Reference Text
Wherefore
I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth
Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by
the Holy Ghost. Now there are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal.
Different Gifts, but the Same Spirit
Beloved of the Lord……In many ways God is a kind of Artist or Painter. When He spreads His canvas, he doesn't just use one color or five, but thousands. Besides
His many beautiful works of creation, the celestial and terrestrial
bodies, and each creation is a masterpiece in its own right, perhaps the
most beautiful thing God has created in His Holy Christian Church, this
"communion of saints", namely YOU the believer in Christ. This is the work of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost. As
a painter has many tools and colors at his disposal, so God the Holy
Ghost uses that tool we call Means of Grace to convert or create each
believer, giving to each a certain color, certain talents, gifts on loan
from God. Truly God's Spirit loves to give, and He is no miser with gifts so don't forget to ask or pray. Whether we have one gift or ten, the one with one might use his one better than the one with ten! The less talented sometimes serve God more with their less and that is how God is glorified more! Jesus said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." Hence whatever talents, gifts, or skills God has given you dear believer, use them well and pray for more. He is able to give far more than we ask or think. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God", seeking not your own profit, "but the profit of many, that they may be saved." Today
we will divide our sermon into two headings: FIRST Faith is a gift from
God not a work of man, and SECOND Different gifts from the same Spirit.
I. Faith is a gift from God, not a work of man. Just as child cannot choose to be born, so we cannot choose to be born again. Believers are born from above by the Holy Spirit. When
Jesus defined what it meant to be born again, He said, "Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of
God." God's Spirit comes to us through Holy Baptism. Jesus
also said, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit", hence the Holy
Spirit causes us to be born, and "No man can say Jesus is Lord but by
the Holy Ghost." That is why Luther said, "I
believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus
Christ, my Lord, or come to Him: but the Holy Ghost has called me by the
Gospel." It is the Holy Ghost then who calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps the Holy Christian Church. By the means of His Word, He operates upon us and quickens us to faith so we repent of our sins and believe in Christ. Speaking
of this operation of the Holy Spirit, Colossians 2:12 says, "Buried
with Jesus in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." When
the Spirit teaches "According to His mercy He saved us by the washing
of regeneration", He is speaking of the washing of Baptism, whereby the
Word washes us clean.
Besides Baptism, the Holy Spirit also quickens or converts sinners to Christ by the preaching of the Gospel Word. The Bible says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." As
the Holy Spirit thus poured out His supernatural gifts upon the
Apostles at Pentecost, so they spoke the Gospel in foreign languages
which they previously did not know: so the Holy Spirit still is poured
out upon people today, by the preaching of the Word that is heard. While no man can work or earn his way into heaven, they can hear the Gospel, believe and be saved. Luther
thus wrote, "The Holy Ghost comes upon men, not in response to the
preaching of the Law, but in response to the preaching of the Gospel. When
Peter preached Christ at the first Pentecost, the Holy Ghost fell upon
the hearers, "and [the Bible says] the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls" (pg. 91). Likewise "A person becomes a Christian not by working, but by hearing. The first step to being a Christian is to hear the Gospel. When
a person has accepted the Gospel, let him first give thanks unto God
with a glad hear, and then let him get busy on the good works that are
commanded in the law." (Commentary on Galatians, Luther, pg. 95). This agrees with Acts chapter eight when the Ethiopian Eunuch was trying to understand the book of Isaiah. He
did not understand who Isaiah was speaking about when Isaiah wrote, "He
was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he not his mouth." Philip the Evangelist then opened his mouth, and "began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." That's all he did. He preached Jesus and the Eunuch believed and was baptized. Again, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
Since
faith is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast, it is
apparent man does not have the free will to choose God and believe. John chapter one says we "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Jesus
said in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." In the Old Testament David taught the same as Paul and Jesus. Praying to God in Psalm 65:4 David said, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
