Episode 213 - "Be mature in your thinking!" - 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

1 Cor. 14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

It may seem like Paul is beating a dead horse, so to speak, with his instruction concerning spiritual gifts. But the fact of the matter is that this is a divisive issue among Christians still today. There are people who think they’re more godly or special because they claim to have a certain gift. There are people who want to argue that others cannot be Christian if they don’t have the gift of tongues or some other sign gift. There are churches that make it a part of their doctrinal statement that the sign gifts have ceased, and they make it clear that those who think otherwise are not welcome among them. I think if the Apostle Paul were here today, he would say the same thing he tells the Corinthians, “You all need to grow up!”

I love how he says in verse 20, “Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” In terms of experience in the ways of the world, he would prefer them to be naive and innocent or inexperienced. People sometimes think they need to experience the things others around them are doing. Paul wants them to avoid things that are evil. However, they are to be mature in their thinking. He follows this with perspective to assist them in thinking more maturely.

Technically, “the Law” is the first five books of the Old Testament. However, it’s often used to speak of the whole Old Testament. Paul paraphrases Isaiah 28:11 when he writes, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” (v. 21) In citing this text, he argues that “tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.” (v. 22) Oddly, his argument in verses 23-25 appears to work in the opposite manner. What gives?

It’s important to interpret what Paul is getting at by considering the historical context of the Isaiah passage he has just quoted. Isaiah, writing the Lord’s revelation, is describing a coming judgment upon unbelieving Israel. In other words, God is telling Israel, “Because you haven’t listened to my clear revelation through the prophets speaking a language you understand, I am going to send people who speak a language you don’t understand.” This later comes true. The northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, and later the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon. Paul is using this example to show that tongues had been used by God as a sign for unbelievers. Israel should have been believing God’s word in their own language.

Paul is using that to help the Corinthian believers understand that if, in their immaturity, all of them are speaking in tongues, the scene will look crazy and confusing to unbelievers and result in them still being unbelievers. But that’s not the objective. We desire unbelievers to become believers.

So, if everyone is prophesying, by the Spirit, the gospel will be explained, and there will be a revelation in the unbelieving person’s heart, leading them to faith. Therefore, prophecy is for believers. It’s a generalization and not an absolute rule.

Consider what happened at Pentecost in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit filled the apostles, and they spoke in tongues, languages understood by the foreign visitors who heard these men speak. The effect was that it got people’s attention, but it didn’t lead people to faith. It wasn’t until Peter explained what was happening and gave them a clear explanation of Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection that the Holy Spirit convicted many to respond in faith.

So, the point of all of this is to have a mature understanding of the value of tongues and prophecy. It’s more important that God’s word be spoken and explained in a way that people can understand it and allow the Holy Spirit to convict people and draw them into faith. Spiritual maturity leads us not to foment an emotional experience for ourselves but to seek how we can be used by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s truth to others leading them to worship God in faith.

Episode 212 - "Use your gift to edify others" - 1 Corinthians 14:6-19

1Cor. 14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1Cor. 14:13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Growing up outside a small farming community in central Illinois, there was very little cultural diversity, and most of the time, there weren’t any people whose native language was other than English. I remember a guidance counselor telling me that I needed to take a foreign language for college. I took a semester of French as it was the only language offered at the time. However, I did poorly at it because I could see no value in investing my time and energy.

When I moved to Chicago after high school, many of the first people I met were from other countries. I was surrounded by different languages and accents that I did not understand, and suddenly, the world got bigger. I love meeting people from different places and cultures with different languages. I spent a whole day once with a friend from Venezuela who couldn’t speak much more English than I could in Spanish. We figured things out, but only with a lot of effort and picture drawing. Over 40 years after moving away from that farm community, I am often around people who are from different parts of the world and speak different languages. I rarely notice accents anymore. But communication remains difficult if the people involved do not understand the languages being spoken.

I believe that the spiritual gift of tongues is the divinely enabled ability to communicate in the languages of people in the world and not some mysterious babbling. I realize that some people would disagree with this, and I cannot prove it absolutely. However, when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles on the day of Pentecost, they spoke in languages native to the people who had come from different parts of the known world to celebrate the feast. (See Acts 2:6-13) The people realized the apostles were Galileans and yet spoke in the language of their part of the world. Many recognized the apostles were people who would most likely have not traveled the world learning the languages they spoke. Peter explained that what was happening was a fulfillment of prophecy. (Acts 2:14-41) The point was that the Holy Spirit enabled the prophets at that time to communicate the good news of Jesus to the known world.

