not natural talents used FOR God, Varieties of grace-gifts IN Christians THRU Christians INTO others, Grace-gifts are controlled by Spirit not us, One-man-shows and Ball-hoggers don’t belong in Christ’s Body-Church, Ministry is to be done by ALL the saints NOT just a few ‘equipper’ leaders, The grace-gifts don’t differ in quantity but only function