Pt 2: The Gift

1 Cor 1:4-9

(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

(5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 

(6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 

(7a) So that ye come behind in no gift; 

waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Last week when we gave consideration to the second word of this letter, we realised two things that came from it most clearly;

The first was that not only Paul, but we are all “CALLED”, the first “calling” is to Christ, we are all “Called to be saints” as we are told in verse 2.

The SECOND calling was specific to that which God had for the life of the believer, to fulfill his purpose in life.

We saw that 

“Paul, was called to be an apostle….”

And we came to understand that AFTER we have responded to the call for eternal life, the call of salvation, the “call to be saints“, we too are “called to be….”. And I made request of you to give consideration to what that calling may be for your life.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

We saw therefore in the word “Called” a two fold use of the word. One to salvation the other to purpose.

Today we will see a similar two fold use of the word “GIFT”, and interestingly enough, it is not very dissimilar. 

In the word “Called” we understood God doing the calling and we are to respond in accord with our free will.

In the word “Gift” and especially by its qualifying word “Grace“, we see the Sovereignty of God at work.

Today we will see how the context of the calling, identified by Paul in the second word, was a perfect introduction to show the Corinthian Church that they too are called and that such a calling was a “gift” of Grace that is accompanied by “Gifts” to fulfil the “calling“.

The point of this sermon is that both Eternal Life AND the gifts given you ARE BY GRACE. NEITHER have anything to do with our word nor our effort, both are given.

THE CALLING was to factor a free will response from all who are “called to be saints“:

THE GIFT is given through the grace of God “by Jesus Christ” to fulfill his sovereign purpose IN YOU and FOR THE WORLD.  

BY GRACE it is understood that it is not of works, it is not merited nor deserved, but in accord with his sovereign will. 

Those “called” seem to invite a free will response. But grace indicates the sovereignty of God. 

Perhaps this is why Jesus used the phrase that “many are called, but few are chosen” (Mt 22:14)

The two fold theme therefore continues in this following passage to the Corinthian Church. Paul greatly encourages them that, in responding to the calling of God for the salvation of their souls, they now receive through “the grace of God which is given them by Jesus Christ” all they need so that they “come behind in no gift” as they await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”  

Have you filled in those words from last week yet?

Your name, “called to be…”?

When those words are filled in, the gifts of God for the work you are to attend to are manifest in you.

Are you called to Teach? Is it Hospitality? Administrations? Care? Service? Do you have the ability to recall names well, if so then perhaps you ought to greet people as they enter the door. Do you have a desire for God to work in the hearts of people for his blessing, then perhaps you ought to spend good time in prayer.

Every member of the Church has a function and none are more valuable than the other, even though some carry greater responsibility.

You can read all about it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. Paul goes into some welcome detail of the value of the local body of Christ to function AS a BODY. 

1 Corinthians 12:18

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Pray

(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

Following the benediction of Paul as he blesses the Corinthians with “peace from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ”, Paul then thanks God on behalf of this congregation respecting what he refers to as “the grace of God which is given them by Jesus Christ“.

We see first of all that GRACE is first GIVEN, it is a GIFT. And there are two aspects of this grace that has been given.

The first is PERSONAL, the second is FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. That is, the edifying of the Church.

4. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 1 Co 1:4–7a.

Both the gift of enteral life , AND the temporal “gifts” that follow are given, not by merit nor by works, but BY GRACE.

Both for you PERSONALLY, but also for the BENEFIT of others.

Beloved, no man on earth DESERVES eternal life. We are not CALLED because we are “Good”, God is not obligated to save a single soul from the judgement and punishment of his sin. 

And this Punishment we deserve is not PUNITIVE, it is not corrective, it is the final judgement that condemns all of mankind into that same condemnation as the devil. 

We deserve damnation, we deserve hell. And the fact that we are all created as eternal beings, though with a mortal life, this damnation is eternal. 

We have turned from God to live our own way, having no desire of God in our lives for the fullness of our lives and we would gain that eternal abode for ever…if it were NOT for the GRACE OF GOD 

To Titus we have this written;

Titus 2:11

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

So that first aspect of Grace given is for eternal life to all who believe the gospel and the second is for the calling we are called to.

Paul stated this first in his introduction to the Romans, turn to Romans 1 Paul wrote;

Romans 1:5–6

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

ALL of this calling is by his grace for HIS PURPOSE.

AND THE “Calling” in both salvation and work is a GIFT.

 According to verse 4 we NO CHRISTIAN could ever claim to DESERVE being “Called”, it is simply by the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

It is grace that saved us and not we ourselves. 

We cannot save ourselves, we have no ability to do so, it cannot be through our goodness, for the goodness of man is “filthy rags” to God.

“But we are all as an unclean thing,

and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

and we all do fade as a leaf;

and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa 64:6)

But what is grace?

More will be entered into respecting Grace as we go through this letter, and it is not the purpose of this passage to expound it fully, but there is in this passage (as in all passages) context that will help us understand it.

Grace is FIRSTLY that which is UNWARRANTED.

(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

Grace is first and foremost a “GIFT”.

But not just a gift on its own, it is a gift that relates in this passage to TWO endowments, two BENEFITS, 

Neither are given to us because we deserve them.

BOTH are RECEIVED BY US by FAITH!

The GRACE OF GOD IS A GIFT

WHY? Ephesians 2:9, “lest any man should boast“

(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 

What follows the gift of salvation is the enriching of our lives in ways that we might share this same gospel to many.

The enriching of our “utterance” is not for our benefit alone, but to speak the truth of God to others. The enriching of our KNOWLEDGE is likewise not for our benefit alone, but for the sake of others.

