Bible Study
The Evidence of the Spirit: By Their Gifts or By Their Fruits?
Study the Word and grow in understanding.
13 Sep 2025
Bible text: 1 Corinthians 12:4
Spiritual gifts fall under the section on the Church and its Mission. They are included because the Holy
Spirit equips every believer with gifts, not for personal glory, but to build up the body of Christ and
advance God’s work in the world.
1. What are spiritual gifts?
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-12
Answer:
Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the building up of the church
and the fulfilment of God’s mission. They are not natural abilities but Spirit-empowered functions for
service.
2. Are spiritual gifts the same as talents?
Texts: Exodus 31:2-5, Matthew 25:14-30, James 1:17
Answer:
Talents are natural abilities (music, art, leadership, etc.) that God blesses everyone with. Spiritual gifts,
however, are given to believers by the Spirit for a spiritual purpose. Sometimes the Spirit empowers a
natural talent into a spiritual gift (e.g., teaching or leadership). So, talent is human ability, gift is divine
empowerment.
3. Did spiritual gifts originate in the New Testament only?
Texts: Numbers 11:25, Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 10:10, Joel 2:28-29
Answer:
Spiritual gifts were not a New Testament invention. They appeared throughout the Old Testament
whenever God’s Spirit empowered His people. However, at Pentecost (Acts 2), the gifts were poured out
more widely on the whole church, not just special individuals.
4. Is one spiritual gift greater than the other?
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:20-22, 28-3, Matthew 23:11.
Answer:
All gifts are important and interdependent, just like the body’s organs. Paul emphasizes that no gift
should cause pride. Some may have more visible impact (prophecy, teaching), but the so-called “lesser”
gifts (helps, service) are equally vital to the church’s health.
5. What are spiritual fruits?
Text: Galatians 5:22-23.
Answer:
Fruit is the evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling in one’s life. Unlike gifts, fruit is not divided among
believers—everyone should develop all the fruit as they grow in Christ.
6. Who is a spiritual person, one with the gift or one with the fruit?
Texts: Matthew 7:16, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Answer:
A spiritual person is measured by fruit, not gifts. Gifts can operate even in people who are disobedient
(e.g., Balaam, Samson, Saul). Fruit reveals the true transformation of character.
7. Does having a spiritual gift mean you are righteous and saved?
Texts: Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 10:19-20, Matthew 25:1-12 – Parable of the ten
virgins; they all had lamps (symbols of gifts), but not all had oil (fruit/Spirit).
Answer:
Manifesting a gift is not proof of righteousness. God may use someone for His purpose even if their
heart is not right. True spirituality is shown in obedience and character, not in performance of miracles.
Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by having a gift. Gifts are
evidence of God’s working power, but salvation is about relationship and surrender to Christ.
8 Is it better to have spiritual gifts or Spiritual Fruits?
Texts: Matthew 28:19-20
Answer:
God intends us to have both gifts and fruits. A spiritually mature Christian allows the Spirit to
transform their heart (fruit) while also serving others (gifts).
Final Commentary
When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the
church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is
from God, and is built up in faith and love.
Spiritual gifts are tools given by the Holy Spirit to empower Christians to do God’s will. But a
tool in the wrong hands can cause harm instead of good. Lucifer himself was endowed with
gifts beyond any of God’s creatures, yet he lacked the fruit of the Spirit. His wisdom became
cunning, his voice turned to seduction, and his influence twisted into temptation.
This should remind us: possessing gifts does not make us better than others. God can empower
anyone for His purposes, even those not fully surrendered to Him. But to truly carry out His
will to spread the word and edify the church we must also bear His character.
The tragedy of Christianity today is that many profess to love God and manifest impressive
gifts, yet their lives contradict the very message they proclaim. Such a disconnect leaves
unbelievers questioning whether the “better life” we preach is real at all.
