Spiritual Gifts in the Bible
Are the spiritual gifts in the Bible operative today? We must offer caution as we answer this question. First, we must define what we mean by operative. If by operative we mean can believers today perform miracles the we may get one answer. If we mean are the miracles in the Bible operative today, we may get another answer.
So, let us be more specific.
Are Spiritual Gifts Performed by Believers Today?
Depending on who you ask that question, obviously, you'll get different answers. So, we want to ask, whether the Bible addresses the question of whether believers can ...
Spiritual Gifts and Apostolic Authority What's Missing? That something was very special and unique about apostolic authority in the New Testament is clear from reading through several passages. They belong to a special group for sure. Even in the category or list of spiritual gifts, they are always designated separately to distinguish them from all the rest. The apostleship was a uniquely exclusive spiritual gift.
"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues." (2 Cor. 12:12). As gifts, the apostleship was preeminent.
Signs of ...
Fruit of the Spirit in the Age to Come
Why are Christians more focused on the miraculous gifts of the Spirit than they are the fruit of the Spirit in the age to come? Why are miracles and speaking in tongues more appealing than the fruit of the Spirit? Miracles were temporary but the fruit of the Spirit is eternal and enduring. Miracles were for a select few, but the Spirit's fruit is for all and for all time. In fact, the latter characterizes the life in the age to come, i.e. the present Christian age.
Walk in the Fruit of the ...
We continue to receive questions on the subject of spiritual gifts. This one came in today. "If Spiritual Gifts Are Not For Today, Then How Do You Explain Acts 2:17-18? Let's place the text before us before we delve into our comments.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days ...
What Can We Do To Pursue Spiritual Gifts? This question comes as a query no doubt from someone who is looking for and expects to receive miraculous gifts of the Spirit. The language of the question mirrors 1 Corinthians 14:1. "Purse love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
The influences of futurism and Pentecostalism have made the desire for the practice of spiritual gifts appear to be a valid claim. And, because people believe that religion in general is something that is "better felt than told" it answers the call of man to have an experience to ...