In the text from 1 Corinthians 14, it seems from Paul’s rhetorical questions that the principle Paul is trying to get across is the same. God’s gift of tongues is not to confuse people. God’s intent in manifesting this gift is to clearly communicate his good news to the world. It may be, in some cases, that unbelievers would realize that God was doing something special and respond in faith, or it may be that other believers would be strengthened in their faith through this supernatural enabling to communicate truth to them.

Paul is telling the Corinthians that he’s glad they desire the gifts. But he explains that it’s critical they are used for the right purpose and motivation. Paul says they need to “strive to excel in building up the church.” (v. 12b)

Paul continues by telling them that the one who speaks in a tongue should “pray that he should interpret.” (v. 15) This would be important if no one else understood what the Spirit was saying through the believer. It’s pointless if the message is not understandable.

The last verse of this section really drives home the point. Paul says he is able to speak more in tongues than everyone at Corinth. However, he says that he’d rather speak five intelligible words than ten thousand words in a tongue. (v. 19)

What are we to get from this? Namely, in whatever the Lord enables you to minister, your priority needs to be to communicate God’s truth and to build up others in the body of Christ.

Episode 211 - "Pursue love" 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

1Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

In the four years I’ve been doing this blog/podcast, I don’t know if there was a chapter of Scripture I would like to skip more than this one. Why? Quite frankly, it’s difficult, and the bottom line is that I fear that I might possibly misrepresent the true meaning. In the complexity that I perceive, I want to dig in deeper and try to work through some of the issues, but I am short on time and energy to give it the attention I feel it deserves.

For example, one question is, “Is Paul saying that the gift of tongues is simply for a believer’s personal worship and edification, or is it for the greater body of Christ?” I think the answer is “yes.” (It’s for both.) I’ll explain that shortly. Let’s see if I can bring the focus to what is clear in Paul’s thought, and perhaps that will help us respect the tension in the details.

The focus and priority, I believe, are expressed in the first eight words, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” (14:1a) In these opening words, we realize he’s not changing the subject or saying anything new. Love is the most important thing in the life of the believer. Both verbs translated as “pursue” and “desire” respectively are imperatives. They are commands. The most important thing in our life as a follower of Jesus is to demonstrate love toward others. Nothing that follows this command matters if we don’t “pursue love.”

With love toward others as our priority, Christians are to “earnestly desire” the spiritual gifts God wants to give to us and use in our lives and ministry to others. Paul now highlights one of the spiritual gifts. He instructs the Corinthians to especially desire to prophesy. After making the argument that one gift or one member of the body is not greater or lesser than another member of the body earlier in the letter, he is now going to suggest that prophesying is better. He’s already stated that the Spirit distributes the gifts as he wills. But now he’s telling the believers to desire the gifts and especially to prophesy. Why this apparent shift? The answer, I believe, lies in the context of his explanation which follows.

He starts to explain the difference in function between tongues and prophesying. He explains that the gift of tongues is for speaking to God. Paul appears to be describing a Holy Spirit-enabled act of worship that edifies the believer exercising that gift. On the other hand, “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” (v 3b)

Ah! It seems that Paul’s point is that the God-designed nature of the gift of prophesying is to exercise love by spiritually building up and encouraging others in the faith by speaking God’s truth to them in their own language. Paul is prioritizing this gift because it is a more evident way to demonstrate the love that is so important for living out God’s mission for us.

It’s not until verse 5 that Paul gives us a caveat to this prioritization of prophesying over the gift of tongues. Paul explains that if someone is present who can interpret what is being said by the one speaking in tongues so that other believers present can understand what God is revealing through that person, then the same objective that the whole body of Christ benefits is met.

So, what is the big idea of this section? I would argue that the most important thing for each believer to understand is to seek how the gifts God gives them can be used to edify and encourage as many other believers around them as possible. Our priority is not to seek some ecstatic spiritual experience to excite ourselves or make us feel more important. Our priority is to love and bless others with what God does in our lives.

Episode 210 - Faith, Hope, and Love - 1 Corinthians 13:13

1Cor. 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I don’t often do this. But we are only going to focus on one verse in this episode. I intentionally kept it separate from the section we covered last week and from the beginning of chapter 14 even though Paul continues to discuss spiritual gifts. My reason for this is that this verse not only summarizes what Paul is driving at, it highlights what should be the focus or priority in the life of a Christian.

