Romans 12:3-8 (WEL) For I say to everyone among you, through the grace given to me, don’t cherish the thought that you are more important than what you should think [about yourself], but have sober thoughts, since God has dispensed to everyone a measure of faith. 4 For, just as we have many body parts on one body, and all body parts do not have the same function. 5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and everyone a part of one another. 6 So we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If prophecy, then prophesy according to the proportion of faith. 7 If ministry, then minister; if teaching, then teach. 8 If motivating, then motivate. If giving, then [do it] with sincerity. If giving leadership, then [do it] with diligence. If showing compassion, then [do it] with cheerfulness.
V3 For I say to everyone among you, through the grace given to me, don’t cherish the thought that you are more important than what you should think [about yourself], but have sober thoughts, since God has dispensed to everyone a measure of faith.
We need to live by a standard to compare ourselves to. If the standard is me, the world, some facet of society, Hollywood, etc., then I will have a corrupt view. If the standard is Scripture, then I will have the correct view of myself.
Some main points on God’s standard for Christ-followers:
- Obedience to God (the Bible teachings for Christ-followers (the New Testament))—John 14:21-24, John 15:14, and Luke 11:28 (keep = obey)
- The fruit of the Spirit—Galatians 5:22-23
- The character traits of love—1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
- Humble and considerate of others—Philippians 2:1-7
- Holiness (seeking God’s worldview and way of life)—Hebrews 12:14,
- The Law of Christ includes 9 of the 10 Commandments—Romans 13:8-10 (no adultery = commandment 7, no murder = commandment 6 , no steal = commandment 8, and no covet = commandment 10), Ephesians 6:1-3 (honor father and mother = commandment 5), Revelation 14:7 (no other gods = commandment 1), Acts 15:20 (no idols = commandment 2), James 2:7= commandment 3), and Ephesians 4:25 (1 no lies = commandment 9).
- Philippians 4:8 (WEL) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are well-spoken of, if there is any moral excellence, if there is anything praiseworthy, think about these things.
- 1 Peter 1:5-8 (WEL) Beside this, be diligent to add to your faith moral excellence; to moral excellence add knowledge. 6 To knowledge add self-control; to self-control add perseverance; to perseverance add godliness. 7 To godliness add brotherly love; to brotherly love add unselfish, unconditional love. 8 For if these qualities are in you and are plentiful, they will make you not to be barren or unfruitful in the thorough knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.
In total there are ~1,000 laws in the Law of Christ. Some examples are Romans 12:9-21, Ephesians 4-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25, and Hebrews 12, etc.
V4 For, just as we have many body parts on one body, and all body parts do not have the same function,
The church (Christ-followers) believe Jesus’s Gospel and are compared to the human body. Just as we have many parts as hands, feet, eyes, mouth, ears, etc., so the body of Christ has different functions. All are needed. All are wanted.
V5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and everyone a part of one another.
We exist as a family, to love and treat each other as family, helping, praying, etc., to meet the needs of believers. When fellow believers are abused, killed, beaten, destroyed in any way by slander, etc., we grieve with them. Likewise, when they have something wonderful, we rejoice with them. See verse 15.
V6 So we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If prophecy, then prophesy according to the proportion of faith.
To accomplish this, the Holy Spirit has distributed gifts to serve one another. The Holy Spirit gives to each believer a gift.
The gift passages are Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:1-16, and 1 Peter 4:1-11. Let us have faith and use our gifts. We can have an idea of what gift we have been given by our desire, our awareness of a need that we can help, others’ comments, and even trying out various gifts and having others evaluate it. There are spiritual gift inventories online to test yourself.
V7 If ministry, then minister; if teaching, then teach.
The Greek word for minister is (G1248) διακονία diakonia, which means to be in attendance and helping the one who commands or meeting the needs, helping, serving, etc. All should be aware of needs. There is always some fellow believer who can meet this need, but others may serve to glorify God in other ways.
The same for teaching. One can have the natural gift of singing, who if they have the spiritual gift of teaching, can minister to others by using that natural gift.
V8 If motivating, then motivate. If giving, then [do it] with sincerity. If giving leadership, then [do it] with diligence. If showing compassion, then [do it] with cheerfulness.
The Greek word for motivating is (G3870) παρακαλέω parakaléō, which means one standing beside to give advice, counselor, encouragement, motivation, etc.
The same applies to giving with sincerity, leadership with diligence, compassion with cheerfulness.
We learn:
- God has use for, a gift to, a service to render to every Christ-follower.
- All that we do for Him in our service is for His glory.
Questions:
- What is your spiritual gift?
- How are you using it?