Charity And Its Fruits Notes - Chapter 2
Chapter/sermon 2 is called "Charity More Excellent Than The Extraordinary Gifts of The Spirit" and goes into more detail on 1 Corinthians 13:1-2.
Edwards starts out by showing the different ways that gifts of the Spirit are categorized, specifically:
Common gifts are those gifts possessed by both the saved and the unsaved. The ability to feel compassion or guilty are examples. Saving gifts are those gifts possessed by the saved only.
Ordinary gifts are those gifts possessed by every member of the church. Extraordinary gifts are those that are given to a few people as God determines the need. Extraordinary gifts are what most people think of when they use the term "Spiritual gifts" and include prophecy and speaking in tongues. Ordinary gifts are the ones we associate with Galations 5:22-23 and are usually called "Spiritual Fruits." An interesting little item is that it is possible for unsaved people to have extraordinary Spiritual gifts, at least temporarily. An example is in John 11:49-52, when the high priest Caiaphas speaking of the political necessity of killing Jesus, is actually said to be prophesying. Other examples are Balaam the prophet and Judas Iscariat, who was sent out and worked miracles with the other apostles.
Dispite this last item, Edwards points out that it is an incredible privilege to receive an extraordinary gift of the Spirit. He says it is a privilege second only to salvation. The reason for this is that the giving of extraordinary gifts to unbelievers is rare. They are normally given only to those for whom God has a special love: Moses, Daniel, John the Baptist and the Apostles. According to Edwards, the apostle John was given the privilege of seeing and recording what is in the book of Revelation because he was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Yet for all it's privilege, Paul says they are less important than the ordinary gift of godly love. Edwards gives several reasons why this is so:
All of this leads Edwards to say: "If what has been said be well considered, it will appear evident beyond all doubt, that the saving grace of God in the heart, working a holy and divine temper in the soul, is the greatest blessing that ever men receive in this world..."
The application portion of this sermon is very small, consisting of telling the people to have a level of gratitude commensorate with the gift they have received, and to live more fully for Christ.
Edwards starts out by showing the different ways that gifts of the Spirit are categorized, specifically:
- Common and saving
- Ordinary and extraordinary
Common gifts are those gifts possessed by both the saved and the unsaved. The ability to feel compassion or guilty are examples. Saving gifts are those gifts possessed by the saved only.
Ordinary gifts are those gifts possessed by every member of the church. Extraordinary gifts are those that are given to a few people as God determines the need. Extraordinary gifts are what most people think of when they use the term "Spiritual gifts" and include prophecy and speaking in tongues. Ordinary gifts are the ones we associate with Galations 5:22-23 and are usually called "Spiritual Fruits." An interesting little item is that it is possible for unsaved people to have extraordinary Spiritual gifts, at least temporarily. An example is in John 11:49-52, when the high priest Caiaphas speaking of the political necessity of killing Jesus, is actually said to be prophesying. Other examples are Balaam the prophet and Judas Iscariat, who was sent out and worked miracles with the other apostles.
Dispite this last item, Edwards points out that it is an incredible privilege to receive an extraordinary gift of the Spirit. He says it is a privilege second only to salvation. The reason for this is that the giving of extraordinary gifts to unbelievers is rare. They are normally given only to those for whom God has a special love: Moses, Daniel, John the Baptist and the Apostles. According to Edwards, the apostle John was given the privilege of seeing and recording what is in the book of Revelation because he was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Yet for all it's privilege, Paul says they are less important than the ordinary gift of godly love. Edwards gives several reasons why this is so:
- Christian love becomes part of our inherent nature, extraordinary gifts are something we wear
- Christian love represents the Holy Spirit bestowing His nature to our souls/li>
- Getting Christian love means becoming more like Christ
- Only God's favorites and adopted children get the gift of Christian love
- The extraordinary gifts will fail, love is eternal. What can be more precious, a gift that God gives (albeit rarely) to people He hates, or a gift that is only given to those He loves.
- Godly love also leads to greater happiness, because it causes us to be more godly. In Edwards words "Man's highest happiness consists in holiness, for it is by this that the reasonable creature is united to God, the fountain of all good."
- The purpose of the extraordinary gifts is the propogation of the gospel and the building up of the saints within the church. Part of this building up consists of loving more like God does. This means that love is part of the end, and not just part of the means, and the ends are always more excellent than the means.
- Edwards goes on to point out that not only are extraordinary gifts nothing without love, which shows the presence of God's grace, they actually increase the condemnation of the unsaved person. Judas' betrayal of Christ is made worst by the fact that we was an apostle, with the miracle working gifts possessed by the other apostles.
All of this leads Edwards to say: "If what has been said be well considered, it will appear evident beyond all doubt, that the saving grace of God in the heart, working a holy and divine temper in the soul, is the greatest blessing that ever men receive in this world..."
The application portion of this sermon is very small, consisting of telling the people to have a level of gratitude commensorate with the gift they have received, and to live more fully for Christ.
posted by Mike at 9:34 PM
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