Let’s focus first on the word “abide.” Paul writes that “faith, hope, and love abide, these three.” (v. 13a) This word reminds us again that the spiritual gifts listed earlier were given to help the young, immature church to grow up and become mature. They are valuable and Paul will continue in this letter encouraging and giving instruction concerning the gifts because the church still was very immature. But like young people who look forward to and want to be adults, we need to act like adults. How do we do that? We stop priorizing our “childish things” and manifest faith, hope, and love. They abide. The maturing Christian will have these three things evident in their life.

The first of these is faith. Faith is trust in what God has revealed. Faith is not, is never, blind. Someone cannot rightly say, “If you have enough faith, you will give me $1000.” That is not in the Scriptures. God did not reveal that. But what if that person claims to be a prophet and has “received this message from God.” The Scriptures teach us that not all prophets are speaking God’s message and they need to be tested. The Old Testament commanded that prophets who were proven to have spoken a false word they claimed was from God were to be stoned to death. We can’t get by with that today. But it shows the seriousness of saying, “Thus saith the Lord!” The truth still holds that what people say is from God must line up with what God has revealed. I had a man tell me one time that the Lord sent angels to tell him to divorce his wife. My response was, “That’s strange. God’s word says he hates divorce.” (Mal. 2:16) There is provision for it in certain cases because of the sin in this world. But I can’t imagine God encouraging it if he hates it. The one case I can recall where the leaders of Israel actually encouraged divorcing their wives was when they returned from exile where they had been because of their idolatry and rebellion against the Lord. As a nation they had been warned against marrying “foreign wives” because the foreign wives worshipped foreign gods and would lead their families away from the Lord. We see exceptions to this. Boaz married Ruth (a Moabitess) who was an ancestor to David and later Jesus. But she had committed herself to the Lord. Anyway, the command to put away their foreign wives was to say that their faithfulness to the Lord was the priority in their walk of faith.

The Greek word that is translated “faith” also means “faithfulness.” It seems to me that while we will see God in eternity and will therefore be both seeing and believing, we will still manifest “faithfulness” in our moment by moment existence.

Hope is the second thing that abides. In my sixty years of life, I cannot think of a time where hope was so lacking in our world. But we, as Christians, are offered an amazing hope that this life and all of its troubles are temporary and that eternity will be never-ending abundant life that Jesus offers through faith in him.

It would seem that once the resurrection happens, that will be the culmination of hope. We will have arrived and will eternally experience what we had hoped for in this life. But is it possible that hope will continue perhaps in even a more pure and rich form throughout eternity? Is it possible that the glory of God will lead us to a never-ending journey of learning and experiencing God’s glory. Hope would be a never ceasing joyful expectation of what is next. It’s just a thought.

Faith, hope, and love abide. “But the greatest of these is love.” (13b) The Scriptures have a lot to say about faith and hope. But Paul says that love is even greater, more important. Why? I think it’s because God has demonstrated nothing greater toward us than his love when Christ died on the cross for our sin, making it possible to have peace with God. We have faith in God. We have hope in God. But love is what can be directed toward God and all of humanity and God’s creation.

This is one of those verses we could use as a life verse. We need to meditate upon this and prayerfully ask the Lord to increase our faith, hope, and love as he leads us into a mature faith.

Episode 209 - "Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:8-12

1 Cor. 13:8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

I have a confession. Sometimes, I handle longer passages because I feel what is most important about it necessitates it being handled as a complete unit. Other times I break a section down more because there is so much to take in that it’s best to take it in small bites. But I’m breaking down this section on love into smaller segments simply because I am savoring it. It’s just that beautiful to me.

In our last episode, we looked at a list of things that love is and a list of things that love is not. In these few verses, Paul brings his comparison of the importance of love in contrast to spiritual gifts into vivid clarity. Beginning with the three words, “Love never ends,” Paul explains why love is superior to spiritual gifts. There is a sense in which this can mean that love never fails. That doesn’t mean that people never fail to love. It means that love, when exercised, doesn’t have a limit. It doesn’t run out of gas. The best example of this is God’s love for humanity demonstrated in Christ’s death on the cross for the sins of the human race past, present, and future, appropriated by those who accept the gift of forgiveness of our sins through trust in Jesus Christ. It was a one-time act that occurred 2,000 years ago but is still perceived by people today when they realize this love is available to them. That act of love still has its power upon people today.

It’s also important to understand that love will never end. God’s love will be eternally experienced by those who have received it. I would suggest that in God’s eternal realm, our love toward each other will be made perfect through Christ. The fallen condition in which we endure now will be done away with, and there will be nothing to stop or hinder our love for each other.

