Gifts VS Faith

[jamesand57]

While not wanting to minimize the gifts of the Spirit at all, isn't the main gift of the Spirit in reality the fruits of the Spirit, being Christian Conduct. What changed the Roman World was not the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, but the conduct and faith of those Christians for three hundred years.

There are actually few mentions of the Practice of the Gifts of the Spirit following the Apostles, There is however numerous mentions of the Grace displayed by Christians in the first three centuries. How they responded to persecution, how they treated even those who persecuted them.

[Buck shot]

That is a good point!

While we were in Upper Michigan my wife and some other ladies that came to the house for bible study got into a great habit of asking each other, "what fruit of the spirit was that?"

Sounds kindof wierd but it would quickly bring a conversation back into the light! ;)

[Sold Out]

While not wanting to minimize the gifts of the Spirit at all, isn't the main gift of the Spirit in reality the fruits of the Spirit, being Christian Conduct. What changed the Roman World was not the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, but the conduct and faith of those Christians for three hundred years.

There are actually few mentions of the Practice of the Gifts of the Spirit following the Apostles, There is however numerous mentions of the Grace displayed by Christians in the first three centuries. How they responded to persecution, how they treated even those who persecuted them.

They are not the same. The fruits of the Spirit are things that ALL Christians should have. The GIFTS of the Holy Spirit are given individually to each person by the Holy Spirit. Every Christian has a specific spiritual gift that was given to them when they got saved.

"Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we are all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."I Corinthians 12:1-20

I Cor 12 does not contain the whole list of spiritual gifts, but the doctrine surrounding them is contained in this chapter. It is the responsibility of every believer to find out what his/her prominent gift is and use it within the body of Christ.

[stoomart]

Dear brother,

Fruits of the spirit are the product of the seed (Word of God) having been planted in us, they are the evidence of the change or re-birth that has occurred inside of us. Jesus is the model for having the fruits of the spirit, being love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. As we grow and mature in our relationship with our heavenly Father, we will become more like Christ, a process called sanctification.

As Sold Out said, the gifts of the spirit are different, shaping the "function" that we are to uphold in the body of Christ. We should have all of the fruits of the spirit but will only have some of the gifts of the spirit, according to what has been granted to us.

Also, we must be careful not to try and recreate the apostolic gifts that were granted in unique situations throughout the bible to confirm the messenger and the message. When people get into recreating these types of on-demand miracles and various signs and wonders, because it's not authentic, it can only lead to devastation and destruction. Now I'm not saying that miracles such as healings, tongues, and other gifts don't happen, I just believe they occur biblically and out of the limelight behind the scenes.


In Christ's love, stoo

[Sold Out]

Now I'm not saying that miracles such as healings, tongues, and other gifts don't happen, I just believe they occur biblically and out of the limelight behind the scenes.


In Christ's love, stoo


Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dispen4ever]

I think that it is important to point out the "prophecy" in this context is not foretelling the future; rather, he has a spiritual gift which enables him to educate, to inform, to facilitate calm, confident assurance and understanding.

[Sold Out]

I think that it is important to point out the "prophecy" in this context is not foretelling the future; rather, he has a spiritual gift which enables him to educate, to inform, to facilitate calm, confident assurance and understanding.

Thank you for pointing that out. Although I have a difference understanding of the gift of prophecy. I've understood it to mean the God-given ability to proclaim God's truths without apology. (in your face sort of gift)