Romans 12:3-8--Gifts of Grace

Romans 12:3-8
English Standard Version
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Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

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We are to put aside our pride and put on humility--we are all part of one Body with one one Head who is Christ.  All of us where chosen by Election--none of us have any claim superiority.  Not the Jew, and not the Gentile.  Instead, we are to have humility and think of each other more highly than ourselves--just like Jesus taught His disciples when He washed their feet during the Last Supper and told them that they need to serve each other and he who wanted to be greatest must be a servant to all.  We should instead be sober-minded and remember that everything we are and have is by grace through faith.

Paul then transitions into a conversation that will focus on spiritual gifts.  We are to use these gifts for the good of the other members of the Body.  Each member of the Body has a different gifting in accordance with the function of that part of the Body.  So we are many members, but on Body with one Head, who is Christ.

God has given some the gift of prophecy, others gifts of service, others the gift of teaching, others the gift of exhortation, others the gift of generous contribution and giving, to another the gift of leadership and to others the gift of mercy.  All of these are gifts that are given by the Spirit in accordance with the measure of faith that we have been given (and have), but always for the work that God has prepared for us to do in Christ Jesus for the good of the Body and for the praise and glory of God.  Are gifts are not to be used in a self-serving way.