KB Biola Broadcaster - 1971-10

someone would write a gospel song on “ Serving Grace” so that we could sing it with the same vigor that we enjoy “ amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.” Many Christians love to testify about the grace of God because it saved them from so much; but the same grace of God that saved them is now operating in them in order that they may serve Him. Ephesians 2 :10 tells us, “ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” This is serving grace. God’s grace did not stop with the simple Gospel. God’s grace continues to operate so that those who are saved by the Gospel, will also be His workmanship, carrying out His ministries on earth. God has given several classic passages from Scripture pertaining to charisma. One is I Corinthians 12:4: “ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Sp irit.” G e rh a rt Ebe r , a German theologian, has defined the gifts of the Spirit with these words: “ They are means by which the Holy Spirit enables us to express the love of Christ in all concrete and practical ways.” Charisma is a God-given ability and a divine enablement. It must not be confused with a natural talent, a place of service, or a method of work. It may have many different shapes and forms, but it is that which uniquely comes from God Himself. He administers it to us by His Holy Spirit. Another helpful verse tells us that no person should think of himself more highly than he ought to think (Romans 12:3). Paul continues, “ Having then gifts differing according to the grace

puts this into practice in his daily l i fe under grace, a divine multiplication takes place. “ For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (II Corinthians 9 :12 ). Paul then brings to a close these two chapters of II Corinthians with the exclamatory climax, “ Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable g ift.” When the Christian begins to realize how much of God he has appropriated in the doctrine of grace, he will then respond by giving first of himself and then of his substance. This becomes his thanksgiving under grace. Jim P l unk e t t , the gifted quarterback of Stanford football team, was awarded the Heisman Trophy this past fall as the outstanding college football player of 1970. When asked about his quarterbacking heroes, such as Baltimore’s Johnnie Unitas and Green Bay’s Bart Starr, he replied: “ They’ve got charisma.” He probably did not know it, but he was using a theological term from the Bible. He took this divinely inspired word out of a Biblical context and used it of men, relating to their human and natural talent. When God uses the word “ charisma” in the Bible, He reserves its use for a divine enablement which only He can give. The word “ charisma” comes from CHAR IS , meaning “ grace” with a suffix “ ma” added to it. This suffix gives the additional force of grace in action. I wish SERV ING BY GRA C E

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