Sermon for HCBC (2 August 2020). To listen use the audio player below or click here. Also available on your favorite podcast app (“Hunting Creek Baptist Church”).
Introduction
One of the most difficult things for us to grasp as modern, western Christians is God’s desire for us to be part of his people, part of the Church. This is difficult for us, because in the modern West we are intensely individualistic.
In the NT, the Corinthians were not much different. As one scholar puts it, they view themselves as “spiritual soloists” attempting to play their own concert.[1] This mindset is especially evident when they come together for worship. We, too, may conceive of our Christian life in individual terms. We may think that church attendance and church involvement are personal matters—it’s about my desires, preferences; it exists to serve me. Many times, we come to observe an event rather than to participate in a community.
But God does not redeem people and pour his Spirit into them for their benefit alone. He redeems people to be part of a community for his glory. He empowers people with his Spirit to serve that community.
That is why it is so very important when we confess the words of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the holy catholic Church.” When we say those words, we are saying that we all are joined to a group that has Christ as its head.[2] Interestingly, those words in the creed follow the words “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit empowers the community. Luther said that we should not call it a Christian congregation unless Christ is preached and the Holy Spirit “creates, calls, and gathers the Church.”[3] This is what the Spirit does then. Through the gospel, he calls us into a community of believers and empowers us for service. The work of the Spirit is not for self-benefit but for the benefit of Christ’s church.
Empowering the Church
Paul announces his subject in 1 Cor 12:1: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Why would they be uniformed? Because he is about to talk about spiritual things. These are things that don’t make sense unless one’s eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit.[4] He explains that in the next verse. “You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.” Without the Spirit we are always directed by idols. We are always worshiping whether we realize it or not. And what we worship acts as a compass for our life, and eventually we become like what we worship (Ps 115:8).
But notice Paul is not talking about generic spirituality. This is not just God talk. There is a major difference between God talk and Christianity. Verse 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.”
All God talk is not Christian. Confessing Christ is the criterion for true spirituality.[5] The question is not: Do you believe in God? It is: What do you say about Jesus? The person who lives under the confession “Jesus is Lord” is the person empowered by the Holy Spirit. Now don’t twist Paul’s words. He doesn’t mean whoever says “Jesus is Lord” as some sort of magical formula is empowered by the Spirit. He means those who recognize him as God and King. Remember the Spirit points to Jesus.
These verses answer who is empowered by the Spirit. Only those who confess in word and life that Jesus is Lord are empowered by the Spirit.
Gifts, the Triune God, and the Church
Let’s look at the next three verses. I want you to pay attention to the trinitarian nature of the verses. The triune God equips his people with spiritual gifts. We see the Spirit, Christ, and the Father. Verses 4–6:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
So we are talking about supernatural gifts that are given by the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit work harmoniously to equip the Church.
Every single believer receives a gift from the Spirit. Verse 7: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” The same God empowers all his people. “To each is given.” What are they given? “The manifestation of the Spirit.” Manifestation means making something visible. That means the Spirit’s work is visible in the gifts of believers. How do we see God at work in our world? In the lives of his people, in the Church. And what is the purpose of these gifts? “For the common good.” That is, for the good of the Church. Another way we could say this is for the building up and strengthening of the Church. Paul uses that language in ch. 14. The gifts are for the benefit of the Church. For the Church.
Again, we live in such an individualized society that we really need to do some hard thinking about this. Being a faithful Christian means being for the Church. Christianity is not an individual affair.
I think the thing that bothers me most as a pastor is when people find something disagreeable and try to harm the church through lack of participation or some form of protest. That response is a product of our culture, not a product of Christianity, and it is a shame when it happens in the church. Love for the church is a mark of mature Christianity.
I, too, grew up with the notion of individual Christianity. I had very little love for the Church. I didn’t even think it was necessary to be part of a church to be a Christian. Through Scripture, God brought me to repentance over those errant notions, and it grieves me when I see others making the same mistakes.
One way to think about your love for the Church is to ask the following question: Am I a team player? In his book on sports psychology, Jim Afremow suggests three questions to ask:
1. What am I doing that is hurting my team (e.g., complaining, gossiping)?
2. What am I not doing that is hurting my team (e.g., cheering for my teammates, accepting my role on the team)?
3. What are the specific actions steps I will take to be a better teammate moving forward (e.g., hustling on every play, being more vocal on the field)?[6]
Harming the Church through selfish individualism is a failure to love Christ because the Church is his body. When we aim to hurt the Church or refuse to participate, we are essentially rejecting the gospel.
This, then, is the purpose of the spiritual gifts. The Spirit empowers us to serve the Church which brings glory to the triune God—the Giver of those gifts.
Spiritual Gifts
Let’s talk quickly about spiritual gifts. Theologian Wayne Grudem has a helpful definition: “A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.”[7] The reason these gifts are given to the Church is because this is the New Covenant promise. In the latter days, God promises, I will pour out my Spirit (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17).