But what about the spiritual gifts? Look at verses 8-9. They are temporary and limited. At some point, after Paul writes this, they would cease. When? This is another one of those sticky points between some Christians. People in the church where I grew up liked to say or teach that tongues ceased when the canon of Scripture was completed and that they no longer have a purpose today. Paul’s answer to that question is, “When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (v. 10) What is the perfect? I think the perfect is when Christ returns, and Christians are given a glorified body. Notice the “Now and then” argument he gives in verse 12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” When will we fully know and be known? When we are made whole and in God’s presence.

I have friends who claim to have certain spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues. I also know there are churches at which this “gift” is regularly manifested on Sunday mornings. As a believer who does not possess this gift, I must confess that I question the validity of such programmed manifestation of these gifts. Is that the way the Spirit moves, at 10:30 on Sunday morning? I am more concerned by the insistence of some that the gift of tongues is an indication of one’s salvation. This teaching is clearly in contrast with the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures. Furthermore, Christians aren’t the only ones who claim to speak in tongues. This is why the apostle John writes in 1 John 4:1-3 to “test the spirits to see if they are from God.” This same idea is present here in Paul’s letter when he explains that these gifts are “in part” and will end. Yet, I can’t say they are completely invalid or have ceased. I choose to conclude that God is free to manifest these gifts according to his will and timing. However, they are limited. They will end at some point and will not be necessary in eternity. I believe that we will all be speaking one language or that we will all understand every language.

If it’s not clear enough that Paul understands and upholds the value of these gifts but contrasts them with the importance of love that can and should be demonstrated by every believer, he compares the gifts to “childish” things. (See verse 11) As the Lord is bringing the body of Christ (the Church) to maturity, love is what is to remain and be a chief characteristic of Christians worldwide. That should be our priority in how we treat each other and toward the world as we desire to lead them to God’s love.

Episode 208 - "High Definition Love" - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1Cor. 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I would suspect that John 3:16 is perhaps the most well-known verse in all the Bible. But this passage in 1 Corinthians 13 may be the second for the very reason that it is often read at weddings. It’s beautiful, profound, and I believe it resonates truthfully within the minds of all people. At least in principle, people believe it’s an idealistic view of love.

I must admit that studying this passage this time was the first time I noticed that Paul tells us more about what love isn’t than what it is. He says that love is patient, kind, rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love is/does NOT envy, boast, arrogant, rude, insist on its own way, irritable, resentful, and does not rejoice in wrongdoing. By my count that’s 8-7 in favor of what love is not. My suspicion is that Paul is highlighting the attitudes and characteristics that have been creating division and conflict among the believers at Corinth. In other words, Paul is telling them (and us), “Who cares if you have the gift of tongues if you are arrogant? What good is the gift of prophecy if you are rude to your brothers and sisters in the faith? Why should anyone listen to you if your boasting or always insisting that things are done your way? That’s not love and love is more important than all of those things! The gifts are only valuable if exercised in love.”

Sometimes we need a reality check, a correction in our thinking and attitudes, before we can move forward and grow in our faith. In way of application, it seems good to ask ourselves if we have self-serving, arrogant attitudes among others and confess that to the Lord.

Love IS patient and kind. Love rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I don’t know about you. But verse 7 threw me a curveball especially in the statement that love “believes all things.” Really? Am I supposed to believe everything I hear? I don’t think that is what Paul is saying. Why? Because he already said that love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth.” He is not saying that we should believe everything people say because people believe and say things that are not in-line with God’s truth. Reading all of this within the context helps guide our understanding, doesn’t it?

It would seem then that what Paul is saying is that we should not have a cynical spirit in interacting with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, demonstrating love would be evident by listening with a true concern for the other person. We can be discerning and even disagreeing if something being taught is in contradiction with God’s truth. A common problem in our society today is the notion that I must agree with you to demonstrate love or that if I don’t agree with you, I must obviously hate you. This is a lie. If someone has an addiction that is clearly harmful to them or others and we tell them that or attempt to get them to stop, we don’t hate them. On the contrary, we’re showing more love to them than they are showing to themselves. Self-destruction is self-hate. More universally, we have rules for our children for the purpose of protecting them and guiding them toward that which is good, safe, and healthy. We don’t hate them by imposing such rules. We demonstrate love.

It is in these tough situations in which loves “bears” and “endures” all things. Love is not only manifest when things are going good. The addict won’t necessarily respond to our advice in love. We don’t need to compromise truth. We find ways to stand our ground on truth without being arrogant and we can be patient and kind.

That brings up one more thing that I would suggest that love isn’t. It isn’t easy. This means that we need to draw upon the love of Christ towards us to guide us and sustain us as we seek to hold to and rejoice with truth while demonstrating patience and kindness with others.

