Pages

Thursday, September 25, 2014

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, Acts 1-2; 1 Corinthians 14

                 In response to a query from a friend, the
         following post is offered from Acts 1-2,
        1 Corinthians 14, Hebrews 11, Matthew 12.

    According to legitimate scholars of Scripture, the
term, "unknown" as applied to the gift of tongues in
1 Corinthians, can  be  misinterpreted.  "Unknown" 
was used by translators (kjv) to indicate  the person 
who spake under the influence of the Holy Spirit did 
not know the language, but there were always unbe-
lievers in the audience who spoke  that language.  
   Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the 
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and  you  shall be 
witnesses to  Me  in  Jerusalem,  and  in all Judea 
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth"

 The prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost 
when the disciples were baptized of the Holy Spirit 
and spoke in "other" tongues.  

 On this  high and  holy day, there were "..in Jeru-
salem Jews, devout men, from every nation under
heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multi-
tude came together, and  were  confused, because
everyone heard  them speak in  his own language.
  (The language of  their  birth.)  Then  they  were 
  amazed  and  marveled,  saying to  one  another.
   'And how is  it that we  hear each  in our own
  language in which we were born.?" Acts 2: 5-8.
     Then there was a list of the areas from which 
they came.  See verses 9 thru 12. nkjv 

I have a close friend of 40 years, a retired pastor, 
active in missionary  work to the areas of Mexico, 
Central America and  in  the US.  He has what he 
calls, a prayer language.  That  has  not been  my 
experience, but  there is no  reason for me  to dis-
count  his personal testimony in  this.  Although I 
do not have the same experience, to fail to affirm 
his testimony would be for me to "judge" him......
That would be sin on my part. 
  As one reads chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians, there
is a  definite emphasis upon  the gift of prophecy.
We find the gift of  "tongues" to be way down the
list.  There are no indications in Scripture that a
gift of  any  description is  required  for the  new
birth, except for the Gift of  the Holy Spirit,  the
original gift,  and "Holiness'"  As a point of  fact, 
Matthew 12:39-40 finds Jesus Christ Saying:  
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a 
sign,  and no sign  will be  given  to it  except the  
sign of Jonah.  For  as Jonah  was three  days in  
the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man
be three days and three nights in the heart of the
earth."  nkjv 

So, the sign given, is the death, burial and resur-
rection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, God the Son.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God..." 

Hebrews 11: 6a.   To say Salvation, in every case 
is accompanied by signs such as the gifts  demon-
strated by the disciples on  the day  of  Pentecost, 
is not found in Scripture.  (Ref. Mt. 12: 39-40)
The indication in this passage is that we must not 
seek  after signs  and  accept  the gift of  Eternal
Eternal Life based on the sacrifice of our Savior.
To exercise faith  in Him and His sacrifice is our
Salvation.  

    There have been those of  our local churches in
years past who believed speaking in other tongues
was a prerequisite to salvation and/or having been
baptized of the Spirit.  I do not think of these belie-
vers as lost, I simply do not hold to this  particular 
doctrine.  It is also a  fact;  perfect doctrine is not 
required of one to be a Child of God and  follower
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  suppose  one  might
look  into  the  beliefs  of  every  known  group  of
believers in the USA and  find  common ground as
long as Jesus Christ is  the focus.  Just  like  in the
doctrine  of election and predestination;  It is very
possible  to be in  error on either side  of  this and 
still be born again.  My view of this Bible doctrine
is different from a close  friend who  could be des-
cribed as "Calvinist." He spoke at a Bible Study in
our church and although we hold a different views
on  some  minor  points,  everyone appreciated his 
insight and we learned much

  "Not perfect, just forgiven. Praise the Lord!!

Praise God and lighten up.  Everyone does  not have
to  agree with me on every  point  for fellowship.  As
you may have seen, if  you follow this blog, my posts
do not, necessarily, follow  any denominational doc- 
trine.  That is not  important  to me.  Since  my Lord 
has placed me  in  Baptist Fellowships all of  my life,
it is not  difficult to  have a somewhat  different doc-
trinal  view from other believers.  All Baptist fellow-
ships are  independent;  there  is no  hierarchy.  I do 
try to be true to the Word of God as understood, and 
that is critical... That is also a Baptist understanding.
Our  cooperation with  other  bodies through  means
afforded by the "joint ventures,"   we engage and the
work  of  missions,  local, state, national and  world-
wide  does not  require absolute allegiance to  every
doctrine we  hold.  There will be plenty of  "time" to
sort  this out in eternity, and our God is able.  I rea-
lize time will not be a factor in "eternity." 

  Persons with a different view on any of these posts 
  are welcome to respond.  If the response is true to
  Scripture  it  will be posted, with your  permission. 
  Respond to  jlrsbnch@msn.com  I will not ridicule
  any response.

The Lord God uses believers in Jesus Christ, who are
filled with His Spirit, to be witnesses in all the world.
Would it not  be a shame if  He were to  be limited to
folks like you or me?

God Bless You - Thanks for looking...               
                                                    donporter,sr  9.25.14 
  


       

No comments: