For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6



One of the most mysterious details of the Christmas story is the part in Matthew’s Gospel about the men who come from the east.  Who were they?  Well, some refer to them as wise men while others call them Magi.  The Greek word used is Magoi, which doesn’t clear the waters too much.  That word could be used to refer to magicians or astrologers, to educated men and/or men of enormous power and influence, which is why some believe them to be kings.  But the truth is we don’t know for sure. 

We also don’t know where exactly they were from.  Matthew tells us that they came from the east.  Based on that information, some believed them to be from Persia while others thought them to be Babylonian, but again we cannot know for sure. 

We also have no idea how there were.  Tradition says there were three because there were three types of gifts given—gold, frankincense and myrrh, but we don’t know that for sure either.  We know there was more than one, but there could have been as many as ten. 

So there is a lot of mystery surrounding these guys.  We are not certain whom they were, where they were from or how many there were, but that’s not Matthew’s main point.  His emphasis in chapter 2 is placed on how they respond to Jesus.  That’s what’s truly significant.  Notice their response in Matthew 2:9-12,

⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Notice how they respond.  In v. 10, we learn that they were “overjoyed” when they arrived at the place where the child was.  In v. 11 we see that they bowed down and worshiped him and brought him gifts and in v. 12 we learn that after meeting the child the men were warned in a dream to not return to Herod, so they responded to God in obedience and protected the child by bypassing Herod and returning home by a different rout.  So again, notice the response:  They sought him, they gave to him, they responded to him, they worshipped him.

So, we learn a key truth from the wise men in this passage.  We learn that it doesn’t matter how far you are away from Christ; you can come to Him.  The wise men were a ways away from him both in proximity and religiously, yet they are the ones who sacrifice the most to come and worship Him.

"Quote" of the Week

These travelers from the east had come to Palestine with but one purpose: to find the One born King of the Jews and worship Him.  –John MacArthur

THE GREATEST MIRACLE

What is the greatest miracle that happened during Jesus’ earthly ministry?  Some will say it was when He walked on water while others will say that it was when He raised someone from death.  Some will mention the feeding of the 5,000, and many will say it’s His resurrection from the dead.  But I believe the greatest miracle happened before Jesus’ birth. 

I believe the most important miracle during Jesus’ earthly ministry, is the miracle that should be on all believers’ minds this time of year—it’s the miracle that made all other miracles Jesus performed during His earthly ministry possible.  I believe the greatest miracle is the miraculous conception of the Lord Jesus—the miracle of the incarnation—the miracle of God becoming a man yet remaining God. 

Think about that miracle for a moment.  Do you realize the importance of it?  Do you realize that without it, we don’t have anything else?  If God the Son did not take on flesh and dwell among us, then we as believers don’t have anything.  We don’t have a representative, we don’t have a substitute, we don’t have a mediator, we don’t have a redeemer, we don’t have a gospel, therefore, we don’t have a hope in the world—if God the Son did not become one of us.

"Quote" of the week

“The incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ is the central fact of Christianity, upon it the whole superstructure of Christian Theology depends.” -Dr. John Walvoord

For my latest sermon on Jesus' royal lineage, click HERE and listen to "THE ROYAL FAMILY OF JESUS."

"Quote" of the Week

“This genealogy is designed to show us that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the redeemer of all kinds of people.”  -Ligon Duncan III on Matthew 1:1-17

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1

Nicaragua 2012

We had a great week in Nicaragua! We had close to 130 pastors, church leaders, women's ministry leaders and Sunday School teachers attending the Bible Institute. We taught the Doctrine of Christ in four days and got great feedback about the material from the pastors and leaders that were there. 

To hear testimonies from the week, click HERE.

"Quote" of the Week

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." -Apostle Paul

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!!!

It’s Reformation Day—when the church celebrates and commemorates October 31, 1517. It was on this day (a Saturday) that a 33-year-old theology professor at Wittenberg University walked over to the Castle Church in Wittenberg and nailed a paper of 95 theses to the door, hoping to spark an academic discussion about their contents. In God’s providence and unbeknownst to anyone else that day, it would become a key event in igniting the Reformation. -Justin Taylor

For sermons on The Protestant Reformation click HERE and scroll down to "An Event that Changed the World" or click on "Remembering the Reformation."

