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Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,<\/span> <\/strong>let us use them:<\/em><\/strong><\/span> if prophecy,<\/span> let us prophesy<\/em> <\/span>in proportion to our faith;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Each Christian is gifted for the benefit of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n Paul begins the verse with a coordinating conjunction de<\/em><\/span>, which can be translated as \u201cand\u201d or as \u201cbut\u201d or several other English words. In each case, however, the purpose is to show the direct connection between the previous phrase and the following one.<\/p>\n The word translated as \u201cgifts<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word charismata<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201cthat which has been bestowed gratuitously.\u201d In other words, it wasn\u2019t earned and isn\u2019t deserved; it was simply imparted out of benevolence.<\/p>\n \u201cProphecy<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word proph\u0113teia<\/em><\/span>, which is the noun form of proph\u0113teu\u014d<\/em><\/span>. According to The Word Study Dictionary<\/em>, this word means \u201cto foretell things to come; to declare truths through the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit whether by prediction or otherwise.\u201d In other words, it includes both the \u201cforetelling\u201d of events before they happen and the \u201cforth-telling\u201d of the truths of God\u2019s Word. The primary gift of the prophet in the early church involved both of these.<\/p>\n This list of spiritual gifts is clearly punctuated as a coordinated list as can be seen by the Greek grammatical construction. Each of the gifts in this and the two following verses is preceded with the Greek word eite<\/em><\/span>, which is another kind of coordinating conjunction. It is as if these had been listed as \u201cbullet points\u201d with each occurrence of eite<\/em> <\/span>being a bullet. There is no apparent order of importance or hierarchy in this list, it is simply a list.<\/p>\n Now that Paul has explained to us that the church is like a body made up of many differing parts, he begins to describe some of the functions that these various parts perform and the special enabling that we have to perform these functions. We, the members of the body of Christ, have gifts. These gifts were given to us according to, or with respect to, or as part of, the grace that was given to us. Paul is telling us that these gifts were given to us at the point in time that the grace of God was bestowed upon us, when we were given the righteousness of Christ. In other words, these gifts were given to us when we were saved. They are not part of a \u201csecond blessing\u201d nor are they gifts that we earn as we become mature Christians. They were given to us once, for all time, just as our salvation was given to us once, for all time and eternity.<\/p>\n Remember, as you read through this list of gifts, they were given to us as members of a body and they are to be used to make the body healthy. They are not given for personal profit (not even to the phophet J), but for the good of the body.<\/p>\n Do you know what spiritual gift(s) God has blessed you with? Are you using it (them) for the good of the body?<\/p>\n Keep in mind that there is a kind of cell within the human body that has no regard for the cells around it. Its only purpose is to feed itself so it can grow. It\u2019s called cancer!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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