1 Corinthians 12: The Spirit's Gifts for the Good of All

Introduction

After a four-month break, Église Connexion is resuming its series in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Eduardo, one of the church's leaders, preaches on 1 Corinthians 12, the chapter that opens Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts in chapters 12, 13 and 14.

The previous week, Ivan had preached on the beginnings of the church in Acts 2, "a united church, an exemplary united church." In Corinth, Eduardo observes, "the picture is not quite the same. The calling is the same, the lived reality not quite."

The subject of spiritual gifts, miracles or speaking in tongues can still divide people today. Eduardo acknowledges that in his church, people have different experiences, backgrounds and sensitivities on this question. He asks three questions of the text: who are Christians? What are the gifts? How are they distributed?

Message outline

1. Corinth, a church sick with division and arrogance

Paul wrote his letter to address serious problems in the church at Corinth. Eduardo sums them up in two linked words: "division and arrogance."
"Divisions fed by arrogance and arrogance fed by divisions": a vicious circle in which members thought themselves superior to others and formed groups.
Any reason would do: a preference for one preacher, theological interpretations, practices of the faith, social status or level of knowledge of the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 12 shows the same division in another area: the manifestations of the Spirit, such as miracles or speaking miraculously in other languages.

2. Who are Christians? Those who confess Jesus as Lord

Paul speaks of "spiritual things" (verse 1), probably because the Corinthians used that word. Being "spiritual" had become a status: some were, others were not.
The division ran between the "spiritual" Christians, who displayed visible gifts, most likely mainly speaking in tongues, and the "ordinary" Christians, who did not have these impressive experiences.
Paul begins by removing this criterion (verse 2). When they were pagans, the Corinthians were "led away to those mute idols, however they were led." They had already had powerful experiences, and that was not proof of a relationship with the true God.
The mark of a Christian lies elsewhere: no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit (verse 3). Whoever confesses Jesus as Lord by their words and actions is inspired by the Spirit. Whoever does not confess him, even if they work miracles, does not have the Holy Spirit.
"For in one Spirit we were all baptized" (verse 13): every Christian has the same Spirit who, at Pentecost, made the disciples speak in other languages.
Today we can be mistaken when we judge someone by what is visible: an intense prayer, a spectacular miracle to tell about, a lot of confidence. We are also mistaken when we judge a church to be alive by the number of its impressive manifestations.
"What attracted you when you were pagans cannot become your criterion now that you are Christians." A healthy church is one where Jesus is confessed, where the apostles' teaching is treasured and where Jesus is served as Lord.

3. What are the gifts? An action, a service, a gift

After the resurrection and the ascension, the disciples received the Holy Spirit: God present among them invisibly, with very visible evidence. They began to speak in other languages and to proclaim the wonders of God (Acts 2).
This sign recurs in the book of Acts each time a new people welcomes the gospel. It was a powerful sign: the gospel was going to be preached in every language, among all nations.
Verses 4 to 6 speak of one reality using three words: a variety of gifts but the same Spirit, a variety of services but the same Lord, a variety of workings but the same God "who works all things in all." Here we see the Trinity at work.
Hence Eduardo's definition: "gifts are an action that God accomplishes in someone for a service to the Lord Jesus and his body, through a free gift of his Spirit."
An action of God: you cannot bring it about with a ritual or a magic formula. "You cannot force God's hand to make him perform a miracle." It is the sovereign act of a sovereign God.
A service: the manifestation of the Spirit is given "for the profit of all" (verse 7). Gifts are not a personal pursuit to deepen your own spirituality and do yourself good.
A gift: a free present, not a reward. One and the same Spirit distributes them "to each one separately as he desires" (verse 11).

4. A definition of gifts that needs widening

The Corinthians seemed to have a very narrow definition of gifts. Paul deliberately widens it, with a broad list in verses 8 to 11, repeated in verse 28. He mentions, for example, gifts of service, teaching, leadership, encouragement, or an especially resilient faith.
If a gift is an action of God in someone, by his Spirit, to serve the church, then serving as a deacon is a spiritual gift. So is having a resilient faith through the community's trials, to the point of inspiring your brothers and sisters. So is leading the church well, and coming to the aid of brothers and sisters in distress.
Eduardo does not downplay miracles: "I believe God still does things that most people would call a miracle," healings and impressive manifestations, at the times and places he chooses in his wisdom.
The reason for this widening lies elsewhere: the more we know God, the more we see that he works all things in all, that he is constantly at work for his church and through it, and that he never lets it labor without his Spirit.
There is therefore no need to try to define precisely each expression in the list, such as the "word of wisdom" or the "word of knowledge." These expressions appear nowhere else in the Bible. Paul perhaps takes up the Corinthians' own vocabulary to tell them: these gifts, and many others, are all actions of God for the profit of all.

