Christ's Gift

by Wayne Blank

"I therefore [see Paul's Ministry], a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:1-6 RSV)

"But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift"

The purpose of Christ's servants (see also Christianos) is to serve Him.

Blessings

"But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." (Ephesians 4:7 RSV)

The means by which Christ's servants serve Him are the "gifts" that He provides to them, just as someone in the military is issued equipment and training according to the duty that they have been assigned.

"Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (Ephesians 4:8 RSV)

According to Christ's choice, He provides the means for that service to be carried out. Christ decides who does what, and then enables them to do it. It is a team effort "for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith."

"And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles." (Ephesians 4:11-14 RSV)

Christ is the head of His Church; Christians are individual parts of a whole.

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16 RSV)

Fact Finder: What is the actual meaning of the Greek word of the Scriptures that is usually translated into English as "spiritual gifts"?
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