THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
By Dr Jim Brettell
1. The purpose of spiritual gifts can be stated in four simple points:
1) The spiritual gifts are given to glorify God (Christ). (John 16:14)
2) The spiritual gifts are given for the common good of others. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
3) The spiritual gifts are given to equip the church. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28)
4) The spiritual gifts are given to arm soldiers. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
2. Let’s look at each point and scriptural confirmation of each purpose:
1) The gifts are given to glorify God (Christ). (John 16:14)
(KJV) John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
(NLT) John 16:14 He [G/HS] will bring me [Jesus Christ] glory [how?] by revealing to you [primarily, to His disciples; secondarily, to you and me as born-again Church Age believers] whatever he [G/HS] receives from me [Jesus Christ].
2) The gifts are given for the common good of others. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
(NAS) 1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(NLT) 1 Corinthians 12:7 A spiritual gift [one gift, not two or more] is given [by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation] to each of us [born-again Christians] as a means of helping the entire church [spiritual gifts are given to function toward the Church].
3) The gifts are given to equip the church. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28)
(KJV) 1 Corinthians 12:27-28
27 Now ye [born-again Christians] are the body of Christ [the Church], and members [parts of the body] in particular [with your own particular place in His body] .
28 And God [G/F as the Author; and G/HS as the Distributor] hath set [has granted gifts to] some [not all, meaning not every born-again Christian has the same spiritual gift] in the church [the universal church], [what follows is a partial list of spiritual gifts, some of which were temporary and are no longer valid for use today] first [first chronologically, not in order of importance] apostles, secondarily [second chronologically, not in order of importance] prophets, thirdly [third chronologically, not in order of importance] teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
4) The gifts are given to arm spiritual soldiers. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
(KJV) 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (KJV)
(KJV) 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the [spiritual] weapons of our [born-again Christian] [spiritual] warfare are not carnal [not associated with old-man function], but [conjunction of contrast, contrasting old-man function and new-man function] mighty through God [G/F, the Author of the plan] to the pulling down of strong holds [those belonging to Satan];) (KJV)
