Are The Gifts Of The Spirit Still Active?
I was reading a book on the Holy Spirit and came across an interesting teaching concerning
Pauls statement in I Corinthians 8 through 10, where he states: Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away. The author stated that these verses were in regard to the New Testament canon; and when the New Testament Canon was finished, the Holy Spirit ceased.
Immediately I was perplexed. This statement seemed a long leap and I thought, Where did that idea come from? How is the part and perfection linked to the New Testament documents? Certainly this idea is not placed within the verses themselves. I was moved to examine this section of New Testament writings to understand what Paul was trying to say.
My first question was, What was the perfect thing Paul was talking about? Reading the rest of the verse, I immediately found my answer. Paul speaks in the verses to follow about growing from childhood to manhood; from immaturity to maturity. As a Christian we begin as babes in Christ and grow into mature Christians. Regardless of how hard we try, however, we will never attain perfection in our lives in this lifetime. Paul, who devoted his life to serving Christ, told the Philippians in 3:12, Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected The perfection Paul speaks of is in regard to human beings, not the New Testament writings, I immediately realized. Facing his death, Paul had this to say to Timothy in his second letter, 4:8, that There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me no that Day Paul understood that he would only attain perfection once he shed his sinful body. In I Corinthians 15:54 Paul declared, So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. And of this we can be assured, as the writer of Hebrews states in 12:3. Speaking of heavenly glory, he writes of the spirits of just men made perfect This perfection Paul discusses is the change in the life of the believer from the sinful to the holy, from the corruptible to the incorruptible. When we stand before God in heaven, we will be changed.
This made sense to me. Love will always exist, both in this age and the age to come. But the gifts of the Spirit, in whatever form they might come to the believer, is only needed in this age. They are given so that we can live empowered lives and through our lives use our gifts to move forward the kingdom of heaven. But when we die, these gifts will no longer be needed. They will perish when we perish.
The Holy Spirit has a dynamic role in the lives of believers. Besides being the earnest, or the promise, of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14), He empowers us to holy and righteous living. When King Solomon dedicated the first temple, we are told that Gods Spirit was poured out upon the building in such a great portion that people could not enter because of His glory (II Chronicles 7:1-2). When Jesus died, the curtain which divided the holy of holies from the temple was torn in half, indicating the departure of Gods presence. On Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples (Acts 2:1-4) and later the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48), God was making a powerful statement. He was no longer dwelling in in a temple made of stone; but instead a person made of flesh. In I Corinthians 3:16 Paul said that we, the individual Christian, is the temple of God. As such God dwells inside our hearts, just as He dwelt in the holy of holies.
Getting back to the opening thought, the Spirit of God will remain in the heart of the individual until the person dies. When the person dies, the temple is closed, and the Spirit returns to the God who made it. We have the promise from Acts 2:38 that when we accept Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; and that this gift is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call. This puts to the side any teaching which says the Holy Spirit is old news.
We should be careful between understanding what the Bible says and what we say the Bible says. There is a world of difference between the two, and ultimately we can find ourselves in the midst of false teachings.
by: Charles Wise, Jr.
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