As we continue through this chapter, we
must keep in mind how Paul prefaces this section: “To each is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good.” He is not focused on the self, but on the
congregation. Congregational edification
is key.
·
V.9: Paul moves to the next two gifts of the
Holy Spirit: faith and healing. Every
believer has faith, so what does Paul mean by this? Does his teaching here
promote the idea that every believer can heal? Let’s take a look.
o
Faith: The ESV Hebrew-Greek Study Bible defines faith, the Greek pistis, in this way: “Moral conviction…of
religious truth or the truthfulness of God, reliance upon Christ for salvation,
constancy in such profession, firm persuasion, confiding belief in the truth.”
This word, pistis, is the same word
Paul uses in Ephesians when he states, “[B]y grace you have been saved, through
pistis….” Although God’s grace is
unmerited by us, it is conditional in that it requires faith and repentance. Therefore, we can make the claim that if you call
yourself a Christian, you must have faith
to be saved. Why, then, would Paul list
faith as a spiritual gift if it is common to all believers? Let us hearken back
to the preceding context that there are varieties
of gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes
to each believer, individually. And
let us glance at the subsequent section of chapter 12, in which Paul explores
the significance of having a variety of spiritual gifts in the church (12:12-30). So we can be confident that the gift of faith
is something uniquely distributed, set apart from general faith.
-Also, the Greek word “another” is allos, which is defined as “another, but
of the same kind.” Allos refers to another numerically. This is opposed to the other Greek word for
another, éteros, which means “another
of a different kind.” This éteros refers
to another qualitatively. So what are we to do with this? Well, it
appears that Paul is referring to faith, which is something all believers have
in common. But he used the word allos to point to the fact that the
special gift of the Holy Spirit is something that varies from common faith quantitatively. In other words, the one with the gift of
faith has a greater measure of faith than the normal Christian. It isn’t greater in quality, but in quantity. The one with the gift of faith has a deeper moral
conviction of religious truth or the truthfulness of God, a greater reliance
upon Christ for salvation, more constancy in the profession of his faith, a
firmer persuasion, and a stricter confiding belief in the truth. This seems like such a wonderful thing for
the individual, doesn’t it? How, then, is such a gift used for the common good?
-Jesus is the perfect example of unwavering
faith. For three years, he traveled
around with disciples who had weak faith.
Rather than boast of his firm trust in God, condemn them for not being
true believers, or tell them to just “trust God,” He did and said things that
benefited those who were weaker in faith.
In Matthew 8, the disciples are terrified that the storm will overwhelm
them while they are in the boat. Jesus
points out their little faith, but does not leave it at that. He calms the storm. In Matthew 16, the disciples are anxious over
the fact that they do not have bread. Jesus
refers back to the moment when He multiplied the five loaves for the five
thousand, and warns the disciples of the teachings of the Pharisees. In Matthew 17, we see that the disciples are
unable to heal a boy who has seizures.
Jesus bemoans the little faith of His disciples, but then He casts the
demon out of the boy. In each instance,
He gives or demonstrates His immense faith.
Imagine how the disciples must have reacted! I can see them saying, “Wow,
I want to have that kind of unshakeable faith in God! I want Him to increase my
faith!” (Luke 17:5).
-From these examples in Scripture, we can see
that those with a weaker faith are less trusting that God will calm the storm. They are anxious over trivial, everyday
matters, such as not knowing how they will be fed. They doubt the power of God. I think it’s safe to say that this is most of
us! Not all of us have an immovable trust that everything is in God’s
hands, and that it will all work together for our good. We may express that boldly, but
actually believing it with constancy takes greater faith.
-The one with the gift of faith should do and say things that show
other believers why they have a reason to be confident in their convictions. Let them show their faith by their deeds
(James 2:18). I don’t think those with
this gift have a license to criticize their fellow believers for not having
enough faith. Only the Son of God could
bemoan the weak faith of others without being haughty or self-righteous, so we
must be careful not to crush those we claim to love with words such as, “You
just don’t have enough faith” or “If you had more faith, this would happen for you.” No, he who has been gifted with faith
by the Holy Spirit should seek how he may be of maximum benefit to his brothers
who are weaker, and who are growing in their faith. If you have not love, you are nothing (1 Corinthians
13:1-3). Do you have the gift of faith,
O Christian? Then ask the Lord how you may be a model of that unwavering trust
for the growth and encouragement of the saints.
Don’t criticize. Don’t boast. Love and guide your brothers and sisters.
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