Differing Gifts including Prophesy Romans 12:6

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”, and in chapter twelve and verse six of Romans, Paul told his believing readers about, “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” including “prophecy” where we read:

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

The verse begins, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, ...” Paul began with the words, “having then” which means “holding, possessing and keeping fast therefore, wherefore, consequently and these things being so” “gifts” or “grace denoting extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ and the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit” “differing” which means “varying and surpassing” “according” or “down from, throughout and toward” “to the grace” which refers to “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness and unmerited favor” “that is given” or “which is granted or bestowed” “to us” which refers to “Paul, his companions and his believing readers in Rome”. Paul recognized the various “gifts” that were given to the church and exhorted the church members to used them “according to” the “unmerited favor” with which God provided them.

The verse goes on to say, “... whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”. Paul added the words, “whether prophecy” which means “if it is a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden”, “let us prophesy” or “may Paul, his companions and his believing readers reprove and admonish the wicked, comfort the afflicted or reveal things hidden” “according to” which means “down from, throughout and toward” “the proportion” or “the quotient, balance and symmetry” “of faith” which means “pertaining to the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. Paul identified “prophecy” or “fore-telling and forth-telling” as a “gift” within the church and his instruction was to use this “gift” in the proper “balance” by which it was “bestowed”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he recognized the various “gifts” given to the church by God. “Prophecy” is one of those “gifts”, and those who possess the ability to “foretell” and “forth-tell” the word of God are to do so according to “the grace” or “unmerited favor” of God. God provides “gifts” such as “prophecy” not only to build up the “members” within the church, but also to lead others into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Paul previously stated, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), and the “gift of prophecy” aids the church in distributing God's “word” to the world.

Next time Paul includes, “ministry” and “teaching” “gifts” given to the church, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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