- What gifts from God were given to people in the New Testament?
- (James 1:17) “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” Gifts in the context are
- Various trials (v2) that produce patience and perfection
- Wisdom (v5)
- Low status (v9)
- Enduring temptation places one above the cares of life (v12)
- The crown of life (v12)
- Temptation is not a gift (v13); don’t over-generalize
- (Hebrews 6:4 – 5) The heavenly gift is parallel to enlightenment, partaking of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the powers of the age to come
- (Ephesians 2:8) The faith economy is a gift
- (Romans 5:15 – 18) Gift of righteousness by grace results in justification
- (Romans 6:23) Gift of eternal life
- (2 Corinthians 9:15) The grace of God in us is a gift
- (Romans 12:6 – 8) A variety of gifts that are given as a result of God’s grace: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, sharing, leading, mercy. The remainder of the chapter provides applications.
- Gift of church leadership
- Ephesians 4:7 – 16
- Ephesians 3:7
- Spiritual gifts
- Acts 8:20, 10:45, 11:17
- 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 9, 28, 30, 31, 13:2, 14:1, 12
- Romans 1:11 – What is the meaning of “spiritual”?
- (1 Peter 4:10 – 11) Gift of service with the ability which God supplies
- (2 Corinthians 1:11) Gift of answered prayer
- (1 Corinthians 7:7) Gift of being unmarried and content “Some in this manner and some in that”
- Vaguely defined gifts
- Acts 2:38
- 1 Corinthians 1:7
- Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- The gift in view is the choosing of Israel as a vehicle for the gospel, not salvation.
- At any point in history, most Israelites were unbelievers. Yet, they were chosen.
- The low response rate was planned (v25) and would improve
- Israel will always be a vehicle for the gospel
- Are gifts separable into different types (spiritual, miraculous)?
- Are gifts of different importance? (1 Corinthians 12:12 – 31)
- Does God give gifts to unbelievers?
- God has done so in the past (g., Israel)
- God has promised gifts only to believers
- Do natural abilities differ from gifts? (Matthew 25:14 – 46, Luke 19:11 – 27)
