The Road to God Ministry: Doctrine of Spiritual Gifts, part 1

Today I am going to start a study on an often hotly debated doctrine, the spiritual gifts. In this study we will go through and look at each spiritual gift and the doctrines involved. Though we may touch into a few of the better Biblical commentaries, The Road to God Ministry will always translate the Bible LITERALLY and in a historical-grammatical context. This way we will always take God at His Word, always. In this hermenuetical fashion we will need to look at Scripture in three ways, to define: what did the Scripture mean to those who originally heard it; what does the Scripture mean for us today; and what does the Scripture mean for us personally?

So you may ask yourself, "what's the big fuss over the spiritual gifts?" The "fuss" is whether or not we, as a sinful race Romans 3:23), can receive a gift, learn a gift, or take the view that the spiritual gifts where a thing of the past age, when Christianity was born. The "fuss" is that the varying ideologies regarding the gifts has caused new Christian denominations to be born. Charismatic and Pentecostal churches are built upon the idea of receiving spiritual gifts from the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit). Even today's Messianic Jewish movement now has a Charismatic side to it.

Note: At no time do I or will I ever question the salvation of another believer regardless of their denomination or as to how they translate the Bible. I often hear the phrase, "love the sinner and hate the sin," and I do.

What are the spiritual gifts? In answer I wish to direct you to a passage from the Bible that will often be discussed. To the church of Corinth did Paul write,

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor 12:1-11 (KJV)
Thus Paul gave the Corinthians a list of spiritual gifts:

Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Healing
Miracle Worker
Prophecy
Discerning of Spirits
Speaking in Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues.

In Romans Paul writes of further gifts.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8 (KJV)

Exhortation
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
Ministry
Teaching

In Ephesians chapter four, Paul writes of another spiritual gifts.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:6-13 (KJV)

Evangelism

Spiritual gifts are the manifestation of blessings granted to Believers for a specific purpose. Spiritual gifts are miracles. Thus they must serve a purpose.