1 Corinthians 12:4, 6, 28 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. (28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 is a beautiful chapter to study
because The Lord talks to us about two subjects, (1.) our spiritual gifts and (2.)
the body of Christ or the local church. Three time God uses the word “diversity”
which means – distinction’s or differences – which means - a
difference or contrast between similar things or people – God did not build
us as Christians or even as humans the same, He used diversity in everything He
accomplished. Even in our order to be in unity we fine diversity in God’s
spiritual gifts, in the Lord’s local churches, in our gift of scriptural
education, and in our place and work in the Lord’s churches. We also find
diversities in our human function on this earth, different races, different levels
of wealth, different mindset in how to live, some are wealthy, some middle
class, some are poor, and some are even very poor. Anywhere in human life,
even as Christians we find diversity but one Lord, one Master, one God over
all. God chooses every step of our life no matter what part of life we are
whether we own a successful business, or if we spend our life as a working man,
or if we live a life of never getting ahead, it is all by God’s grace. Life is
in the merciful and gracious hands of God, and all by His power. We are all
gifted by God’s grace with how we are born, how we grow-up, how we mature, and
how we die. God said in His dealing with people, “For there is no respect of
persons with God.” Romans 2:11 The word’s “no respect of persons” means
- partiality, that is, favoritism – this means God used no favoritism or partiality
in what gifts He gave to us. God deals with us all the same, with love, mercy,
and grace, as He chooses, in life none of us are the same nor are we given the
exact grace or even love, for example God loved a remnant and saves that
remnant and all others will not be saved. God said, “As it is written, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Romans 9:13 The question must be
asked “why Did God love Jacob and hate Esau”? The fact is that God never loved
Esau, he did nothing to generate God’s hate toward him, because for God to
hate him means that God never loved him. “Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 God is “Eternal”
no beginning and no ending, He is Omniscient, Omnipresent, All Power, All Holy,
God has no need to change in anything. “Known unto God are all his works
from the beginning of the world.” Acts
15:18 He doesn’t need to change anything because He is Perfect in in everything
in Eternity. Therefore, whatever God gifts people with it is by His mercy and
grace, as He chooses. Therefore, He chose to love Jacob and hate Esau, just as He
had the right to love a remnant and hate the others. Paul wrote, “Nay but, O
man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him
that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the
clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto
dishonour?” Romans 9:20, 21
Diversities of gifts is God’s choice of mercy and grace to every
human, everything in life has an appointed time appointed by God’s gift of
grace. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under
the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 The truth is, people cannot accept these Diversities
of gifts as God’s choosing, people are the problem. We separate from each other
because of our human diversities. Because of Nationality, race, wealth,
biblical views, smartness, the way we live, etc. We are living in a time of
pure hate, even in some churches and among some Christians. However, this is
wrong because we are what grace hath made us. A lot of Christians separate themselves
from other Christians because of God’s gifts of diversities, and this is a sin.
No one is perfect in the scriptures, we all fail somewhere, and when Christians
snub their noses at other Christians because of some disagreement they are
disobeying God. When the different races fail to treat each other as Brothers
and Sisters in Christ they are sinning against God. We all need to think about
what God says, and look at ourselves in the mirror of the scriptures and see
what reflection we see. “Now the Lord
is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we
all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:17, 18
