Testing the Christian Faith

[EphremHagos]

If each Christian has received a special gift from Christ (based on a prophetic Prescription), as commonly claimed at least by Church leaders, what is the specific reason why the promised unity of faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ sorely missing today?

(Ps. 68 quoted in John 6: 62-64; Eph. 4: 7-16)

 

[David777]

Hello EphramHagos.

The receiving of gifts is not claimed by church leaders?
The Bible declares that the gifts will be imparted by
the Holy Spirit. Also, a person may receive multiple
gifts, not specifically one gift. It is not a
"prophetic prescription", simply what the scripture
declares. If you have not received one or more gifts
you may not have the true Christ.

It is of vital importance that the utterance of Jesus Christ
as God or Lord is the identifying characteristic of a
person speaking by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols,
however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says,
“Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

In the 'church' divisions will be evident which Paul states.

1 Corinthians 11
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that
divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be
factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,

 

[EphremHagos]

What is claimed by church leaders is that each Christian has received wholesale a special gift (or two) from Christ.

What the Scriptures declare, on the other hand, is complete with the conditions under which the gifts are real.

There is a discripancy between the two positions that accounts for the complete absence of knowledge of Jesus Christ and consequent disunity in the Christian faith.

The prophetic prescription stands!

Hello EphramHagos.

The receiving of gifts is not claimed by church leaders?
The Bible declares that the gifts will be imparted by
the Holy Spirit. Also, a person may receive multiple
gifts, not specifically one gift. It is not a
"prophetic prescription", simply what the scripture
declares. If you have not received one or more gifts
you may not have the true Christ.

It is of vital importance that the utterance of Jesus Christ
as God or Lord is the identifying characteristic of a
person speaking by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols,
however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says,
“Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

In the 'church' divisions will be evident which Paul states.

1 Corinthians 11
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that
divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be
factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,

 

[El Hombre viejo]

I've always believed that all of the gifts are for all Christians. Each of us has a special gift, healing, prophesy, miracles etc. The WORD does not say we have only one as pointed out above. Read 1 Corinthians 12 again. It says we all have gifts and special gifts in particular.

Look at it this way. There you are all alone with one other Christian. Both of you are completely sinless (optimal situation grin) There are no others around anywhere. Why not? LOL You are on another planet. grin Ok Now...your companion gets sick but you do not have the 'gift of healing.....Will the sick one die? Or will you minister healing to him/her? Of course you will minister, right? And your friend gets well. What happened? You ministered a gift. But hey! Your gift is service right? Not healing

We all are co-heirs with JESUS Romans 8:16-18 We are adopted by the FATHER. If you think that is a small thing, consider this. We are a covenant people. GOD is a covenant GOD. By the laws of blood covenant, the covenant breaker must die. So...Adoption is a covenant and the adopted child is more secure in a family than a natural born son. A natural born son is family, a gift, a joy, a responsibility. The adopted son is a promise, a vow, a life long contract. Its unbreakable. You can walk away from your natural son, but one is under the penalty of death (as a covenant breaker) if he walks away from an adopted son. The point of this is....As an adopted child of GOD, all that GOD gave JESUS HE also gave to you. Everything that JESUS has is yours too!

So all of the gifts are yours. You have a special gift, your forte, but all are for your use when it is needed.

How was that for a long windy post? lol

 

[David777]

1 Corinthians 12

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another
the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability
to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each
one individually as he wills.

Further on...

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

Now an earlier verse.

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Conclusion, the church has many members all reliant on each others
gifts. If each person was given all the gifts then cohesion within the
church is lost.