Spiritual Gifts, What Is Their Purpose?

Spiritual Gifts, What is their Purpose?

Are all spiritual gifts equal in the eyes of God and what are their purposes to exalt God or witness to unbelievers? In 1 Peter 4:10 it states, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. (1) In 1 Corinthians 12:4 it states, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (1) These two verses imply the thought that all gifts are the same in the Spirit and they are made to serve others, not exalt God or ourselves. In 1 Corinthians 12:4, there are many gifts and only on Giver, this Giver may bequeath various gifts, which create a variety of effects. (4) This brings up yet another point, someone who doesn’t receive the power of spiritual gifts through out their life time, yet they have witnessed the Holy Spirit and have a close personal relationship with God, are they not as close to God as someone who has experienced spiritual gifts?

We are all part of the body of Christ; it states clearly that no part of the body can function without another part or two of the same. (1 Corinthians 12:20-22 “But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those member of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.”) (1) In this thought the people of the body have different gifts that form the whole body, whether they are permanent or temporary gifts. We however are going to focus on the temporary gifts. I believe we all have the power to perform these gifts. However, if we are never in a situation that the temporary gifts are needed or there are already people in the body who have these gifts, then we may not experience them.

The whole idea of gifts is to confirm Christ to unbelievers. (Hebrew 2:3-4 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and the divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”) (1) Then the belief of edifying God with gifts comes into the picture with 1Corinthians 14:4(“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”) (1) However, God doesn’t need to be exalted, (2) we do exalt Him for the Bible states we should, but why would God give us a gift that isn’t needed except to praise Him, unless we have such little faith that we as an individual need that to prove His greatness. (1 Corinthians 14:2 “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”) Then it becomes a use for work, not in another person’s life, but our own. Some state it is to edify believers, this is all well and good, and this will occur every time a gift is performed, but that in the effect of the gift, that should confirm Christ to an unbeliever.

Now, is the believer that has gifts any closer and have a closer relationship to Christ then the one who doesn’t have these gifts openly present? This is what many think, that you will perform these gifts if you have the Holy Spirit. Now if the gifts are used primarily for the use of confirming Christ to unbelievers, then is it possible that a person who through out their life isn’t placed in a situation that signs and wonders are needed to confirm Christ that they may not experience those gifts first hand.