There is a difference. The scriptures knows of only one gift of God but this gift is expressed in several ways. We will name them and refer to them as synonyms.
1) Jesus Christ, the Son of God
2) Salvation from sin
3) Righteousness
4) Eternal Life
5) The gift of God
6) The Spirit of God and of Christ
7) Forgiveness of sins
These all mean the same thing in the scriptures. There is no way for any man to accomplish a righteous standing with God unless God initiates it and provides the way. He has done this and all the things that are listed above are accomplished through the work and ministry of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ on behalf of the believer
What is not the gift of God for this column is faith. However, faith is, and can be a gift. But not a gift from the Father. It is one of the several gifts of the Spirit. It is a "spiritual gift." We cannot say what exactly this gift is because there is not commentary on it in the scriptures. It was an enablement for ministry given to certain members of his own choosing for the work of edification in the primitive church before the scriptures were written.
Follow this logic.
1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Spiritual gifts are gifts given by the Spirit. Watch this.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
I could camp out on the above statements but I will just say there is probably not a Calvinist alive today that will take those three divisions of the Godhead literally and apply them to the history of redemption. They are for sure a breakdown of this chapter but also, in a large degree, the breakdown of the whole NT. Here is the breakdown and you may look foryourself.
The Spirit and his gifts of ministry - 1-13
The Lord and his administrations of the body - 14 -27
God and his operations -28-31
Let's look at the spiritual gifts. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit (that would be the gifts) is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by
1) the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
2) The word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
3) faith by the same Spirit; to another
4) the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another
5) the working of miracles;
6) to another prophecy;
7) to another discerning of spirits;
8) to another divers kinds of tongues;
9) to another the interpretation of tongues:
What about that? Nine gifts of the Spirit. God's number for fruit-bearing.
Here is the unity of the body with various members and different gifts all to be administered by the head of his body, Jesus Christ as if they were one with him.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Do you see where faith is? It is number 3 in the list. Not all have this particular gift. Only those whom the Spirit chose got this gift. But all got one or more gifts. None was left out.
One must understand that a distinction of ministries exist between the members of the Godhead. When God says things like he has begun a good work "in them" the operative work is the Spirits work through them particularly in the exercise of the gifts he has given the Philippian Church.
I want you to remember that it is "God" who is in charge of operations. Look at this;
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Well, that is all for now but this salvation of God does not have to be confusing and assigning faith as the gift of God is a very false doctrine and confuses the ways of God and the gospel of salvation and I personally stand in doubt of those who preach it.
1) Jesus Christ, the Son of God
2) Salvation from sin
3) Righteousness
4) Eternal Life
5) The gift of God
6) The Spirit of God and of Christ
7) Forgiveness of sins
These all mean the same thing in the scriptures. There is no way for any man to accomplish a righteous standing with God unless God initiates it and provides the way. He has done this and all the things that are listed above are accomplished through the work and ministry of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ on behalf of the believer
What is not the gift of God for this column is faith. However, faith is, and can be a gift. But not a gift from the Father. It is one of the several gifts of the Spirit. It is a "spiritual gift." We cannot say what exactly this gift is because there is not commentary on it in the scriptures. It was an enablement for ministry given to certain members of his own choosing for the work of edification in the primitive church before the scriptures were written.
Follow this logic.
1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Spiritual gifts are gifts given by the Spirit. Watch this.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
I could camp out on the above statements but I will just say there is probably not a Calvinist alive today that will take those three divisions of the Godhead literally and apply them to the history of redemption. They are for sure a breakdown of this chapter but also, in a large degree, the breakdown of the whole NT. Here is the breakdown and you may look foryourself.
The Spirit and his gifts of ministry - 1-13
The Lord and his administrations of the body - 14 -27
God and his operations -28-31
Let's look at the spiritual gifts. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit (that would be the gifts) is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by
1) the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
2) The word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
3) faith by the same Spirit; to another
4) the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another
5) the working of miracles;
6) to another prophecy;
7) to another discerning of spirits;
8) to another divers kinds of tongues;
9) to another the interpretation of tongues:
What about that? Nine gifts of the Spirit. God's number for fruit-bearing.
Here is the unity of the body with various members and different gifts all to be administered by the head of his body, Jesus Christ as if they were one with him.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Do you see where faith is? It is number 3 in the list. Not all have this particular gift. Only those whom the Spirit chose got this gift. But all got one or more gifts. None was left out.
One must understand that a distinction of ministries exist between the members of the Godhead. When God says things like he has begun a good work "in them" the operative work is the Spirits work through them particularly in the exercise of the gifts he has given the Philippian Church.
I want you to remember that it is "God" who is in charge of operations. Look at this;
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Well, that is all for now but this salvation of God does not have to be confusing and assigning faith as the gift of God is a very false doctrine and confuses the ways of God and the gospel of salvation and I personally stand in doubt of those who preach it.