Gary's Blog

The last gift listed in Romans 12:6-8 is showing mercy.  Grace and mercy are two sides of the same coin.  Grace involves receiving something we do not deserve (salvation).  Mercy involves not receiving something we do deserve (condemnation).  Jesus indicates in Matthew 9:10-13 that God seeks followers who are merciful (compassionate).  He calls the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites” in Matthew 23:23 because they neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness.  James 3:17 associates mercy with wisdom from above.  Why should we be merciful?  Because God first extended mercy to us (Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Peter 2:9,10).  We are saved through God’s mercy and not on the basis of our deeds (Titus 3:5)  We need to understand that judgment will be merciless to those who are not merciful (James 2:13).  We must show mercy to others.   This is true regarding physical needs (Luke 10:37; Matthew 18:33).  This is true regarding spiritual needs (Jude 20-23).  We must not forget that Romans 12:8 says we must show mercy with cheerfulness.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7).  May we join together in glorifying God for His mercy (Romans 15:7-13).

“Leading” is the sixth gift.  Paul writes that those who lead should do it with diligence or zeal.  A leader cares for others by providing instruction (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13).  Jesus gives a good description of His own leadership in John 10:1-18.  Leadership is to be carried out with zeal.  Josephus uses this word in reference to one who is willing to “exert oneself, to be concerned, to show interest, to intercede for someone.”  Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says it is an “actualizing of his saved position; a fulfilling of what grace has opened up for him.”  Immediately following the list gifts in Romans 12:6-8, Paul says in verse 11 “not lagging behind in diligence.”  In 2 Corinthians 7:11 Paul praises the Christians for their zeal.  Jesus indicates in Luke 22:26 that the best leader is one who serves.  He demonstrates this when He washes the feet of the apostles in John 13:1-17.

The next gift on the list is giving.  Notice that the structure of the list changes here.  It has been “teaches…in his teaching” etc. but now it switches to “he who gives, with liberality.”  The word “liberality” here implies “simplicity” and ”free from pretence and hypocrisy” (Thayer).  We are to give of our material things (Luke 3:11).  We are to give our service (Colossians 3:22).  Above all, we are to give the Gospel and our very lives (1 Thessalonians 2:8).  If we give as we should, others will be turned toward God (2 Corinthians 9:8-15).  Why should we give?  Because God has given us grace (2 Corinthians 8:1), healing (Matthew 10:8), wisdom (James 1:5), love (1 John 3:1), justification (Romans 3:24) and the water of life (Revelation 21:6).

Gift number four is “exhorting.”  New Testament examples of exhorting include Barnabas (Acts 4:36; 11:22,23), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:15), the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 16:7) and Jesus (1 John 2:1).  The word means to call to or summon (Matthew 8:5), to beseech, urge (Hebrews 13:18,19), to encourage (1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4), to comfort (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7). 

The Bible calls us along side to support the saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-6), to have hope (Romans 15:4-6), to live in harmony (Philippians 4:2), to excel in love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12) and to be saved (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2).

Teaching is the third gift listed in Romans 12:6-8.  Jesus was a teacher (Matthew 4:23) as was Paul (1 Timothy 2:7).  Elders are to be teachers (1 Timothy 3:2).  It is important for the church to have teachers (Acts 13:1).  

Good teaching has certain characteristics.  It presents the truth (Matthew 22:16).  It is done with authority (Matthew 7:29).  It obtains correct information from the right source: God’s Word (Acts 15:35).  Doctrines of men lead to vain teaching (Matthew 15:9).  Good teaching is impartial (Matthew 22:16).  It often involves helping a student recall what is already known (John 14:26).  A good teacher is patient and not quarrelsome (2 Timothy 2:24).  That teacher is consistent (1 Corinthians 4:17).  A dedicated teacher is steadfast; he or she keeps teaching (1 Timothy 4:11).  Good teaching requires maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14).

 There is a word of warning.   There are many false teachers (2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 2:14,20, James 3:1).

The second gift listed in Romans 12:6,7 is service or ministry.  It involves helping the needy (2 Corinthians 9:12,13).  It involves service to saints (1 Corinthians 16:15).  (In the New Testament “saint” means “Christian.”)  And it involves ministry to the lost (2 Corinthians 4:1).  As servants we need to not be unnecessary burdens (2 Corinthians 11:8,9).  At the same time, we need to be willing to let others serve us when needed.  We must not cause offense (2 Corinthians 6:3).  We must be steadfast (Colossians 4:17).  We must minister with gladness (1 Peter 4:9).  We need to understand that serving is not always easy (2 Timothy 4:5).  And we must submit to the Lord (1 Timothy 1:12-14).

Jesus teaches his Apostles about service in John 13:3-17.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 lists five gifts that are not miraculous in nature: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, prophecy and distinguishing of spirits.  With the exception of the last one, the list is included in an expanded group found in Romans 12:6-8: prophecy, service, teaching (word of knowledge), exhortation (faith), giving, leading (word of wisdom), showing mercy.  (Distinguishing of spirits is referred to in 1 John 4:1.  It has to do with recognizing false teachers.)  These gifts are given for the well-being of the church.

Old Testament prophets often foretold the future, but that does not involve the complete scope of prophecy.   It actually means to speak forth of the mind and counsel of God.  It involves a declaration which cannot be known by natural means.  So prophecy does not imply a miraculous ability.  A prophet simply reveals God’s will.

When God’s will is shared with believers they are edified (1 Corinthians 14:5,12,17,26), exhorted (Acts 4:36) and consoled (Philippians 2:1).  For unbelievers God’s will convicts (John 16:8-11), calls to account (1 John 1:8-10) and discloses the secrets of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).  Hopefully it will cause them to fall on their faces and worship God (Philippians 2:10).

We must be warned that there are many false prophets (2 Peter 2:1).  This is where the ability to distinguish spirits becomes important.

Some gifts involve salvation.  Others are what might be referred to as “charismatic” gifts.  (One of the Greek words for “gift” is “charisma.”)  These are miraculous gifts.  They served a limited purpose during the initial years of the church.  The apostles had the authority to give the ability to do miracles to others (Acts 8:18) but no one else had the power to pass it on.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Paul lists nine gifts.  Four are charismatic: healing, miracles, tongues and interpreting tongues.  Those gifts ended when the last person died who had received one of them from an apostle.

We all like to receive gifts,  but God offers us gifts that are better than we could ever imagine.  The word “gift” (in a spiritual sense) appears in about 36 New Testament verses.  God’s gifts fall into three categories.  Some relate to salvation, some are charismatic and some are for use in the church.

Salvation through Jesus is a gift from God.  The Holy Spirit’s revelation of God’s plan that leads to salvation is a gift from God.  Jesus indicates to the Samaritan woman (John 4:10) that she should be seeking God’s gift.  Paul says in Romans 3:24 that our justification is a gift from God by His grace through the redemption which is in Jesus.  He mentions this free gift again in Romans 5:15-17 and Romans 6:23.  This is the gift promised by Peter in Acts 2:38.