Mailbag is a tool I utilize with students of Scripture and theology anytime I have the opportunity to teach. The questions that are sent in are ones that we did not have time for in the moment, or the scope of our passage did not directly answer them.
Students email me their questions, I reply with either my own answers, or trusted sources, and then I require that they engage the responses and sources cited before scheduling a meeting with me to discuss further. I am sharing these here for an archive of such questions and responses. Here are the questions...
The first question is about Matthew 25, specifically with the phrase in verse 15, "to each according to his ability." With how this passage was cross-referenced with the measure of faith God assigns in Romans 12, my mind takes this phrase to mean there is something inherent about us that prescribes the faith we will receive. I think in general I'm still trying to wrap my head around how there are different measures of faith and how that is determined.
On Matthew 25, the master (God) assigns both the money (talents was a large sum of money) and the capability (the ability to invest the talents). Simply put, the lesson here is not that we are to focus on expanding our abilities, but to be faithful with what we have been entrusted with.
Here is a short article on the parable- Have You Buried Your Gifts?
How does this correspond to the “measures of faith” found in Romans 12? In Romans 12 the faith being spoken of is the spiritual gifting that the passage is focused on. Here is an example- the first gift in the list is that of prophecy. Without getting into too much detail, my understanding of the prophetic gift is the ability to speak powerfully and insightfully in a particular time or to a particular people or situation. Tim Keller was prophetic in his ability to speak powerfully and insightfully to skeptics and secular people in Manhattan, New York. Likewise, Fredrick Douglas was prophetic in his preaching against slavery in the 1800s.
Now, let’s say that you have a similar prophetic gift in kind (speaking powerfully and insightfully to a particular time or to a particular people or situation), but not the same measure. What would that mean? It would mean that you indeed are gifted for that kind of speaking, but that God, at this time, has not gifted you the measure of speaking to an entire generation of Christians, or to change an entire nation. So, to use your gift according to the measure God has given you would be to prayerfully consider what people God has placed in your path that you can speak to, and not try to speak to hundreds or thousands by trying to create a social media platform. If what God has gifted you with is to insightfully and powerfully share what you read in the Word this morning with a few friends, then don’t seek to expand that to hundreds or thousands.
For myself, one of the most liberating things was to agree with God that right now His measure for my teaching ability has been limited to college students in a weekly Bible study, and preaching once a quarter in my local church. It is freeing and I am content to be used where God has me, and I believe that any good that comes from our small Bible study is clear evidence of its fruitfulness, not because of me, but because God is giving the increase.
In your question you asked if the measure of faith we are given is based on something inherent with us. No, I do not believe so. The measure of faith in Romans 12 corresponds to the words “grace” and “gifts” in verse 6. Both share the same Greek root, charis which means “grace.” The specific gifts (charismata, grace-gifts) we receive (prophecy, service, leadership) and the measure of faith we are given to use those gifts (degree, scale) are all based on grace, and grace is never given to us by merit or deserving, but mercifully as that which we do not deserve.
Donny Mathis’ commentary on Romans sums it up nicely,
This “measure of faith” is not describing different amounts of saving faith or differing statuses before God. Given the context of the passage, the “measure of faith” is synonymous with the different grace gifts that Paul describes in 12:6. When they think rightly about themselves, these Roman believers can embrace the truth that the church in Rome has many different parts that have been united into one body and have been placed there to fulfill the different functions they are each gifted to fulfill. This unity in Christ means that, even though they are individuals and in Jewish or Gentile groups, they are members of one another because they are in Christ Jesus.
So, whether it be you participating in a small group Bible study in a coffee shop, or me preaching to 120 people on a Sunday morning, the ability, measure, and result of our gifts being used is based on God’s work in us, and not anything inherent to us.
Here are two sources on these ideas:
Another topic that I had questions about was the "degrees of Hell." It's something I haven't ever heard about before, although it does seem to make some sense. Growing up I was always taught not to "rank" sins, but perhaps I'm missing the point altogether. Is the degree of punishment based on the quantity or the "quality" of sin? And, either way, is receiving a lighter punishment part of God's grace/mercy?
These are weighty questions, and thankfully the Bible is not a light-weight book. The ideas in this question are– are there degrees to hell (if so, what are they based on)? Can sins be ranked? Is a lighter punishment part of God’s grace or mercy? I will answer these briefly and then supply some good resources to engage with.
Are there degrees of punishment for sin? Here are some key passages to consider–
“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (Matt. 10:15).
“But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you … But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you” (Matt. 11:22, 24).
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36–37).
“And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:47–48).
“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom. 2:5).
“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29)
I think it is clear from these that there indeed are degrees of punishment in hell. Why is it so? I would read this essay from The Gospel Coalition– Degrees of Punishment in Hell. The authors provide 3 reasons, and you can read the whole essay to get the whole idea. The grounds for determining degrees of punishment are- 1) The Extent to which a Person has Abandoned Himself to Sin 2) The Extent to which a Person by Example and Influence has Led Others to Sin and 3) The Extent to which Light and Privilege were Abused.
Next, the ranking of sins. All sin is an awful affront to the glory of God. God, being infinite in majesty and splendor, having even one “small sin” committed against Him would require infinite justice. Slapping your best friend and slapping a Supreme Court Justice do not carry the same penalty. Likewise, one “slap” at God would have brought the Son down as a man, to live, die, and be resurrected so that the one sin could be forgiven.
Now, are all “slaps” against God the same? Can someone elevate a slap to a punch? A punch to an all out rebellious assault on His throne and His sovereign rule over the universe? Yes. That is the story of mankind. So, how can we think about degrees of sin, particularly as they relate to degrees of punishment? Here are 3 sources to consider-
Lastly, do those who experience a lighter sentence experience God’s mercy or grace? No. They experience His justice. It is God’s justice that has reserved the severest punishments for Satan, demons, and those who knew the truth and denied it, encouraging others less knowledgeable to pursue their own damnation. It is also God’s justice that metes out a full, awful, and yet lighter sentence to those who had less light.
Finally, based on Romans 9, I understand that man has no ability to come to God or to do anything good. So, what exactly did that look like before the Fall? As far as I understand, at that point, God's grace wasn't necessary to keep Adam and Eve from their sin, since they weren't completely depraved. Or was it God's grace that kept them from sinning until that point in time, and if so, why?
If grace is defined as unmerited favor towards sinners, which is how the Bible uses the term, then no, Adam and Eve did not receive grace before the Fall, but experienced His goodness.
So, what really happened in the Fall? And why did it happen in that way? Here are some sources to interact with-
For those who have the time and the will to climb to the top of the mountain to see a grand vision of the glorious purposes of God in all things, I commend Jonathan Edwards’ essay The End for Which God Created the World, which can be found for free with commentary by John Piper in God’s Passion for His Glory.
There are also two free courses at The Gospel Coalition on the life and thought of Edwards that may be helpful.
I hope you find these answers and resources helpful as you seek to know the infinite riches and wisdom of our great God!
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