Category: Gift Of Christ

The Gift of Christ: Part 7 - Pastor-Teacher

3/24/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 7 - Pastor-Teacher

The final function of the gift of Christ is the pastor-teacher office. These two terms pastor (poimḗn) and teacher (didáskalos) are linked together by a single article, therefore, making it one office. Paul Enns, in The Moodly Handbook of Theology states, “As a pastor, he cares for the flock. He guides, guards, protects, and provides for those under his oversight. As a teacher, the emphasis is on the method by which the shepherd does his work. He guides, he guards, he protects by teaching.”

The function of the pastor-teacher is to provide the congregation with scholarly teaching and apologetics. They are supported by their local congregation. As well, the pastor-teacher selects those educated in the Scriptures, to read and teach (as an extension of his office). The Pastor-teachers lead the prayer times. Depending on the size of the congregation, there may be more than one pastor-teacher. While the bishop functions as the pastor-teacher in the church, not every pastor-teacher would be the bishop.

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The Gift of Christ: Part 6 - Evangelist

3/24/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 6 - Evangelist

The next function of the gift of Christ is the evangelistic office. An evangelist (euangelistḗs) is one who primarily preaches the Gospel.

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (euaggelízō) of good things! - Romans 10:15

The evangelist would travel from town to town preaching the gospel to those who never heard. Thus they were authorized migratory preachers who declared the Gospel wherever sent.

An evangelist was also an apologist. As they would engage the lost, they would have to be ready to give a defense of the faith. Eusebius (AD 260-340), a church historian, referred to himself as an evangelist, when he defended his Christian brethren from the false charges brought against them.

Philip, one of the seven chosen in Acts 6, was an evangelist.

entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. - Acts 21:8b

Philip was first called to be an elder in the Jerusalem church. God then called him to be an evangelist and sent Him to Samaria, the Ethiopian.

Timothy’s role, in the Ephesus church, involved teaching believers within the church, and also evangelizing unbelievers outside the church.

…do the work of an evangelist… 2 Timothy 4:5

Scripture points to the fact that prophets preached to believers and evangelists preached to unbelievers. Perhaps then, Timothy functioned as both a prophet and an evangelist.

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The Gift of Christ: Part 5 - Prophets

3/20/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 5 - Prophets

The next function of the gift of Christ is the prophetic office. A prophet (prophḗtēs) is one who primarily tells-forth or preaches God’s Word. In both Testaments, the prophet told-forth more than they foretold. They could only foretell if they had the gift of prophecy. As noted, just because the prophetic gift is inactive, does not mean the prophetic office is inactive.

The prophet’s ministry in the New Testament era is similar to that of the Old Testament era: to proclaim God’s Word, edifies, exhorts, strengthens, and comforts believers.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. - Acts 15:32
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. - 1 Corinthians 14:3

The prophet’s ministry also included the ordaining of other elders, specifically other prophets, such as Timothy.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. - 1 Timothy 4:14
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift (chárisma) of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. - 2 Timothy 1:6

The gift (chárisma), in 2 Timothy 1:16, referred to here is not a spiritual gift, since the Holy Spirit gives them at salvation, not by the preaching of the Word or ordination. The gift relates to the office to which he was called. The gift of God is synonymous with the gift of Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:11). Timothy was to devote himself to the ministries of a prophet: reading, teaching, preaching, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.

give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. - 1 Timothy 4:13
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. - 2 Timothy 4:2

Those who served in the office of the prophet exhort or edify people through the proclamation (i.e., telling-forth) of the Word. Some are teaching prophets who teach weekly in a particular congregation (i.e., a bishop, pastor, or another teaching elder). Others are traveling prophets, in that they teach from church to church (i.e., an itinerant preacher) or went town to town making disciples (i.e., a church planter).

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The Gift of Christ: Part 4 - Apostles

3/20/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 4 - Apostles

he first function of the gift of Christ is the apostolic office. An apostle (apóstolos) is one sent out as a sanctioned representative, a messenger. Often in the New Testament, apostles are qualified by the phrase of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a qualification implies that an apostle is sent out as a sanctioned representative or messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ. When one hears the term apostle, he or she usually thinks in terms of the twelve apostles. To be of the Twelve, one had to meet two criteria. First, they must have been with Jesus from His baptism until His ascension. Second, they must have been an eyewitness to His resurrection.

Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. - Acts 1:21-22

However, others were also named apostles, who were not counted among the Twelve.

