Understanding the Issue of Spiritual Gifts (Part 2)

What was it that the apostle Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to be "ignorant" or "uninformed" when it comes to the issue of spiritual gifts? (1 Cor. 12:1b)  Before I begin to address that of this particular question it is important that I shed light upon the word "ignorant" or "uninformed." According to Romans chapter 11 verse 25, the apostle Paul says to the Roman Christians, "I do not want you to be ignorant of his mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in," (Luk. 21:24) What was the great mystery by which the apostle did not want the Romans Christians to be ignorant of by which to not be conceited or prideful? In Romans 11:25b it says, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,..." It is true that many of the Jewish people did not believe in Christ as their Messiah, but, as a result, their hearts were hardened by which they reject that of the glorious gospel of Christ. (Jn. 1:12-13) Unbelievers who reject that of the gospel of Christ whose minds and hearts are blinded by Satan so as to comprehend nor receive that of Christ (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Through God's divine Sovereignty He chose that of the Gentiles to receive that of the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. A people who sought not after God, but, that nonetheless chosen them unto His salvation. (Jn. 6:38, 44) There are those who questioned that of God's predestination and election as to say, "How is it that God knew before the foundation of the world those who were going to be saved by choosing certain individuals unto His election of grace?" The issue is that when it comes to the Sovereignty of God in salvation He chooses to save those who He has elected unto salvation (Jn. 6:38, 44).  Our salvation is an act of God in saving us; not us saving ourselves by which many Arminians have a difficult time accepting this vital Bible truth. It is not man's own works or righteousness that saved us, but it was according to God's divine mercy. The work of the Holy Spirit regeneration and renewing that of the elect being saved. Even those of us whom God has saved us based upon His predestination and election are to not be conceited nor prideful because of our salvation. Because had it not been for God's mercy and grace we would be sinners most miserable in our sins. Without having any hope of salvation. We must humble ourselves when it comes to God saving us by His election of grace. The mystery that the apostle Paul talks about is because of the hardening of Israel in part is for the Gentiles to be saved by His election of grace. (Jn. 6:38, 44) The apostle Paul did not want the Roman Christians to not be ignorant of this mystery by which to not be conceited nor prideful. There are numerous passages of scripture that shed light upon the word "ignorant" or "uninformed." (Rom. 1:13; 1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13)

   When it comes to the issue of spiritual gifts the apostle Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to be "uninformed" about the gifts of the Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:1)  There are many of God's people especially those who are in leadership are "ignorant" or "uninformed" in regards to the gifts of the Spirit. They randomly look over particular passages of scripture to support what they believe about the gifts of the Spirit through such theological cherry picking concerning their own biblical defense. Many of times it is at the exclusion of other passages of the Bible that has no relationship with each other. (2 Pet. 3:16) There has to be a historical/grammatical study of the biblical passage of scripture in order to understand the circumstances by which it was written. The primary purpose of spiritual gifts is to strengthen God's people through that of the edification of God's Word. (Rom. 1:11; Eph. 4:12-13) Such gifts of the Spirit is not for the sole purpose of gratifying one's own self, but, that it must be demonstrated by love (1 Cor. 13:1). Love must be above any and all spiritual gifts. 

   As we look at 1 Corinthians 12:1 where it says, "Now the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:7; 14:1, 37; [Rom. 11:25]) But, in the following passage according to 1 Corinthians 12:2 that the apostle Paul begins to remind them of their former lifestyle as being pagans. (Eph. 2:2) They were influenced and led astray to mute idols. (Psa. 115:5; Jer. 10:5; Hab. 2:18-19)  The Corinthian believers before they were saved were controlled by Satan by which they worship idols. Such idolatrous worship by the Corinthians is that of idols that could not speak, hear, nor see, but, they made such idols out of wood in regards to their cravings. This in and of itself speaks volume about the "former" life of the Corinthian believers. Such fertility cult worship was apart of the Corinthian believers "former" lifestyle by which it gives us as believers the scope of why the apostle Paul did not want them to be "uninformed" nor ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1b). There are many of God's people who have been saved out of an occult worship of the environment by which they were heavily influenced (Eph. 2:2).  There were also people within the Corinthian church who bought along with them such superstitious practices by which they spoke of the "gods" by those who claim such prophetic utterance, speaking in tongues, and revelatory knowledge. The Corinthian believers and those who were not saved begin to speak out-of-term: that of those who claim they were were inspired by the Spirit to give a word to the church, those who spoke in tongues, and those who claim to interpret such tongues. This is typical of many Charismatics and Pentecostals in the church today: that of experience as to be the litmus test of spirituality. (1 Jn. 4:1)  Many of modern-day Charismatics reject that of the notion of sound biblical theology in favor of what is mystical theology. The apostle Paul warns against mysticism in the church today. (Col. 2:18, 19)  False humility, angelic worshipping of angelic beings, and revelatory knowledge by Gnostics in the church today are very much evident throughout many Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. There were so much confusion, divisions, and suspicion within the Corinthian church as well as in the church today. 

   The apostle Paul had to address the issue of spiritual gifts simply because of the fact that there was going to be those who abused such spiritual gifts: that of the sign gifts, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and word of knowledge. Whenever it comes to such "temporary" sign gifts it was for the sole purpose of establishing the early church, but, the permanent edifying gifts for the Church today is based upon Romans 12:4-8.  Such sign gifts along with other "temporary" gifts were ceased. (Eph. 2:20) The church is to be edified through encouragement, exhortation, and doctrine based completely upon God's Word. (Rom. 1:11; Eph. 4:12-13)

   In order for the Church to properly address that of the issue of spiritual gifts is to know the history of the Corinthian church: that of its circumstances, events, and people. (1 Cor. 1)  The study of church history is very much important in order to understand how the Church is being influenced today. (1 Cor. 12:1-2)  The reason for the proliferation of cults, and heresies is due to the ignorance of Church history and church theology. The church is paying a dear price for its biblical illiteracy. The church needs spiritual discernment in spiritually deceptive times. (1 Tim. 4:1)

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. He is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? Darryl is the Podcast Host, "Ask Darryl" by which it airs regularly 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As an apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."