5. Gifts distributed for unity and interdependence

The distribution of gifts follows God's sovereignty (verse 11) and what is useful for the church (verse 7). Eduardo adds a third aspect: unity and interdependence, "that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another" (verse 25).
Why doesn't God give every gift to everyone? Because he wants to make us a body: people with different gifts who depend on one another.
Paul first encourages those who feel outside the body: "If the foot would say, 'Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body'..." You have faith, but you doubt that you are a real Christian because you have not had a certain experience or received a certain gift you saw in someone else. It can look like humility, but it is often a way of trying to force God's hand.
Paul then corrects the person who thinks they are self-sufficient: "The eye can't tell the hand, 'I have no need for you.'" Eduardo has heard people say they do not attend any church because the Holy Spirit teaches them alone with their Bible. That amounts to saying: "I don't need the gifts of others."
"The diversity of gifts creates interdependence and therefore unity," whereas uniformity would create division and jealousy.
In verses 22 to 26, the members suffer together and are honored together. Some services, which are more exposed, receive natural honor. Others, less visible, must be honored intentionally by a church that cares for its members. If this is neglected, the whole body suffers.

6. Earnestly desiring the greater gifts

You might think the distribution of gifts is fixed: either I have it or I don't. Yet Paul writes: "Earnestly desire the greater gifts" (verse 31).
This does not contradict God's sovereignty. Very often, God works in our will and through our will: he puts in us a desire to serve, then answers that desire by equipping us.
Paul writes to Timothy that if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work (1 Timothy 3:1). Wanting to serve the church as an elder or in another role is not necessarily pride. It is often the way God calls someone, and then the gift is recognized by the church and grows with practice and faithfulness.
You can ask God, make yourself available, practice and serve where there is a need. But in submission: "I can desire, ask, make myself available, but I don't want to force God's hand." And receive with gratitude what he gives, even if it is not what you imagined.
Then in faithfulness to what you have already received, instead of looking with envy at your neighbor's gifts or with arrogance at your own.
The greater gifts are not necessarily the most impressive: "They are those that serve others the most," those that build up the body.
Paul ends with a promise: "Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you." Not one more gift, but a path in which all gifts must be sought and exercised. Eduardo leaves the suspense, as Paul does, until the next message.

Key takeaways

Every Christian is spiritual: the mark of the Spirit is the confession of Jesus as Lord, not a spectacular experience.
A spiritual gift is an action of God in someone, to serve the Lord Jesus and his body, through a free gift of the Spirit.
Serving as a deacon, leading, helping, or holding fast in faith through trials are also gifts of the Spirit.
The diversity of gifts creates interdependence and unity: no one can say "I don't belong to the body," nor "I don't need you."
You can desire the gifts, in submission to the Spirit and faithfulness to what you have already received. The greater gifts are those that serve others the most.

Personal application

By what criteria do you judge the spirituality of a brother, a sister or a church: what is impressive, or the confession of Jesus as Lord?
What gift have you received, even a quiet one, and how do you put it at the service of others rather than your own benefit?
Do you sometimes tell yourself "I don't belong to the body" because you lack a certain gift? Or, on the contrary, "I don't need others"?
Who in your church serves in the shadows and deserves to be honored by you intentionally this week?
What desire to serve God has he put in you, and what first step can you take to make yourself available?

Verses cited

Frequently asked questions

What makes a Christian spiritual according to 1 Corinthians 12?

It is not a visible, impressive experience. Paul writes that no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit (verse 3). For Eduardo, whoever confesses Jesus as Lord by their words and actions is inspired by the Spirit: every Christian is spiritual.

How can we define a spiritual gift?

Based on verses 4 to 6, Eduardo offers this definition: a gift is an action that God accomplishes in someone, for a service to the Lord Jesus and his body, through a free gift of his Spirit. It is neither a reward nor a way of doing yourself good: it is given for the profit of all (verse 7).

Can you ask God for a spiritual gift?

Yes. Paul says "Earnestly desire the greater gifts" (verse 31). God often puts in us a desire to serve and then equips us. You can ask, make yourself available and serve where there is a need, in submission to the Spirit who distributes as he wills, and receiving with gratitude what he gives.