Paul saw his whole identity as a Christian as summed up in being a serving slave of Jesus Christ.
Most of his epistles begin with a simple statement of introduction: Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Himself took on the form of a servant being made in the likeness of men. He did not come to be served, but rather to serve and give His life as a ransom for sin.

The word “serve” in the Bible translates a Greek word: diakonia. From this word we get the English transliteration: Deacon.
We also see this word translated many times by the word: ministry. It is a broad term that speaks widely of service and care for others.

As we have been studying the gifts of the spirit we have seen that they fall broadly into two main categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Today we look at these serving gifts. Paul mentions four: serving, leading, giving, mercy.

We will see that leading, giving and mercy are really explanations of some of the main ways we serve others. We serve as leaders, we serve by giving resources to those in need, and we serve by showing mercy to those in distress.
Jesus taught us that the way leaders lead in His kingdom is not by rank and power but rather but stooping low to serve.
Jesus taught that giving to others is an important part of our stewardship and Jesus taught us by His example what it looks like to show mercy to those who are hurting and in distress.

All Christians are to be growing in the grace of serving. Serving is a nonnegotiable of Christ likeness. It is not only a gift, it is also a command to be obeyed: serve on another as I have served you.
However, there are also certain believers who have specific aptitudes by the Spirit that enriches their service to a higher degree than most. These are high callings and special endowments.
Let us look on them as such.

Because of grace,
Tim

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“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
I Peter 4:10

We don’t often use the word steward in our everyday conversation. A steward in the ancient world was a man who had delegated authority to act on behalf of a greater authority.
Cities had stewards as did large landowner’s. Today, ranches have managers and wealthy owners of estates have caretakers.

The position of a steward entailed great benefit and blessing. The caretaker may not have been wealthy himself and yet he had the benefit of all the resources of his master.
As such, to be a steward was to find oneself in a place of great opportunity.

Being a steward also entailed great responsibility. Managing the affairs and resources of someone else was also a tremendous burden for which one would give an accounting.
To abuse those under him or to squander the resources of the master would bring the master’s wrath down upon his head. The owner may be absent and the steward may forget that all these things are not his own but that they belong to another.
When the master returned, there would be a day of reckoning.

In this verse in Peter we are reminded that we are stewards of God’s varied grace. He entrusts gifts to us.
These gifts bless us and others. They are to be utilized for His glory- not just our gain.
When he returns, we will give account. Are you wisely and faithfully fulfilling your stewardship?

Because of grace,
Tim

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We are saved by faith- but what does this faith that saves look like?
Notice the link between “believe” and “receive” in the following scripture.

“…much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the One man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
John 1:12 “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. “

The Reformer’s recognized three aspects to faith. They did so using three Latin terms: noticia, assensus, and fiducia. Let me explain.Noticia is the content of faith
Assensus is the personal recognition of the veracity of the truth claim.
Fiducia is the trust element or the personal reliance on Christ alone.
All three are vital to saving faith.

A person can’t be saved without certain content. This is why neither a baby nor a person who never hears the name of Christ can actually believe. True belief rests on content, not just sincerity.
A baby, who has not reached the age of personal accountability is not saved by faith alone- they are saved by grace alone. Because they are incapable of understanding the content of our faith they cannot “believe” in that sense of the word.

On the other hand, an Islamic believer may be very sincere but also sincerely wrong. Their faith rests on a different foundation. So Peter says: “There is salvation in no other. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This is what the reformers meant by Noticia.

Secondly, not only must an individual “know” certain things; they must also assent to those things truthfulness.
They must give mental assent to the veracity of what the Bible teaches concerning Christ. This is why Romans 10 tells us “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This is the Assensus of faith.

Lastly, there is fiducia or personal reliance. This is what is described in Romans 10:13 when the Holy Spirit says: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The calling out to a Savior is the personal reliance that seals the deal.
All three of these components of faith are necessary for faith to save. When one or more of these elements is missing, faith is defective and deficient.

Because of grace,
Tim

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