What does it mean that "Grace has been give to each as Christ has apportioned it" in Ephesians 4:7?
Does Christ process each with different amounts of grace based on what He sees as our need for it?
Ephesians 4:7
ESV - 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
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Asked January 02 2017
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Rosemary Nord
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Tim Maas
In my opinion, this verse is saying that Christ, in His omniscience, has apportioned to each Christian the spiritual gifts that He knows are necessary for that particular individual to be of maximum service and value in the building up of the church, and in the furtherance of the extent of God's kingdom; and He has also apportioned those gifts in the amount that corresponds to His knowledge of the capacity of each person to receive them. (As I read it, the term "grace" as used in this passage is not meant (as it sometimes is) to refer to the undeserved love and mercy shown by God in the salvation that He offers to humanity through faith in Christ's atoning death and resurrection.) (In other words, the passage is not speaking of people who are "greater sinners" (from a human perspective) receiving more grace in being forgiven than other people receive.)
Juan Leon
From a thological standpoint, since Grace is God’s unmerited favor towards us, favor undeserved by any of us, it is through God’s love towards us, that we have been made acceptable in Christ Jesus. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NKJV) As His disciples, we are to be equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit, to minister to others. By His Grace, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:” (Romans 12:6a NKJV), God, by His Spirit, proportions gifts to us according to the abilities He grants to each and every one of us. As we stay in His Word and avail ourselves to Him, God gives us direction, and makes us capable for the tasks He puts before us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
Ee Servant
I find Ephesians 4:7 to be most meaningful when I put the emphasis on the name "Christ" than on the word "measure." When read in the context of verses 4 through 8, which are coupled with "But" (v7) and "Therefore" (v8), it seems Paul is wanting us to focus on who is the person responsible for providing us with the gift. And when I trust my Lord Jesus to be the one who determines the measure of my portion of the gift to all believers, I find myself more content than I would be if I was attempting to coerce more or less from my Savior's loving hands.
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