(02/14/2016) Gifts As A Reward?

Divine gifts, spiritual rebirth, and rewards through final judgment are discussed, today.  Many of us think of life as mortals upon the earth as a precious gift from GOD that we do not want to lose, or have taken away.  To serve as an High Priest for mankind within the Temple in heaven, it was necessary for Jesus to leave the earth, and receive greater divine gifts.  The many benefits to those embracing Jesus Christ as their savior include acquiring aspects of the character, nature, and eternal operations that appear from the full substance of divinity.  Included are atonement, fellowship, forgiveness, sacred knowledge, divine promises, and zeal.  Divine gifts may be spoken of as “blessings” and are distinct from human gifts in Scripture that describe offerings to idols, bribes, and the use of influence to decide outcomes in judgment.  The believer who is born again also must gradually mature, and reach those levels of balance, completeness, and stability that allow one to contribute to the ministry of Jesus Christ (we say, be fruitful) through their own service and works.  Consider again the Scriptures that follow, and the presentation below:

Psalms 68:  17-19, King James Version (KJV):  17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels:  the LORD is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.  18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive:  thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.  19 Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

James 1:  17, KJV:  17 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.

Luke 11:  13, KJV:  13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:  how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Hebrews 8:  1-4, KJV:  1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:  We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;  2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:  wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.  4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

1st Corinthians 14:  1-3, KJV:  1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.  2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:  for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Fred XX00 I” (Level 7 with 51,627 points, a member since June 28, 2010) posted the following:


Ephesians 4:8 does the Lord our God give gifts as a reward: what do you think about this? thank you?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.  (Hebrews 5:  1-10, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Life Is In Blood (12/08/2015); Martyrdom and Tribulation? (09/30/2015); Jesus Given A Divine Ministry? (08/18/2015); Necessary to Want It? (05/15/2015); Harden Not Your Hearts? (09/08/2014); Beyond Punishment (03/21/2014); A Guarantee of Heaven? (03/22/2014)


“Fred XX00 I”, many Christian believers agree, the “gifts” spoken of in the verse you cite (Ephesians 4:  8, King James Version (KJV):  8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.) are deposits of divine substance from the makeup of divinity, and spiritual endowments to mankind through the Holy Spirit (also called, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth).  It is the imparted Spirit that operates in baptism accomplishing death of ones inborn spirit with rebirth having spirit content from the makeup of Deity.  Such inseparable aspects of GOD are received by the believer as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The transformation of mankind to endure as an eternal companion is begun that will be completed at the coming of Jesus to harvest those from the earth who are “ripe” at his Second Coming (some say, the Rapture).

Gifts of the Spirit also have been imparted as “tools” to equip congregations for service as sanctified (set apart for exclusive use by GOD).  The principle is in place that where one member of the body displays a peculiar gift the whole body is accounted as having that gift.  Included among these provisions are special appearances of divinity that include discernment, divine order, healing, hierarchy, meekness, speaking in tongues, and prophecy.  In the language of the Bible, 1st Corinthians 12:  8-10 and 28, KJV are important:  8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  Also, 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.”

The discussion of “rewards” usually is separate from that for “gifts”.  Rewards are established through judgment on the basis of ones own participation, and direct service with the Holy Spirit to Christ, to his church, and to the Father.  Satan and all the wicked will have been cast into the Lake of Fire.   In the same way, only those who will be given place within the New Jerusalem will be present when allotments within the holy city are determined, only those who are immortal and incorruptible will be present in the distribution of rewards.  In the language of Scripture:  1st Corinthians 3:  11-13, KJV:  11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:  for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX Washington, DC