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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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May 20, 1990
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Contents:
1) Miraculous Gifts (Part Five) (Tom Edwards)
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Miraculous Gifts (Part Five)
by Tom Edwards
Miraculous Beginnings
The beginning of the church is quite like the beginning of creation --
God began it with a miracle! Human beings, flowers, trees, the animal
kingdom, plant life, sea life, the birds of the sky, etc., all
originated by God merely speaking them into existence.
Though the Lord caused these different forms of life to begin
miraculously, He also made it possible for each of them to continue
through a natural order.
The church, too, began through a miracle (Acts 2:1-4): The soul-saving
power of the gospel had been supernaturally imparted to the apostles,
but now the church can continue to grow by those who will simply hear
God's word and submit to it by their obedience.
Living Apostles and Prophets Have Ceased
An interesting comparison can be made between 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 and
Ephesians 4:11-16. The latter context mentions various men whom Christ
gave to help build up the church, such as apostles and prophets.
They were to equip the saints for the work of service and edify the
congregation "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the
stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ."
This has often been erroneously pictured as referring to heaven, but
the context itself shows the contrary -- it concerns man's existence
while on earth. Notice verse 14, "As a result, we are no longer to be
children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful
scheming."
Most assuredly, this cannot be speaking about heaven, for in that
beautiful city no false teachers will be found. Therefore, the phrase
"until we all attain to the unity of the faith" must have reference to
the faith once delivered (Jude 3), that is, the New Testament.
This is why Jesus gave apostles and prophets, so that God's word could
be made known and His children would not be led astray by those who are
teaching error.
Interestingly, even those who reached the unity of the faith still had
some growing to do (vv. 15,16). The reason why we no longer have any
apostles or prophets living today is because their work has been
accomplished in the early church; and since the giving of miraculous
gifts was part of the apostles' work, these have also ceased.
Manner in Which Gifts Were Bestowed
Another clear indicator as to why miraculous gifts are not for today is
seen in how they were distributed -- through the laying on of the
apostles' hands. Only they had the ability to lay hands on others and
give them the Holy Spirit.
Bible expressions, such as "the gift of the Spirit," "baptized...in the
Holy Spirit," and "be filled with the Spirit," do not all mean the same
thing. In Acts 2:38,39, Peter cried out, "Repent, and let each of you
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as
many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."
What is this "gift of the Holy Spirit?" Does it mean that they were
"baptized in the Holy Spirit?" Does it mean that they would then have
miraculous gifts? This promise of the Holy Spirit actually has
reference to all the blessings which one can have in Christ Jesus --
justification, salvation, etc.
Peter had just proclaimed that "everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved" (v. 21), which was a promise that the Holy Spirit
had given to all who would obey. In view of other Bible passages, it is
obvious that this did not mean that they would receive miraculous gifts
or that they would be "baptized in the Spirit."
Notice Acts 8:12-19. In this passage, Philip went down to Samaria,
preached the word of God and worked miracles. As a result, many people
believed and were baptized. According to Acts 2:38, those who obeyed
the gospel would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the
Samaritans also received this. But does this mean they could now speak
in tongues or manifest other gifts of the Spirit? In verse 14, the
church in Jerusalem, after hearing about the great conversion in
Samaria, sent down Peter and John (who were both apostles). Why did
they go down? Notice verse 15: "who came down and prayed for
them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet
fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus." Though they had already received the "gift of the Holy
Spirit" when they believed and were baptized, they did not receive the
Holy Spirit until the apostles laid their hands on them. Let us also
hear verses 17-19: "Then they began laying their hands on them, and
they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that THE SPIRIT
WAS BESTOWED THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES' HANDS, he offered
them money, saying `Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone
on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."'
Though there was probably a great multitude of those who had been
converted, no mention is made of Philip helping out with the laying on
of hands. It was only the two apostles, Peter and John, who were
involved in this. Certainly, they could have used the help, but no one
other than an apostle had the ability to impart the Holy Spirit through
the laying on of hands.
Quite possibly, when Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 12:12
that "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you," he was
making reference to this special ability God had given them.
Undoubtedly, this sign was something that would distinguish them from
any other gifted person, for many of the early Christians possessed the
same gifts, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc., but only
the apostles could bestow the Holy Spirit through the laying on of
hands.
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul met some men who did not know about the baptism of
Jesus; they only knew of John's baptism, and his was to prepare the
people for the Messiah who was to come. The Lord's baptism was not
instituted until after His resurrection, though he made an allusion to
it in John 3:5 by showing that a man must be born "of water and the
Spirit" in order to be born again. The Lord's baptism is so one can be
saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), walk in the "newness of life" (Rom.
6:3,4), have sins forgiven (Acts 22:16), be put into Christ (Gal.
3:26,27), so that one may be buried and raised with Him (Col.
2:12); and in all these passages it clearly reveals that baptism stands
between the penitent believer and his salvation. Without being
scripturally baptized, one remains in his sins, regardless of how
religious he might be. Those whom Paul was speaking to, in learning of
their need to submit to the Lord's baptism, were baptized in water (v.
5). Then Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit
(v. 6). But we must keep in mind that they received the "gift of
the Holy Spirit," according to Acts 2:38, even prior to the laying on
of Paul's hands. Therefore, receiving the "gift of the Holy Spirit" and
receiving the Holy Spirit is not referring to the same thing in these
passages; and, also, since there are no more apostles living today,
there can be no more gifts bestowed by them. May we hearken,
however, to what they have left behind: the word of God.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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