Episode 207 - "Got love?" 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

​​1Cor. 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We left off last week with the question, “What could be more excellent than the gifts of the Holy Spirit?” Paul was confronting the idea that some believers at Corinth had the idea that some spiritual gifts were more important than others. Paul does not want to undermine the value of the gifts. On the contrary, he desires believers to value the gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit for the mutual edification of believers and to serve God’s purpose and mission through the church. But he left us with, “I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Cor. 12:31b) What is that more excellent way? He answers that question right away, doesn’t he? The answer is love.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” There are few things that Christians today can be divided over as much as the gift of tongues. People disagree over whether this gift is still valid for today. Some assert that one cannot be truly “saved” if they don’t speak in tongues. Some who claim to have it instruct others to start mumbling in order to “prime the pump,” so to speak. There are disagreements over exactly what it looks like and the Biblical guidelines for this gift.

First, Paul has clearly stated that Christians do not all have the same gifts. So, if we believe that this letter is inspired by God (as the church has believed since its early years), we believe that God cannot/does not contradict himself. Therefore, one cannot argue this gift is absolutely required or that it is evidence of one being a true Christian. Paul also wrote that gifts are distributed according to the will of the Spirit. So, one cannot decide that they will get the gift of tongues. That is God’s decision. In Acts, we find on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit filled the apostles, and they spoke in tongues. The context explains that there were people present from all over the known world who spoke and understood in their own languages what the apostles were saying. It seems reasonable to understand that in that instant, the apostles were speaking God’s truth in languages they had not learned because the Holy Spirit was enabling that. There are other places in the Scriptures where the “tongue” spoken may not be known by anyone without someone being present who can interpret the speech.

However, the point here is that this gift is nothing but a distraction if the speaker does not have love. The argument builds in verse 2 when he writes that one who has prophetic powers or amazing faith is “nothing” if they do not have love. Finally, he argues that one could even forfeit everything they have and suffer harm to death. But if they do not have love, there is no advantage.

What is the takeaway on this? First of all, while everyone may not have the gift of tongues, prophecy, or some other gift that people think is very important, it seems evident that Paul is suggesting that every single believer is capable of having the love of Christ to show to others.

The gifts are important. Paul has established that. However, they are utterly useless if they are exercised without love. God does not limit who among his people can show love to others. This makes sense when we understand that we have appropriated God’s love toward us when we trusted in Christ Jesus.

It seems to me the lesson for us is that the question before us is not “What spiritual gifts do I have?” but “How can I demonstrate God’s love to others around me?” It’s my opinion that our spiritual gifts will manifest themselves when we consider ways in which we can do that, and it won’t matter if we can’t speak in tongues because God has led us to show his love in a way that is genuine to our identity and the mission he has for each of us to the church and the world.

Episode 206 "Unity, not uniformity within the church" - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

1Cor. 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

This section summarizes what Paul has been trying to emphasize throughout this letter and most recently concerning spiritual gifts among believers within the church. Essentially, Paul wants them to prioritize unity among believers even though there is not uniformity in roles. In verse 27 the second-person pronoun “you” is plural, meaning “all of you (collectively) are the (singular) body of Christ, and each one of you is a member of that body.

Notice that in verse 28, Paul says that God appointed roles in the church. This reemphasizes that God is not letting the church define itself. He has planned and is orchestrating how it should work. When Paul writes, “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then . . .,” I don’t think he’s saying that apostles are God’s greatest gifts to the church. That would seem to be in contradiction to what he had been saying that one member cannot say of themselves that they aren’t a part of the body, and another member can’t say they have no need of some other part within the body. I think Paul’s enumeration is rather how he sees God initiating and developing the church. The apostles were the foundational members of God’s church. They were the founding members, as it were. They played an instrumental role.

After he lists specific roles that God appointed within the church and includes them as gifts (See Ephesians 4:1-16), he mentions spiritual gifts of miracles, healing, helping, and others.

In verses 29-30, he asks seven questions, and each question is expressed in the Greek language to expect the answer to be “No.” “Are all apostles?” No! Does everyone have the gift of tongues? No! God has a different purpose for each believer within the church. The Christian faith has no room for comparison, pride, and elitism. Period.

So what does Paul mean in verse 31 when he writes, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts?” (ESV) A more literal rendering may be “Be zealous of the higher/greater gifts.” It’s difficult to say exactly what he means by this. Perhaps he is simply condescending to their perceptions and attitudes. He wants every Christian to value the gifts given from above. It seems unlikely that he is suggesting that one gift is superior to another because that would lead to elitist attitudes. But as he follows that up with “And I will show you a still more excellent way,” he is telling them if anyone thinks they have a greater gift, there is something that surpasses that and, as we’ll see, can be manifested by any and every believer. What is it? We’ll find out next week. Stay tuned.