Hence "No man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed." Paul needed to say this because certain Jews and teachers among the Corinthians, were teaching Jesus was not true God! They even had the audacity to pronounce God's curse upon those who believed Jesus was the only way to heaven! Paul
thus pointed out it was not possible for such deniers of Christ to have
the Holy Ghost within, for the Holy Ghost would never blaspheme the
very name of the Son of God! This should remind us (by the way) how we dare not take God's name in vain. When people utter in surprise "O my God" and so forth, the sacred name of God is taken lightly and dishonored. We should never employ God's name uselessly or carelessly, for "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Since
today is Pentecost Sunday, we should also mention God's name is taken
in vain, and Jesus is cursed, when any preacher or church adds
conditions of the law to the Gospel. While the
Bible teaches, "that a man is justified by faith ALONE, without the
deeds of the law", many Charismatic churches teach Christ is not enough,
for the Holy Spirit must also be poured out upon you. "Do you speak in tongues?"....they ask. "If not then you are not converted!"....they say. "Have you been slain by the Spirit?"….they ask. "If not you do not know the Lord", they say. While
these churches certainly do not openly curse Jesus, they do curse Jesus
when they make speaking in tongues a condition to our salvation. Whenever preachers add one good work or many to the equation of our salvation, they are cursing and swearing at Christ. Those who believe they are saved by grace PLUS good works will be damned when they die. Grace PLUS works equals DAMNATION alone. Romans 11:6 nails this point perfectly saying, "if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace."
II. Different gifts from the same Spirit. Regarding our salvation the Bible thus simply says "By grace ye are saved, through faith." Knowing
Christ has by His blood fully secured our salvation, the Holy Spirit
comes to us with this great gift of Christ and faith to believe, and
then He still gives us more gifts. What are these? These are diversities of gifts and differences. The Greek word behind "administrations" is rather broad, meaning attendance or service, aid, and also teaching or ministering. Thus we find among Christians, some are more gifted in teaching, and some are very good at serving other people, like Martha. Some have a deep understanding of theology while others are more simple, yet gifted in their simplicity. Some work better with their hands than their brain, and others are better with their brain than hands. Still others are musically inclined, and some are artistic.
Whatever
our talents may be, it is certain we should not use them to our glory,
for "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal". We seek not our own profit, but God's profit, God's glory. Since
our life itself is a gift and time is short, we ought to make the most
of our days here on earth, happily serving the Lord in gladness, or at
least the best we can considering our flesh (for by grace we are saved). God gave us our talents to use, not to abuse nor squander. The good works we then do after faith show the world we have been redeemed by Christ our precious Savior. When
we work hard and are faithful in our job, when we are faithful husbands
or wives, good parents or obedient children, or when we are not afraid
to confess Christ to our neighbor, these works give glory to God. Since
our salvation has indeed been secured by the very blood of God's
only-begotten Son, and it is certain heaven is our home, our sincere
desire is only that our friends, neighbors, and even the stranger
believe in Jesus also, and be saved. That is why
Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men" and the Apostle Paul
said, "This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in
knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may
approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without
offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God." Phil. 1
Finally my brethren, do not be discouraged thinking "there is nothing I can do." While
there will be days where it seems all our struggles against the flesh
are in vain, we are not by any means alone in this battle, but God's
Spirit is with us whereby we pray Abba Father. We have the certain promise of the Spirit, that He will help us "both to will and to do His good pleasure." When
you are discouraged by your good works and you see only evil, stop
looking at your works and look to Christ who did every good work for
you! Jesus fulfilled the Law for you, so you
won't have to and through Jesus the Father counts you as a beloved son
(or daughter), an heir to heaven. An heir always inherits everything the father gives. Knowing
such, it is also certain God's Spirit will daily work in you, for it is
the "same Spirit", "the same God which worketh all in all." We
are poor instruments 'tis true, but the Spirit above is so great and
powerful, that He can use us poor instruments to make beautiful music. When we speak of Jesus to our brokenhearted and downcast neighbor, such music will sing sweetly in their ears. Therefore "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Knowing Him who loved us first, seek not your own profit, "but the profit of many, that they may be saved." Amen.
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