God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

Rom. 5.15-17 - But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, 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. The Corinthians gift of giving was conceived by Paul as flowing directly out of the gift of saving grace! 2 Cor. 9.13-15 - By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, [14] while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. [15] Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! So the salvation of those who believe is seen as the primary gift of grace—the gift from which all other gifts flow. The other word commonly used charism [plural charismata ] is taken from the Greek word for “grace” ( charis ) and means literally “gifts of grace.” A family of words is centered around the Greek root char. . . . It is significant that joy, rejoicing, bestowing, thanksgiving, grace, and gifts all trace themselves to the same root. It is also significant that all these words are related to joy or thanksgiving.

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~ Harley H. Schmitt. Many Gifts, One Lord .

Note that this term reminds us that the gifts do not come from us, that they are completely under the control of the Spirit and that they can not be a source of pride, only of thankfulness.