Episode 204 - "Many members, one body" - 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

1Cor. 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

1Cor. 12:14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Are you starting to pick up on a continuous theme throughout this letter? Paul began it by admonishing those who thought of themselves more highly because of their claimed association with Paul, Apollos, or someone else. Later, in chapters five and six, Paul writes that the time when these Christians should separate one member from themselves is when that professing believer is willfully being sexually immoral and refuses to turn away from that. From the beginning, Paul has emphasized the need for humility and unity among believers.

At various times, Paul has used the imagery of the body and its members to speak of the church. Once again, Paul returns to this imagery. Why? In the verses preceding this section, he wrote about gifts given by the Holy Spirit and how God, through the Spirit, gifts believers with a variety of gifts and dispenses them at his will and not the will of the believer. Is Paul changing the subject? I don’t think so.

Paul is moving from the various gifts distributed by the same Holy Spirit to various members belonging to the same body. There is a correlation between the variety of spiritual gifts and the variety of saints within the church. They have differences, but they are to work in harmony. If I’m not mistaken, Paul wants the believers at Corinth to understand that just as each spiritual gift has a purpose to serve the church and God’s mission in it, the members of the church are to each serve the church in a way that unique but mutually edifying to other members.

Paul’s statement that “we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” probably was a shocking statement to some. (v. 13) Perhaps there were Jews who thought themselves as a higher class Christian by virtue of their heritage or some free people, following the culture, looked down upon those who were slaves. Paul argues that we are all one in Christ, and there is no difference. Paul develops this thought a little more in Ephesians 2.

Verses 14-17 make it clear that no one member can assert that they are separate from the body because of who they are or of what gift they may have been given. There are no excuses for not contributing to the body of Christ because God has baptized us all into the same body and, despite our differences, has gifted us differently for the mutual benefit within the body. If everyone were given the same gift or God made us all the same, we wouldn’t be much of a body. That body would be very limited.

Verse 18 reminds us that it is God who has made these choices. He has designed us, led us through various experiences in life, and gifted us in ways different from our brothers and sisters; not a single one of us is more or less important than the next person. There is no room for pride or self-isolation within the body of Christ. What is called for is humility before God and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Secondly, we must seek to find out how we can minister according to how God has gifted us for the edification and encouragement of fellow believers and to serve God’s mission to the world.

Episode 203 - "Many Spiritual Gifts - One God" - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Cor. 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Let me begin by saying that I believe this section offers us some of the most foundational and important truths concerning spiritual gifts, enablements of the Holy Spirit, within the life of a person who has trusted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I will also be upfront and add that I believe these truths expose egregious errors in the teachings of some Christian groups. Without naming specific groups, I don’t question their passion or sincerity. There are people within those groups who do not subscribe to those errors, and there are people who hold those same errors while belonging to Christian organizations that don’t believe or teach the errors. But I do suggest they, whether individuals or formal groups, need to allow this Holy Spirit-inspired revelation to correct their beliefs and practices with respect to spiritual gifts. Let’s take a look.

What do you see or hear repeated in verses 4 through 6? First, there is the word “varieties.” It speaks of the broad work and enablements of the Holy Spirit. That variety is explained in verses that follow: utterances of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working miracles, prophecy, ability to distinguish between spirits, tongues (languages), and interpretation of tongues. I don’t believe this is an exhaustive list. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul, the same person who wrote this letter, speaks of leaders in the Church as “gifts.” The point is that what the Holy Spirit does in and through a believer can look different from that of another believer. Both of them will confess that Jesus is Lord. But each of them may, and likely will, be gifted differently. Why is that? We’ll come back to this question.

