by Timothy W. Burnett
According to verse 11 all nine manifestations work that one and the same spirit of God. It is commonly believed that the manifestation of the spirit is divided among different believers so that they are only able to work certain ones according to God's will. The word "dividing" in the verse is a little misleading and is better translated "distributing." All nine are distributed to every believer immediately when filled with the spirit of God.
Based on this information, we know that when the first people were filled with holy spirit as recorded in Acts 2:4, every one of them were given the ability to manifest it in all nine ways. As we read through Acts, we can see all nine being worked in various situations.
The next two verses emphasizes that although we are many members , we are in truth part of the one body of Christ. We are all baptized with the same spirit of God. Not one person in the world is excluded from this baptism as long as it is believed from the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (see also Romans 10:9-10).
It's interesting to note that God recognizes only two categories of people in the world. They are Jew and Gentile. The word Jew probably referred to all people who were genetically of the line of Israel. The word Gentile referred to all other nations of people. Within these categories are they who are bound as slaves or servants and they who are free. I have not found a single verse in the Bible which categorizes people according to skin colors.
Verses 14-27 drives in the subject of many members in one body of Christ. Such a strong emphasis is placed on this that I can't help but wonder if the Corinthian believers were treating each other in different ways according to their class distinctions and personal talents and abilities. We will handle this area in a few weeks.
Please let there be no confusion, all nine ways to manifest God's spirit is given to every man. And all nine work the same spirit from God. This means all Christians have the ability to work all nine in their spiritual lives. They can get word of knowledge for information, word of wisdom for what to do with the information and discerning of spirits for information as to what kind of spirit was involved in a situation.
They can work gifts of healing and miracles by the same spirit. They can prophecy, speak in tongues and give the interpretation of their own tongues and they can walk by the active faith of Jesus Christ who is alive and in heaven right now.
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