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. - Luke 9:1-2
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. - Luke 10:1

Noting Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul notes that Jesus appeared first to Peter, then to the Twelve, and then to all the apostles.

and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. […] then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. - 1 Corinthians 15:5-8

Paul makes a particular distinction between the Twelve and all the apostles. Indeed the Twelve were apostles, but others were also commissioned and sent out as messengers of the Lord. Men and women, such as Barnabas, Paul, Andronicus, Junia, Titus, James the brother of Jesus, Epaphroditus, and Silas, were commissioned as apostles or missionaries sent out by the church.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul, heard of it - Acts 14:14a
Greet Andronicus and Junia, […] who are outstanding among the apostles… - Romans 16:7a
As for Titus [… ] our brethren […] they are the messengers (apóstolos) of the churches… - 2 Corinthians 8:23
But I did not see any other of the apostles except James the Lord’s brother. - Galatians 1:19
But I though it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, […] your messenger (apóstolos), - Philippians 2:25
as apostles of Christ we (Paul and Silas) might have asserted out authority - 1 Thessalonians 2:6

These individuals served in their churches as apostles. They functioned as authorized emissaries or messengers of their congregation. What the church presently calls a missionary functions as an apostle of the gospel.

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The Gift of Christ: Part 3 - God Ordained Offices

3/17/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 3 - God Ordained Offices

There is some confusion regarding apostle and prophets. They are not gifts of the Spirit.

And God has appointed (títhēmi - ordained) in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then (épeita) gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. - 1 Corinthians 12:28

The apostles, prophets, and teachers are part of those God-ordained offices which Jesus gave for the perfecting of the saints (cf. Ephesians 4:11-12). The term has appointed (títhēmi) points to the fact that God ordained apostles, prophets, and teachers for the church. The term then (épeita) means soon afterward. In other words, soon after the gift of Christ was given to the church, the gifts of the Spirit were given to individuals. Christ gave His gift to the church following His resurrection. The Holy Spirit gave His gifts to individuals, beginning on the day of Pentecost.

That particular temporary sign gifts, such as prophecies, are inactive, does not mean that the offices of apostles or prophets are inactive. The sign gifts authenticated that the apostles’ and prophets’ message was from God.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. - 2 Corinthians 12:12

With Scripture’s completion, the apostolic and prophetic offices no longer required confirmation.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. - 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

However, the Didache records that the offices of apostles and prophets continued after the close of the New Testament.

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The Gift of Christ: Part 2 - Not the Gifts of the Spirit

3/17/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 2 - Not The Gifts Of The Spirit

The office of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers are part of Christ’s gifts to the church.

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift (dōreá). Therefore it says, When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts (dóma) to men (ánthrōpos). - Ephesians 4:7-8

The gift of Christ should not be confused with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are three significant distinctions between the gift of Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

First, the gift of Christ is singular, whereas the gifts of the Holy Spirit are plural. There is confusion between the singular gift in Ephesians 4:7 and the plural gifts in Ephesians 4:8. The term gift (dōreá) in verse 7 refers to something freely acquired. The church freely acquired the gift of Christ. The term gifts (dóma) in verse 8 refers to something freely transferred. While the gift is to the church, Christ calls individual believers to function as the gift to the church. The gift of Christ functions in a fourfold manner: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. When Christ calls a believer to one of these roles, He freely transfers to them the grace to accomplish their calling.

Second, the gift of Christ is given to the church, whereas the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to individual believers (cf. Ephesians 4:8). The term men (ánthrōpos), in Ephesians 4:8, refers to a group of people as a whole. In the context, the group is the Church. Third, Christ gave His gift to the Church when He ascended into Heaven immediately after His resurrection (cf. Ephesians 4:8). The gits of the Holy Spirit we're given on the Day of Pentecost. The purpose of the gift of Christ is to equip the saints. The saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry. When saints do the work of the ministry, the Body of Christ (i.e., the Church) is built up.

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; - Ephesians 4:12

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The Gift of Christ: Part 1

3/13/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gifts Of Christ: Part 1

When Christ ascended to Heaven immediately after His resurrection, He accomplished two actions — He brought the spirits of the Old Testament saints into Heaven and “and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). According to John 20:21-23, Christ appeared that evening in the upper room, He breathed on them, gave them the Holy Spirit, and commissioned the Apostles to their future ministry.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost - John 20:21-23

Did not Christ command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Yes, He did. Did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? Yes, He did. What then is this giving of the Holy Spirit? It was a unique gifting of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the Apostles for the preparation of those things which would transpire on the Day of Pentecost, namely the founding of the Church. This giving of the Holy Spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry, which explains the transformation of the disciples between the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.

Paul sheds further light on the gifts of Christ when he says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The He in Ephesians 4:11 refers to Christ Himself as the giver of these gifts. The disciples in the upper room that evening were equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastor-teachers. Scripture itself testifies that these gifts were foundational to the Church.

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:12-13

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The Gift of Christ: Part 7 - Pastor-Teacher

The Gift of Christ: Part 6 - Evangelist

The Gift of Christ: Part 5 - Prophets

The Gift of Christ: Part 4 - Apostles

The Gift of Christ: Part 3 - God Ordained Offices

The Gift of Christ: Part 2 - Not the Gifts of the Spirit

The Gift of Christ: Part 1

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