The New Bereans

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

–Romans 12:6

Something has been churning around in my gut for the past couple of weeks and it just won’t go away.  So I concluded I ought to put it down on paper.  It all centers on the word gift, and the difference between a gift I give to another person, (for Christmas or whatever) and the gifts God gives to human beings.  Although the same word is used in both instances the meanings are vastly different.

If I were to give you a gift for your birthday, say a toaster, after you opened it you may do what you want with it;  you could use it to toast bread, or as a paperweight, you could give it away, or even sell it to someone who needs a toaster.  As the giver I hope you would use it and enjoy it forever, but after you’ve taken possession of it…my say in the matter is over.  In our culture we resent those who try to give with strings attached, or even worse try to reclaim their gift.

Now when God gives someone a gift it is never meant to be hoarded, but invested in the way he sees fit, the parables of Jesus bear this out repeatedly.  The master gives a gift then checks up on the receiver to see what he has done with what he has been given.  A gift from him is never some bobble to play with, rather, it is a battle to fight, a mission to fulfill, or a quest to undertake.  In the verse before us relating to spiritual gifts one could even say that God is not really giving gifts to individuals, he is giving gifts through individuals for the benefit of the body, and the lost.

What I’m getting at could really be summed up in one word, responsibility.  We will be held accountable not only for every great deed, but every single word.  We must never forget that the things he has given us are not ours to play with, but his to faithfully use for his own benefit.

Artwork: The Nation Makers by Howard Pyle

“…He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” –II Peter 1:4

The flesh and the devil will miss no opportunity to prevent this from happening.  The former wars against the Spirit,₁ and the latter despises the siblings of resurrection for the bruising migraine our elder brother dealt him₂.  In tandem they do all within their power to resist the divine nature.  In his commentary on the term nature, Gr. phusis: φύσις, Spiros Zhodiates₃ rightly observes that this does not speak of some mystical spiritual essence as ‘some have interpreted,’ but rather it implies the compendium of God’s attributes.

The term “partakers,” is derived from the word, Gr. koinonos: κοινωνός, this word is completely tied to the idea of fellowship and communion.  In fact both of those terms are synonymous with the word koinonia in greek.  This knowledge ought to bring to mind the statement; “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.₄” Here we see that Jesus’ teaching on communion speaks of far more than just remembering, tied to the idea is the concept of fellowshipping, or partaking, it speaks of utter familial relationship.  As a matter of fact this saying scared people off.  When Jesus taught the message that his followers must partake of him just as he partook of the Father, many of his disciples followed him no more.₅ Two-thousand years later, not very much has changed.  So many want only from Christ that which appeals to human nature, rather than moving beyond his forgiveness to allow him to infiltrate and displace their nature with his.

“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.₆” There is a vicious tenacity Jesus expects from his followers.  Not vicious in a sinful way, but violent in a righteous way.  Those who are content to idly masticate the elements of communion without this “violence” are storing up damnation against themselves.₇ There is probably no greater definition of “unworthiness” toward this communion of Christ than disinterest.  Such a disposition does not care one whit about Jesus’ desires, and treats the elements as if they were dropped out of a cheap dirty vending machine.  Just take two of these and sin again in the morning. (The devil’s orders of course!)

However, if you have run from “evil desire,₈” as if the clutches of it were the flaky, charcoal grasp of the devil himself, then hunker down and lock shields with the warrior church,₉ and make “every effort,₈” to add to your faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.  For if these “attributes” be in you and are increasing, then you will be fruitful in your knowledge of Jesus.  And you will be a partaker of the divine nature, through fellowship, because of proper communion with your elder brother.  It is no wonder Jesus will not recognize dead works of the flesh, and will say unto some…”Depart from me for I never knew you.”

1. _{Galatians 5:17}
2. _{Genesis 3:15}
3. _{Spiros Zhodiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary 1992 AMG International., Inc. Revised Edition, page 1459}
4. _{John 6:57 KJV}
5. _{John 6:66 KJV}
6. _{Matthew 11:12}
7. _{1 Corinthians 11:29}
8. _{Ephesians 6:10-18}
9. _{2 Peter 1:5}
10. _{Photo: “Creation Knows no Boundaries,” by merjyn102}