Romans Archives | Core Church LA

Why God Gives Gifts

When you become a follower of Jesus, you don’t just get saved—you get gifted. The Bible tells us that God gives spiritual gifts to every believer. These gifts aren’t random. They’re part of His perfect plan. He gives them for a reason, and that reason isn’t to make us look good. It’s to make the whole church stronger.

Let’s look at three key places in the Bible where we see this truth clearly—Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 and 27-31, and Ephesians 4:11-16.

Why God Gives Gifts: So the Body of Christ Works Right

In Romans 12:3-8, Paul says we’re all part of one body, and each part matters. He tells us not to think too highly of ourselves, but to remember that God gives different gifts to different people. Some teach, while others encourage. There are leaders, and there are servers, while others have a gift of giving. All of it is important.

Think about your own body. If your foot stops working, your whole body feels it. It’s the same in the church. God gives gifts so that every believer can play their part. If even one person chooses not to use their gift, something important gets left out.

You may think, “I’m not a preacher,” or “I’m not as bold as that person,” but that doesn’t mean your gift doesn’t matter. God knows what He’s doing. He gives you the gift you need to do the job He wants you to do.

Why God Gives Gifts: To Bring Unity and Growth

Now check out 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 and 27-31. Paul explains that the same Spirit gives different gifts to different people. He says the church is like a body with many parts—hands, feet, eyes, ears. Each part is different, but they all work together. No part can say, “I don’t need you.”

This tells us something powerful. God gives gifts not to make one person better than another, but to make all of us work together. We need each other. God didn’t call you to do everything. He called you to do your part—and trust others to do theirs.

Then in verses 27-31, Paul talks about how some are apostles, some are prophets, some are teachers. He asks, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets?” The answer is no. That’s the point. God spreads out His gifts on purpose.

Why God Gives Gifts: To Build Up the Church in Love

Last, let’s look at Ephesians 4:11-16. Paul says God gave some to be pastors, some to be evangelists, and some to teach—not to show off—but to help the rest of the church grow. These leaders aren’t supposed to do all the work. They’re supposed to equip you to do ministry.

As each person uses their gift, the whole church grows stronger in love. It becomes healthy, unified, and mature. This is the goal: a church full of people using their God-given gifts to make Jesus known.

So let’s get real. If you’re not using your gift, the church misses out. That’s why the question isn’t “Do I have a gift?” It’s “What has God gifted me to do—and am I doing it?”

You matter to God. Your gift matters to the church. And why God gives gifts is simple: so the whole body can grow, love, and shine for Jesus. Let’s step into that calling together.

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Does God Choose To Save?

Does God Choose to Save Only Some?

Romans 9:13 says, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Calvinists argue that this means God chose Jacob for salvation and Esau for destruction before they were even born. But Paul is quoting Malachi 1:2-3, where God speaks about the nations that came from Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom). God’s “hatred” of Esau was not personal but referred to the rejection of Edom as a chosen nation. Esau’s own choices led to his downfall. He despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34) and rejected God’s plan for his life. He chose his own desires over God’s will.

Romans 9:16-18 speaks about Pharaoh, saying, “So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.’” Calvinists claim this means God hardened Pharaoh’s heart against his will. But in Exodus, Pharaoh first hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 8:32, 9:34). He rejected God repeatedly before God confirmed his rebellion. Pharaoh had many chances to repent but refused. His own pride led to his destruction.

Do People Choose Their Own Destruction?

Romans 8:29 says, “For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” This does not mean God randomly selects who will be saved. It says God foreknew who would respond to Him. He sees every heart and knows who will accept or reject Him.

John 3:19 explains why people reject salvation: “This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” The problem is not that God refuses to save people. The problem is that people refuse to be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 reinforces this truth: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.” God does not force anyone to reject Him. Those who refuse the truth bring judgment upon themselves.

God offers salvation to everyone. The only ones who miss out are those who reject it. Esau chose his own way instead of God’s. Pharaoh hardened his own heart against the truth. The same is true today. Those who refuse to believe do so by their own choice.

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For Christians This Is Explosive

Romans 1:16-17 is one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture. Paul boldly writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’”

Paul makes it clear that the gospel is not just good news—it is power. The Greek word he uses for “power” is dunamis, which is where we get our English word “dynamite.” This means the gospel is explosive. It has the power to break the chains of sin, transform hearts, and bring people into a right relationship with God. Nothing else in this world has that kind of power. For Christians this is explosive!