The second thing that is repeated in verses 4 through 6 is “same.” It’s the same Spirit, same Lord, and same God who empowers believers in a “variety” of ways. This is important to understand because Paul is not saying that there is only one spirit. He is saying there is only one Holy Spirit who provides true God-created and enabled gifts to His Church. There are other spirits who, at times, imitate some of these enablements. Think about the story of the Exodus when Moses and Aaron went before Pharoah to bring the LORD’s command to “Let me people go!” When they performed a few signs, Pharoah’s magicians also performed what was perceived as miraculous signs. Yet, there is a limit to what they could do. Look at Exodus 8:17-19 for example. When God turned dust into gnats, the magicians could not do that. They said, “It is the finger of God.” (A reference to the Holy Spirit.) Paul wants the Corinthian believers to know that there are not different spirits, lords, or gods behind the different works. Therefore, they need to be discerning. We need to be discerning in our churches today. Just because someone appears to be a great leader or has special abilities, it doesn’t mean they are being led by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 7 gives us two important truths. First, Paul says, “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit.” Every single person who places their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ is given a spiritual gift. Secondly, Paul tells us why the Holy Spirit gives each believer at least one spiritual gift. It is “for the common good.” Spiritual gifts are to be exercised within the community of faith to correct, strengthen, and encourage other believers in their faith and work out God’s mission through that group of believers. This explains why there is a variety of gifts that are given from the same God. God understands the complexity of our lives, and He wants us to work together in unity for His mission to the world. God doesn’t build “superChristians” who can do everything. He gifts everyone in the church to offer something for the others within the church to work together to be a light to the world.

In verse 11, Paul reemphasizes that all these gifts are empowered by the same Spirit and then adds one more detail. He says the Holy Spirit “apportions to each one individually as he wills.” This tells us that we don’t get to pick what spiritual gifts we are given. That is decided by the Holy Spirit. I think it’s entirely possible that the Spirit may gift people with different gifts and even change their gifts at times for whatever God deems necessary for His work.

God does not and will not feed our egos. These truths, if we really believe the Holy Spirit, should humble us in knowing that we are subject to the Spirit’s will and, in receiving what is given to us, we are to use that for the benefit of other believers around us and for God’s mission in the world.

Much more could be said on the nature of the gifts Paul listed. However, I felt the important truths centered more upon the nature of the Giver and the purpose and manner in which these gifts are distributed.

Episode 202 - "Spiritual Gifts - The First Rule" 1 Corinthians 12:1-3

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Few issues among Christians can bring a hot debate like that of “spiritual gifts.” As with previous topics like “head coverings,” my objective here is not to insult brothers and sisters in the faith who have strong opinions about this topic. It is to simply put forth what the Scripture says and make an attempt to explain what it means.

Paul begins this section by explaining that he wants the Corinthian believers to have an understanding of spiritual gifts. I don’t think Paul exhaustively answers every potential question that might arise concerning this topic in this section. But he is sharing what he considers is vitally important for them to understand.

First, he contrasts Christians with people who are somehow led to worship idols that cannot speak. He writes in verse 2, “You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.” Paul’s point is that these people had firsthand experience being influenced by some unknown means to worship mute idols. These idols could not speak or communicate. We could infer that practicing idolatry will offer you no wisdom, truth, or direction. Paul’s added comment, “however you were led,” indicates that their pre-Christian experience was characterized by confusion.

In light of that experience, Paul says the Holy Spirit does not operate like that. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God. Paul says, “No one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” (1 Cor. 12:3a) That’s a pretty direct and absolute statement. What does it tell us? It tells us that God can and does communicate to and through people. God is not mute. Next, it tells us that a person who has trusted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit will never say, “Jesus is accursed.”

Conversely, Paul continues by saying, “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:3b) This is evidence that God, by the Holy Spirit, does speak clear messages through his people. To confess that Jesus is Lord is prompted and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

This is Paul’s first point concerning spiritual gifts. Many people claim to have some spiritual gift, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and others. However, we should not accept these claims without discernment whether or not the message is from God. According to Paul, the first and most important rule is that the message from the Holy Spirit will proclaim Jesus as Lord.

What is Paul’s point? I believe his first and most important point for the Corinthian believers, and one that applies to us today, is that the first indication of who we can listen to in order to be edified in our faith are those who publicly confess that Jesus is Lord.

Think about what we say about Jesus. Do we exalt him according to what is revealed in the Scriptures about him? If so, that is an indication of the Holy Spirit working in your life. Give thanks to God that his Spirit is at work in you.

Episode 178 - "Servants and Stewards" - 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Paul is not yet finished with his attempt to dismantle any rationalization these believers might use to exalt the apostles or themselves above others. Paul tells them to regard Apollos, Cephas, and himself as “servants of Christ.” (v. 1) In a culture that had slaves and various levels of status in the world, Paul tells them to put “us” in the lowest level. Secondly, they have a responsibility beyond doing whatever Christ requires of them. He adds that they are “stewards of the mysteries of God.” (v. 1) He adds that it is “required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (v. 2) If one is responsible for guarding and dispensing something of value, they better manage it well.

Concerning this responsibility, it is not something that he can use to exalt himself over others. Only Christ is a true and just judge over whether Paul has fulfilled that responsibility or not. Paraphrasing verse 4, “Even if I think I’ve done a great job as this steward, my opinion of myself counts for nothing with Christ.”

