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Glory · The Holy Spirit
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.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/are-sign-gifts-active · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
1 Corinthians 12:1-31
As you read: Paul's catalogue of gifts, from wisdom and faith to healings, miracles, prophecy, kinds of languages, and interpretation, all given by one Spirit.
1Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
3Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
9to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
10and 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.
11But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.
16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now they are many members, but one body.
21The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”
22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;
24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
25that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
31But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
As you read: The most excellent way: love never fails, while prophecies, tongues, and knowledge pass away; the greatest of the three is love.
1If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2If 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.
3If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
5doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love 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.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
12For 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.
13But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
As you read: Paul urges the church to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, to prefer prophecy, and not to forbid speaking in tongues, all in order.
1Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
Acts 2:1-21
As you read: The coming of the Spirit is announced in tongues and prophecy, as Peter explains the promise of Joel poured out on all flesh.
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?”
13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Ephesians 4:7-16
As you read: Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints and build the body of Christ.
7But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until 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;
14that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;
16from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
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.”1 Corinthians 12:8-10
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.”1 Corinthians 12:7
“But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.”1 Corinthians 12:11
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.”Acts 2:4
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.”1 Corinthians 14:1
“Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.”1 Corinthians 14:39
“But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.”1 Corinthians 12:31
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.”1 Corinthians 13:8
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;”1 Corinthians 13:9
“but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.”1 Corinthians 13:10
“being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;”Ephesians 2:20
“But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.”1 Corinthians 12:11
“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.”1 Corinthians 13:12
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.”1 Corinthians 13:1
“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.”1 Corinthians 13:2
“But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.”1 Corinthians 13:13
“So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.”1 Corinthians 14:12
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.”1 Thessalonians 5:19
“Don’t despise prophesies.”1 Thessalonians 5:20
“Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.”1 Thessalonians 5:21
“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.”1 John 4:1
“for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;”Ephesians 4:12
“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;”Ephesians 4:13