We are ENRICHED TO SHARE THE GIFT

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

We glean a hint from this verse that the enrichment by him somewhat “PASSIVE”, in other words, it is not that something that we attend to actively, and this is true to a degree.

Turn to John 16

Jesus is here addressing his disciples, and in the passage of John 16, from verse 7, he speaks of the Spirit of God that is to come, but not until Jesus is “gone away” (v7),

In fact he says explicitly that 

7 … It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7

But in respect to our passive reception of that which we are “enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge“, Jesus tells his disciples of that which is to come after he is gone away, take a look at verses 12-13;

John 16:12–13

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Now, care needs to be taken here, but while it is true that Jesus was addressing his disciples directly and speaking of the Spirit coming to guide them into all truth, this does not mean that we cannot be deceived.

Recall that we are warned against being deceived, and we are commanded to discern the truth and to read the Bible so as to have the ability to discern the truth. Later in this same chapter there is warning of division in the Church and error in the Church, so care must be taken.

Recall also that Peter and Barnabas themselves were rebuked for their error in Galatians 2:11-17.

The Spirit of Truth is given us to enable us to be enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.

The point I am trying to make is that enrichment by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge” is FIRST passive. 

Remember “the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of knowledge… (Pr 1:7)

The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom… (Pr 9:10).

Prior to our believing of the Gospel, we COULD NOT know anything concerning THE TRUTH because we had not received the Spirit of God that Jesus spoke of.

Paul explains this in the next chapter of 1st Corinthians, 

1 Corinthians 2:12–14

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Beloved, you have already been wonderfully enriched by the Lord in all utterance and in all knowledge concerning the gift of salvation that has been given you if you are saved. 

The next verse explains how, but for now know that when it comes to the GIFT of Grace, you already KNOW the fullness of it if you are a Christian.

This WORK is passive.

We are yet charged to grow in our faith and to learn as we grow, to read the word of God and to mature in our faith. Paul rebukes the Hebrew Christians because by then they “ought to be teachers” “and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat” (Heb 5:12).

But Paul is addressing this church as BABES IN CHRIST not as mature believers.

And so he introduces his letter that they know enough of the Lord through his grace, to share the gift of him to others.

Beloved, are you sharing what you already know of the Lord? Has the testimony of God, confirmed in you, been testified by your lips to the Lost yet?

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ???

6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 

Paul writes here of something that is vital to us all. 

In this statement, Paul is telling the Church that the Testimony of Christ Confirms his GIFT of grace IN YOU.

Peter confirms that this change IN YOU is even evident to those AROUND YOU. 

1 Peter 3:15

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Beloved when you are saved, when you are Born Again by the Spirt of God, you are CHANGED.

Not only have you been changed from death to life, but your heart has been transformed, you are not the same person you were before, your heart now inditing a good matter (Ps 45:1), the LAW you once spurned, you now desire with all of your heart to keep.

The sins that you had no problem ignoring, now convicts you and troubles you. If there was ever a “negative” about having the Spirit of God in you and a new heart given you, it is this, that you now hate the sin you once loved.

You are changed.

This is how “the testimony of Christ is confirmed in you“.

The person you are now is not the person you once were, and your OLD friends will notice the change;

Turn to 1 Peter 4

1 Peter 4:3–5

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Beloved, this is the “testimony of Christ confirmed in you” if you are saved.

Turn back to Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1–3

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Turn back to 1 Cor 6

1 Corinthians 6:9–11

9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

You see the passages that teach that there ought to be the testimony of Christ confirmed in you? A testimony that you are the recipient of the gift of his grace?

If you are born again, you are changed!

Now this leads us naturally to questions related to things we still do. Beloved, the BEST WAY to answer that question is with respect to the “testimony of Christ confirmed in you“.

Are you MORE aware of your sin since you have believed the Gospel, or not?

Do you hate your sin?

Do you desire now more than ever to live a holy life?

If your answer is YES to each of those, then the testimony of Christ confirmed in you

His gift of grace, the gift of eternal life is confirmed in you by the changed heart manifest in you.

THIS ALONE is all that is needed to share the gift of the gospel to all people.

You do not need to know the scriptures front to back, You don’t need all the answers, you only need to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

7a) So that ye come behind in no gift; 

The balance of this text moves into the imminent return of Christ that we will speak to next week, but in this first part of verse 7 Paul introduces an affirmation respecting spiritual gifts. Specifically teaching the Corinthians Churches that none of them who are saved, none who have received the gift of the grace of God, would come behind in the spiritual gifts that the Spirit of God distributes to every man.

Turn to Romans 12

Romans 12:4–8

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 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.

Turn to 

Ephesians 4:4–7

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Go down to verse 11

Ephesians 4:11–16

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: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

You can read all about it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

The first gift you received was the gift of Grace that you may be saved. It was not a work, not an effort on your part, not to receive it and neither to retain it. It is a gift, “not of works lest any man should boast”.

But the other blessing which you have been blessed by is a spiritual distribution of gifts that are to be employed by the calling with which you are called, to bring the living gospel to a dying world.

Do you know what your calling is yet brethren?

Have you filled in those next few words we spoke of last week?

Paul, called to be…

Have you yet put your name their, added that comma and the words “called to be” then filled in that blank?

What do you think your gift most lily has something to do with? 

What do you think the overarching purpose of the testimony of Jesus Christ confirmed in you is? 

THE GOSPEL!

Whatever your calling, whatever your gift, it has one overall purpose.

This is not unusual beloved;

The difference between all such entities and the church is that the Gift and Calling is directly of the creator of heaven and earth, and that the work is sacrificial not self serving.

What is YOUR GIFT?

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