Paul lists some of these gifts in 1 Cor 12:8–10. He lists another series in v. 28. That’s 13 in just this chapter. But we see a few others in Ephesians and Romans. The point seems to be that these are not comprehensive lists. Instead, they are general lists. They are categories. The Spirit moves in a variety of ways. According to vv. 8–10, the Spirit equips some with words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. But the same Spirit equips each person in his infinite wisdom. Verse 11: “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” So the Spirit determines which gifts we receive.
Because the Spirit equips each person in the Church for service, we should receive our gifts with gratitude and employ them faithfully. We do not need to lament that God has not equipped us for certain tasks. All these gifts come from the same Fountain.[8] For example, some are equipped to teach. Some are not. Paul draws an analogy in the rest of the chapter to make this point. He says the Church is like a body with individual parts. The parts all serve the purpose of ensuring that the body functions well. When a part refuses to accept its role, the whole body is harmed. Additionally, it is absurd to think that a single part could do all the tasks of the body. The body must work together. When one part suffers, the whole body suffers. When one member is honored, the whole body rejoices. There’s no such thing as individual Christianity.
Identifying Gifts
How do we identify our gifts? The way God has equipped us for service?
Spiritual gifts tests can be helpful, but they can also do exactly what Paul is warning against. They can turn into opportunities for selfish obsession. Let me suggest a series of questions instead.
1. How has God naturally equipped me?
Two Christian thinkers write, “Our talents are God-given opportunities to do good as an act of worship.”[9] Spiritual gifts are supernatural, but this does not mean they are wholly inconsistent with our personality. God often does extraordinary works through ordinary means.
2. Where has God situated me?
God calls his people to a particular location, and he calls them to partner with specific congregations. God’s calling is not haphazard. He has placed you in a particular situation for his glory and for the good of his Church. In what way can you be useful where you are?
3. Does it promote love?
Paul is driving toward ch. 13 where he says love is the culmination of the gifts. First Corinthians 13 is not really about marriage. It is about using our gifts to serve the Church. Paul says our gifts are useless if they are not grounded in love. That is, if we selfishly use our gifts, they are worthless.
4. Does it benefit the Church?
This is really one of the major points Paul wants to make in the book. The Corinthians were selfish individuals. Paul wants them to think about the Church. Notice how he works through the criteria of gifts in ch. 14. Verse 3: “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” See his concern. Verse 4: “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” Then he says in v. 5: “I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.” Why? “So that the church may be built up.” Then v. 12: “strive to excel in building up the church.” And v. 26: “Let all things be done for building up.” Paul’s heart is for the Church, and ours should be as well.
Application
I’ll make three brief summarizing applications.
1. Not using our gifts is a rejection of the Spirit and harmful to the Church, which is harmful to Christ.
2. The goal of Christianity is not heaven; it is God’s glory and the benefit of the Church.
3. If our desire is not for the good of the Church, we must repent and ask God to change our hearts.
Conclusion
Jesus tells a parable about a man going away on a trip (Matt 25:14–30). Because traveling took so long, he entrusts his property to three servants. To one, he gives five talents, to another two, and to another one, “each according to his ability.” The man with the five talents traded them and made five more. The one with two did the same, doubling the original property. But the one who received one talent dug a hole and buried it in the ground. When the master returned, he praised the first two.
When the one who buried the talent came forward, he said, “Master, I know you are a hard man, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.” The master responds by calling him a wicked and slothful servant. And he takes the talent away.
When churches and Christians sit on the gifts God has given to them, whether it’s out of fear or sloth, we are displaying unfaithful hearts—hearts that do not want to serve our Lord or his Church. Our gifts are given to us for God’s glory and for the benefit of the Church. May we use them faithfully.
For a discussion guide click here.
[1] Richard Hays, First Corinthians, 182.
[2] Calvin, Institutes, 4.1.2: “By the unity of the church we must understand a unity into which we feel persuaded that we are truly engrafted. For unless we are united with all the other members under Christ our head, no hope of the future inheritance awaits us. Hence the church is called Catholic or Universal for two or three cannot be invented without dividing Christ; and this is impossible. All the elect of God are so joined together in Christ, that as they depend on one head, so they are as it was compacted into one body, being knit together like its different members; made truly one by living together under the same Spirit of God in one faith, hope, and charity, called not only to the same inheritance of eternal life, but to participation in one God and Christ.”
[3] Luther’s Larger Catechism.
[4] Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, 29.2: “Paul calls the gifts spiritual because they are the work of the Spirit alone, owing nothing to human initiative.”
[5] See Hays, 218.
[6] The Champion’s Mind, 23.
[7] Systematic Theology, 1016.
[8] Chrysostom, Homilies, 29.4.
[9] Driscoll and Breshears, Doctrine, 384.