Are the 'sign' gifts still active today?
Faithful Christians have answered this question differently. Some see the spectacular gifts of healing, prophecy, and tongues as continuing today as the Spirit distributes them; others read 1 Corinthians 13 as pointing to their ceasing once the apostolic foundation and the completed Word arrived. Scripture is clear that the Spirit gives gifts to build up the church, that love is the greatest gift and the test of all gifts, and that we are not to forbid what the Spirit does nor quench His work. Seek love, desire the Spirit, and test all things by the Word.
This question arose from studying What are spiritual gifts, and how do they work? and How do I receive the Holy Spirit?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
The New Testament church was richly gifted
Paul describes a church in which the Spirit distributed a wide range of gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, workings of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, various kinds of languages, and the interpretation of languages. 'To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.' The same Spirit did the same at Pentecost, filling the believers and giving them to speak with other languages as He gave them utterance. These were normal enough that Paul could list them and expect the church to recognize them.
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
The apostles told the church to desire them
Paul's posture toward the gifts is eager and orderly, not suspicious. He says, 'Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy,' and 'desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.' The New Testament does not tell the church to be afraid of the Spirit's gifts.
Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
But there is a genuine disagreement about today
Paul also wrote that love never fails, while 'where there are prophecies, they will be done away with... where there is knowledge, it will be done away with,' because 'when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.' Some see that completion in the finished apostolic Word, noting that the church is 'built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,' a foundation laid once. Others see 'the perfect' as the return of Christ and believe the Spirit continues to give these gifts today, distributing to each as He wills. Both views are held by earnest, Bible-loving Christians, and both deserve charity.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
Love is the greatest gift and the test of every gift
Whatever a person believes about the sign gifts, Paul is unambiguous about the central thing: if someone speaks with the languages of men and of angels but has not love, they are nothing; love is greater than prophecy, miracles, and every sign. 'But now faith, hope, and love remain... the greatest of these is love.' However the spectacular gifts are understood, their worth is judged by whether they are exercised in love and for the building up of the church.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
The posture for both views: seek love, test, and don't despise
Where faithful Christians differ, Scripture still points the way: do not quench the Spirit, and do not despise prophecies, but test all things and hold fast to what is good. Test the spirits, because not every voice is from God. And remember that gifts, however humble or spectacular, are given to build up the body for maturity in Christ. Whether you believe the sign gifts continue or passed with the apostles, you can honor the Spirit's work, test everything by the Word, and love.
Don’t quench the Spirit.
Don’t despise prophesies.
Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
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