01. Diversities of Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4)
• diversities is διαίρεσις (ĕsis), from á, separationéō, to take, grasp, seize, thus it means division as in distribution. Found only here in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, all used regarding spiritual gifts.
• gifts is χάρισμα (charisma), from χάρις (charis), *grace*, thus it means a gift of grace.
• This word is found 17x in 17vss in the Greek Scriptures (Romans 1:11; Romans 5:15-16; Romans 6:23; Romans 11:29; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 7:7; **1 Corinthians 12:4**; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:30-31; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10), and only 2x (Romans 5:15-16) is it rendered as free gift instead of gift.
• χάρις (charis), is needed for the free gift of χάρισμα (charisma) to be properly exercised.
• Spirit is πνεῦμα (ĕuma), means breath or spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 1:22-Because the Jews require a sign, the apostles in beginning of the Book of Acts performed signs (cf. Acts 3:1-11; Acts 5:1-10; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 9:33-41; Acts 12:7-17; Acts 13:6-11; Acts 14:8-10; Acts 16:16-18; Acts 16:25-26; Acts 19:11-12; Acts 28:3-9) in fulfillment of Acts 1:8.
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• We do see the sign gifts through the 1st half of the Book of Acts, then they start to dissipate. Paul, in 65AD, writes to Pastor Timothy about how to deal with a stomach issue in 1 Timothy 5:23. Notice that Paul does not tell him to ask Paul for healing, or that Paul didn't just heal him.
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• Signs are not needed for people to believe. Moses performed signs, and Pharoah didn't believe (cf. Exodus 9:35). Jesus performed signs and wonders, and the nation of Israel overall still didn't believe (cf. John 12:37).
• A cessationist believes that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, etc. have ceased. Spiritual gifts are for the Future, Materialistic, Nationalistic, Theocratic Kingdom. These spiritual gifts were given to the nation of Israel to display the power of the coming Kingdom of God. Because we are not in the Kingdom of God, we don't have spiritual gifts.
• In Acts 13:38-39 we see the 1st occurrence of grace alone. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus an explanation of the revelation of the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:1--6). Now it is not just the Jews but the Gentiles also who inherit God's promise through the Gospel in the Messiah.
• The church is made up of people who believe in Jesus by faith for their salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). The church is given instructions that are independent of the law of Moses. The church is under the leadership of the Holy Ghost and the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16--17). In this Age of Grace, we are led by the Scriptures and the Holy Ghost, not the 613 commands of the law. The church is not a replacement for the nation of Israel. For if the church was a replacement for the nation of Israel, then it means that God would not be faithful to the promise he made to Abraham (Genesis 12:2--3).
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• Next is the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), world leader (Revelation 2-18) who can unite the world in a sense of peace and prosperity (Revelation 11:7; 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2), ushering in the final event of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24).
• The tribulation will occur, where men will desire to kill themselves but will be unsuccessful (Revelation 9:4-6). At the end of the tribulation, the nations of the world will be gathered against Israel at Armageddon (Revelation 19:17-20), and the son of David, the Promised Seed (Genesis 3:15) comes wiping out the nations of the earth (Revelation 19:11-21) and being the rightful King of kings! At this time, the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
• At this time, Satan will be bound in an abyss with a mega-chain for 1,000 years, bringing the earth into a time of peace and prosperity, a renewal of the Garden of Eden (Revelation 20:1-3), with Jesus reigning and ruling in the future Kingdom of God.
• During this time is when we will see the sign gifts prevalent.
• Contrary to what many assume, cessationists believe that God can and still does accomplish miracles today, what we believe is that the Holy Ghost no longer uses individual people to perform the miraculous signs.
02. **Differences of Administrations (1 Corinthians 12:5)
• of administrations is διακονία (ŏnia), from ákonos, *deacon, servant*, thus it is the service done by a deacon (Ephesians 4:11--12).
• Paul writes that it doesn't matter what ministry you are involved in in the local assembly, we are serving the Lord.
03. Diversities of Operations (1 Corinthians 12:6)
• of operations is ἐνέργημα (ĕnĕrgēma), from en, *in*érgō, to work, thus it means what is produced.
• worketh** is ἐνεργέω ĕnĕrgĕō, means to be actively working (Galatians 3:5; Philippians 2:13).
• all in all means that God actively works all of the gifts in all of the members (1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 3:11).