Verse 5 is the application for them. I read this as Paul saying, “Mind yourself and your service to the Lord. Don’t exalt anyone including yourself above others because the day is coming when the perfect judge will pronounce judgment and will accurately commend each one according to their motives.”

Paul continues in verse 6 by explaining that he is trying to show them by example. So, if they respect him and the others, they should not be arrogant toward others. He, Apollos, and Cephas aren’t boasting to others. So, why should they?

So, what is the point of verse 7? Why would anyone boast about something they didn’t receive? The point is that everything they have is a gift from God. Nothing within themselves is some special quality inherent to them. Therefore, Paul is asking them rhetorically, “Why are you boasting about something as if you were a better person than someone else? Everything you have has been given to you. God has gifted you and gifted your brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Prayer: Father - Help us use the gifts you’ve given us to serve others humbly. Help us to be good stewards of what you’ve entrusted to us.

Episode 167 - "God is faithful" - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In these few years I’ve been producing this blog and podcast, we covered the Gospel of John and, most recently, the Epistle of James. It’s time to walk through one of the Apostle Paul’s letters. This is the first of two letters to the Christians at Corinth that is included in our New Testament canon. The style of the introductory verses is very common in Paul’s letters. He identifies himself and his role as an apostle through the divine will and “call” of God. Paul is not one of the twelve who were with Jesus through his earthly ministry. We don’t get to know anything about Paul until we get to the book of Acts. Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus to heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles at Pentecost, which is the initiating event for the church. It’s not long before we read about an antagonist of Christianity who is a Jewish leader named Saul. Saul participated in the stoning of Stephen, a follower of Christ, and sought to persecute as many Christians as possible. On a journey to Damascus for the purpose of arresting Christians, Jesus appeared in a bright light and spoke to Saul from heaven, and Saul became a follower of Christ. His name was changed to Paul. (See Acts 7-9) He is the most prolific author of our New Testament books.

Paul introduced himself as an apostle, but specifying this role is not something he chose or sought himself. He was called by God to fulfill this role. He mentions a brother in Christ named Sosthenes as well as though he has something to contribute to this written message that has been delivered to them. There is no indication I’m aware of regarding Sosthenes’ contribution to the letter. However, in Acts 18:1-17 we read about Paul’s first recorded trip to and ministry among the people he is now writing to. We discover that Sosthenes was with Paul and had been beaten by Jews for their witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul had been there for around eighteen months, teaching people about Jesus. Maybe Paul mentions Sosthenes's name to remind these Corinthian believers what he and Sosthenes invested in them to get their attention.

After introducing himself, he addresses his readers with specific statements about who they are. First of all, they are “the church of God at Corinth.” They are “God’s assembly.” The primary thing these people have in common besides their residence in Corinth is that they are brought together in fellowship by God's will. Furthermore, they are sanctified in Christ Jesus. The word “sanctified” means set apart for a holy purpose. Followers of Jesus are in Christ intended for God’s holy purpose. He adds these believers are “called to be saints (or holy) together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 2) We may have local fellowships of Christ followers. But we are also part of a greater fellowship of everyone everywhere who follows Jesus. This should remind us that by trusting in Jesus, we have been intentionally set apart for God’s purposes, and our lives should reflect the holiness to which God has called us.

Paul expresses his blessing to them of God’s grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful thing to know that God wants peace with us and intends to bless us with his grace.

Paul then explained that he always gives thanks because God’s grace to them was evident in how they had been “enriched in him (Christ Jesus) in all speech and knowledge” (v. 5), and they did not lack any gift. (v. 6) What does this mean? It appears to me that when he says in verse 6, “even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,” he means that as they believed the gospel and the word taught them as Paul discipled them, he witnessed how the Holy Spirit enabled them in ways of understanding and communication so that they could encourage, and teach others as well. That’s how the testimony of Christ was confirmed. The work of the Holy Spirit in their lives was obvious. This affirmation by Paul is intended to encourage them. He tells them they are not lacking any gift “as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (vs. 7-8) The point is that God is with his people. He will provide what they need.

He concludes his introduction and thanksgiving in verse 9 by saying, “God is faithful.” Paul understands that these believers were facing challenges and needed encouragement by reminding them that God has not abandoned them. His grace and peace are extended to them. He has enabled them through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we are to be holy and focused on Him.

Paul is about to chastise them for getting off track. So, he began this letter by reminding them of what God had done for them and his purpose for them. What encouragement we can draw from knowing that God is with us and is faithful to us.