When Christians live without the fruit of the Spirit, gifts become a show, believers become
performers, and the church risks turning into a circus. But when gifts are guided by fruit, the
Spirit’s power is matched by Christlike character and then the world sees not just what God can
do through us, but who God is within us
Spiritual gifts fall under the section on the Church and its Mission. They are included because the Holy
Spirit equips every believer with gifts, not for personal glory, but to build up the body of Christ and
advance God’s work in the world.
1. What are spiritual gifts?
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-12
Answer:
Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the building up of the church
and the fulfilment of God’s mission. They are not natural abilities but Spirit-empowered functions for
service.
2. Are spiritual gifts the same as talents?
Texts: Exodus 31:2-5, Matthew 25:14-30, James 1:17
Answer:
Talents are natural abilities (music, art, leadership, etc.) that God blesses everyone with. Spiritual gifts,
however, are given to believers by the Spirit for a spiritual purpose. Sometimes the Spirit empowers a
natural talent into a spiritual gift (e.g., teaching or leadership). So, talent is human ability, gift is divine
empowerment.
3. Did spiritual gifts originate in the New Testament only?
Texts: Numbers 11:25, Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 10:10, Joel 2:28-29
Answer:
Spiritual gifts were not a New Testament invention. They appeared throughout the Old Testament
whenever God’s Spirit empowered His people. However, at Pentecost (Acts 2), the gifts were poured out
more widely on the whole church, not just special individuals.
4. Is one spiritual gift greater than the other?
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:20-22, 28-3, Matthew 23:11.
Answer:
All gifts are important and interdependent, just like the body’s organs. Paul emphasizes that no gift
should cause pride. Some may have more visible impact (prophecy, teaching), but the so-called “lesser”
gifts (helps, service) are equally vital to the church’s health.
5. What are spiritual fruits?
Text: Galatians 5:22-23.
Answer:
Fruit is the evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling in one’s life. Unlike gifts, fruit is not divided among
believers—everyone should develop all the fruit as they grow in Christ.
6. Who is a spiritual person, one with the gift or one with the fruit?
Texts: Matthew 7:16, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Answer:
A spiritual person is measured by fruit, not gifts. Gifts can operate even in people who are disobedient
(e.g., Balaam, Samson, Saul). Fruit reveals the true transformation of character.
7. Does having a spiritual gift mean you are righteous and saved?
Texts: Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 10:19-20, Matthew 25:1-12 – Parable of the ten
virgins; they all had lamps (symbols of gifts), but not all had oil (fruit/Spirit).
Answer:
Manifesting a gift is not proof of righteousness. God may use someone for His purpose even if their
heart is not right. True spirituality is shown in obedience and character, not in performance of miracles.
Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by having a gift. Gifts are
evidence of God’s working power, but salvation is about relationship and surrender to Christ.
8 Is it better to have spiritual gifts or Spiritual Fruits?
Texts: Matthew 28:19-20
Answer:
God intends us to have both gifts and fruits. A spiritually mature Christian allows the Spirit to
transform their heart (fruit) while also serving others (gifts).
Final Commentary
When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the
church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is
from God, and is built up in faith and love.
Spiritual gifts are tools given by the Holy Spirit to empower Christians to do God’s will. But a
tool in the wrong hands can cause harm instead of good. Lucifer himself was endowed with
gifts beyond any of God’s creatures, yet he lacked the fruit of the Spirit. His wisdom became
cunning, his voice turned to seduction, and his influence twisted into temptation.
This should remind us: possessing gifts does not make us better than others. God can empower
anyone for His purposes, even those not fully surrendered to Him. But to truly carry out His
will to spread the word and edify the church we must also bear His character.
The tragedy of Christianity today is that many profess to love God and manifest impressive
gifts, yet their lives contradict the very message they proclaim. Such a disconnect leaves
unbelievers questioning whether the “better life” we preach is real at all.
When Christians live without the fruit of the Spirit, gifts become a show, believers become
performers, and the church risks turning into a circus. But when gifts are guided by fruit, the
Spirit’s power is matched by Christlike character and then the world sees not just what God can
do through us, but who God is within us