By
Randall L. Broad
Read: 2
Samuel 22-23:23; Acts 2:1-47; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 16:19-20
Today we
read about the upper room experience of Acts chapter 2. For the Spirit-filled
believer it is the defining moment in the New Testament when “the Church” is
born and the mission to spread the Gospel begins …
1On
the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one
place. 2Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the
roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were
sitting. 3Then, what looked like flames or tongues of
fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4And everyone
present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other
languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Acts 2:1-4
Today,
speaking in tongues is a controversial issue. Some denominations embrace it and
others believe it is a gift ceased in modern times; they believe it was
necessary only in the age of the Apostles. Some denominations believe the Gifts
of the Holy Spirit must be active in the true spirit-filled believer. Some go
as far as to claim Glossa–speaking or
praying in tongues–is a necessary sign of salvation. Like those who believe a
person cannot be saved without water baptism, the Pentecostals and Charismatics
who require this sign as proof of eternal blessing have a distorted view of the
doctrine of salvation.
In 2013,
I addressed this question in a discussion boards written for one of my classes
at Liberty Baptist Seminary. It is a fitting topic for the daily bible
reading today since it involves the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the
controversial question of whether or not they have ceased in the post-Apostolic
era.
Question: After
reading Enns' section on "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Ch. 21), do you
agree or disagree with his conclusion that select spiritual gifts ceased after
the time of the Apostles and are no longer in use today? Provide the
needed scripture to substantiate your position.
In our
textbook, The Moody Handbook of Theology, the author Paul Enns discusses the
gifts of the Holy Spirit in chapter 21.[1] He concludes since the canonization of
scripture the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer necessary. Specifically,
he refers to the gifts of prophecy, miracles, healing, tongues, and the
interpretation of tongues found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Enns’ view is that
tongues and miracles were the authenticating signs of the Apostles, and these
same gifts were given to the other 108 people who present at the day of
Pentecost. Peter stood up that day and quoted the prophet Joel, saying … in the last days the Lord would pour out his
spirit on all mankind and that generation would have the gift of prophesy
through visions and dreams (Acts 2:16-18). To deny the use of any gift
promised by the Holy Spirit is to deny that we live in the last days.
Enns also
tries to make a distinction between our natural gifts and our spiritual gifts
found in Ephesians 4:11, including apostle, evangelist, pastor-teacher, and
teacher. While it is true these are offices within the church and the kingdom,
there are people today who operate in these gifts in the modern world. We can
agree with Enns on the office of Apostle, a person should have been an eye
witness to the life of Christ to claim this title, but there are many pastors,
missionaries, and church planters that would be unable to do their work without
the apostolic gift of the Spirit. Enns would argue these are natural gifts not
spiritual ones. However, are we not created by the same God who gave us both
our natural gifts and the Holy Spirit from which the authority of spiritual
gifts are manifested? What I cannot see is the distinction between my natural
gifts given to me at birth by my creator (Ephesians 2:10) and the gifts he
revealed to me when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). For me,
God revealed the gifts that were already inside of me, the gifts that He put
there when He created me. The gifts that I would need to carry out the plan He
has for my life.
No
individual person will have the same success in ministry as Jesus (he was Son
of God…) or the Apostles (because of the power of their testimony…), but as the
body of Christ collectively in the last days, we are expected to spiritual
embrace the same ministry gifts as those given to the Apostles and the first
disciples in the Upper Room. The manifestations of those gifts from the Holy
Spirit are for the building of the church (Matthew 28:19); that job did initially
fall on the people in the Upper Room (Acts 2:1-4), but the job is not yet done
(Mark 16:15-20). The work continues today. Why would Jesus command us to make
disciples of all nations, to build the church and then give the tools that are
necessary to do that to only a few people living in the First Century? We
cannot lose sight of the fact that these are eternal gifts from an eternal God
(Hebrews 13:8). Just because we do not see the authenticating gifts manifested
every day, does not mean that they are not a part of the Holy Spirit we were
promised by Jesus (John 14:16). To make that assumption is to place limits on
God and turn away from true faith (1 Timothy 4:1). The key is not to seek any
particular gift of the Holy Spirit, but rather to seek God’s will for your life
and the Holy Spirit will give you the gifts He wants you to have…
Walk with the Lord …
Ephesians 1:17
(RLB250604)
© Copyright 2018: Randall L Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
