Post by Shepherd on Jan 8, 2011 19:39:03 GMT -6
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SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The Holy Ghost brings the plans of the triune God to completion by uniting individuals to the Father through the Son and so binding them together. This work of the Spirit does not occur at any singular moment, but involves a process or a way of salvation in which the Spirit takes Christians deeper into the triune life.
Relationship, holiness, and mission all fuse together as the Spirit sanctified and anoints Christians so that they become more like Christ in their lifestyle and ministry. In cooperation with the Spirit’s sanctifying work, Christians bear fruit that brings them into conformity to Christ by enabling them to put on Christ.
The Spirit’s charismatic activity pours out a prophetic anointing that empowers Christians to speak in Jesus’ name and so continue Jesus’ mission. Fellowship with the triune God occurs as Christians are immersed into the sanctifying dimensions of the Spirit’s unifying work.
The gifts of the Spirit that Paul discusses emerge from a combination of the sanctifying activities of the Spirit. One can see this in the distinctive term Paul employs to describe these gifts. They are gracious gifts that stem from the flow of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. The gifts are the concrete manifestation of grace.
This energizing activity is nothing less than the love poured out by the Spirit, which may be why Paul sandwiches a discussion of love between his analysis of the Spirit’s gifts. Fruit and gifts have a common source in love, and this love will remain when all else passes away.
The Holy Ghost brings the plans of the triune God to completion by uniting individuals to the Father through the Son and so binding them together. This work of the Spirit does not occur at any singular moment, but involves a process or a way of salvation in which the Spirit takes Christians deeper into the triune life.
Relationship, holiness, and mission all fuse together as the Spirit sanctified and anoints Christians so that they become more like Christ in their lifestyle and ministry. In cooperation with the Spirit’s sanctifying work, Christians bear fruit that brings them into conformity to Christ by enabling them to put on Christ.
The Spirit’s charismatic activity pours out a prophetic anointing that empowers Christians to speak in Jesus’ name and so continue Jesus’ mission. Fellowship with the triune God occurs as Christians are immersed into the sanctifying dimensions of the Spirit’s unifying work.
The gifts of the Spirit that Paul discusses emerge from a combination of the sanctifying activities of the Spirit. One can see this in the distinctive term Paul employs to describe these gifts. They are gracious gifts that stem from the flow of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. The gifts are the concrete manifestation of grace.
This energizing activity is nothing less than the love poured out by the Spirit, which may be why Paul sandwiches a discussion of love between his analysis of the Spirit’s gifts. Fruit and gifts have a common source in love, and this love will remain when all else passes away.