For Christians This Is Explosive Power

Paul declares that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation.” No philosophy, no self-help system, and no amount of good deeds can bring salvation. Only the gospel—the truth that Jesus died and rose again—has the power to save.

Before Paul met Jesus, he was a religious man. He followed the law, studied the Scriptures, and tried to earn righteousness. But none of that saved him. Only when he encountered the risen Christ did he experience the power of salvation. That’s why he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel. He knew firsthand that it could transform lives.

This is still true today. Many try to fix themselves through effort, but the gospel is the only thing that truly changes people. The moment we believe in Jesus, God’s power works in us, making us new. That is why Paul preached the gospel boldly and why we must share it with confidence.

Explosive Faith

Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 when he says, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” This Old Testament verse shows that salvation has always been through faith. Even before Jesus came, God made it clear that righteousness was not about works but about trusting Him.

Habakkuk lived in a time of great trouble. Evil surrounded him, and he cried out to God for justice. God’s answer was simple: “The righteous will live by faith.” This means that no matter what happens, those who trust in God will find life.

Paul connects this Old Testament truth to the gospel. From the beginning, God’s plan was for people to be saved through faith, not by trying to be good enough. Jesus fulfilled this plan by dying for our sins and rising again, offering salvation to all who believe.

This is the foundation of Christianity. Other religions say, “Work harder, do more, and maybe you’ll be accepted.” The gospel says, “Believe in Jesus, and you will be saved.” That’s what makes Christianity different. That’s what makes the gospel explosive.

If the gospel is this powerful, why would we ever be ashamed of it? Paul wasn’t, and neither should we be. The world needs this message, and we have been given the mission to share it.

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Do We Need God’s Rules?

In Romans 2:15, Paul writes about how God’s laws are already written on our hearts. This passage brings up a good question: Do we need God’s rules? After all, don’t we already know right from wrong? Do we need to read the Ten Commandments to know we shouldn’t steal or lie? In this study, we’ll explore why God’s rules matter, what our conscience does, and why we can’t ignore the guilt that comes from wrongdoing.

1. God’s Rules Are Written on Our Hearts

Romans 2:15 tells us that even people who don’t know God’s law still have His rules written in their hearts. When we feel guilty after lying or ashamed after cheating, that’s our conscience reminding us of God’s rules. This inner feeling, given by God, nudges us back in the right direction. So, do we need God’s rules? Yes, because they remind us of His standards, but God’s law is also imprinted within us to guide us toward living right.

When we read the Ten Commandments, we see rules like “Do not steal” or “Do not commit adultery.” But most of us don’t need someone to tell us these things are wrong. Why? Because God has already given each of us a conscience. It’s that little voice in our hearts that reminds us when we’ve done something wrong, and it helps us feel guilt or shame. Those feelings guide us toward making better choices, but they don’t come from nowhere. They’re there because of God’s law in our hearts.

2. Ignoring Our Conscience Has Consequences

When we go against what our conscience tells us, it hurts our relationship with God and others. If we ignore that inner voice long enough, we risk “callousing” over our hearts. Just like calloused skin stops feeling pain, a calloused heart stops feeling guilt or shame. But does that mean we’ve erased God’s rules from our hearts? Not at all. God’s rules don’t disappear just because we’ve stopped feeling bad for breaking them.

Romans 2:15 reminds us that even if we no longer feel bad about our choices, we’ll still face God’s judgment. It’s like driving with a broken speedometer. Just because you can’t see the speed doesn’t mean the speed limit doesn’t apply. Ignoring guilt doesn’t make the consequences go away; it only makes us less sensitive to God’s guidance.

3. Given Out of Love

So, why do we need God’s rules? They aren’t just a list of do’s and don’ts to make us feel guilty. God gives us these guidelines because He loves us and wants what’s best for us. When we follow His ways, we live in a way that pleases Him and brings us peace. God’s rules help us understand His character, and following them brings us closer to Him.

Romans 2:15 shows us that we don’t have to read the Bible to know that certain things are wrong; God has made His truth clear in our hearts. But reading His Word keeps our hearts sensitive to what pleases Him.

Conclusion: Do We Need God’s Rules?

Do we need God’s rules? Yes, because even though He’s written them on our hearts, they’re there to help guide us closer to Him. Ignoring our conscience and pushing aside guilt only damages our hearts and our relationship with God. His rules exist to protect us and lead us to a life of peace, truth, and love. God loves us so much that He gave us a conscience to help us feel the weight of wrongdoing so that we can choose to turn back to Him.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.