"Quote of the Week"

“The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” -Martin Luther

Dual Citizenship is a common term that describes an individual who is a citizen of two countries at the same time.  In certain countries of the world, dual citizenship is offered and honored, in other countries it’s not. 

We learn in Scripture that God honors dual citizenship.  Scripture is clear that all believers are dual citizens.  We are citizens of this country, and we are citizens of His country—Heaven.  Because this is true, all believers have both earthly obligations and heavenly obligations—earthly commitments and heavenly commitments—earthly authorities and A HEAVENLY AUTHORITY. 

This is so important for us to keep in mind because the problem that many of us have as believers is that we tend to be extremists.  We either become fully engaged as heavenly citizens or fully engaged as earthly ones.  Though Scripture teaches that we are to prioritize eternal things and avoid being so earthly minded that we are of no heavenly good, we must also guard against being so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good.  That too is unbiblical.

"Quote" of the Week

"My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man.  My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood, It's to a King and a kingdom."  -Derrek Webb

"BE ON GUARD"

¹³ Be watchful.  1 Corinthians 16:13

A key teaching in Christianity is that believers are to be on guard spiritually.  In fact, the word in verse 13 translated alert or watchful is used 22 times in the New Testament and is often used in reference to the Christian and the Christian life.  It literally means to be awake instead of asleep.  Paul is using the word figuratively and spiritually here stressing the fact that spiritual alertness is the key to a healthy and wholesome Christian life. 

The Corinthians needed to wake up spiritually.  They were delusional thinking they had arrived spiritually even though their world around them was crumbling.  Though they thought they had things under control, their church was filled with division, sexual immorality, drunkenness and heresy.  They were a mess, yet had no clue they were. 

There are many believers today in the same boat—asleep at the wheel in a spiritual stupor.  Though they think they are “ok” because they are in church every week nodding their head in agreement to what’s being said, they are laxed in their spiritual life.  Many are too comfortable and overconfident—convinced they have the Christian life licked.  Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 that when one gets to this point they better take alarm—wake up and keep watch or a fall is likely.

Instead of sitting back and coasting, God’s people need to be always striving, never satisfied always pushing forward in their walk with Christ with the mindset of Paul who said in Philippians 3:13-14,

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

"Quote" of the Week

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Matthew 26:41

 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 
1 Corinthians 15:58

After camping out for most of chapter 15 in the future talking about the future resurrection of the godly, Paul brings His audience back to the present in verse 58 by calling for them to “stand firm” upon these truths and “work hard” in light of them.    

First he tells his readers to “Stand firm.” He says, “Be steadfast and immovable.”  “Steadfast” is an adjective that means to be sitting.  Paul says “Take your seat on this truth—be fixed, settled, and seated upon it.” 

He says, “What I have told you about your future resurrection is true, therefore stand firm on that truth.”  Paul knows that if this core doctrine of our future resurrection ever waivers, we will begin to live like the world.  If we question the eternal we will lose a kingdom perspective and fail to live with eternity in mind in the present.  For that reason, we must stand firm on these truths and must not let our flesh, the world or the enemy move us from them. 

Second, Paul says, “Work hard" with the truth of your future resurrection in mind.  Now there are two words in the second half of this verse that need attention.  First is the word “work” and second is the word “abounding.” 

The word “work” means to labor to the point of exhaustion or perspiration.  Paul says, “Work until you are wearied.”  His point  here is that there is no vacation time in ones spiritual life.  We are to always be striving—always to be seeking to grow in our knowledge of God from His word and always to be living for His glory. 

The word "abounding" means to overdo it on purpose.  Paul says that we are to be going above and beyond in our spiritual lives—purposefully overdoing it for the Lord.  It should never be said of us that we settled for a sub-par Christian life.

"Quote" of the Week

"Someone once asked me, 'Do you think you will ever retire?'  I responded with, 'Yes...when I’m dead and laid out.'"  -John MacArthur

THE STING OF DEATH REMOVED

Below is a quote from a sermon I preached recently on the future resurrection of the godly from 1 Corinthians 15…

O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  1 Corinthians 15:55

The word sting used here could be used in a literal sense when talking about the sting of a bee or the strike of a serpent.  Though death still violates us today—though it still invades our world—though death has not yet been ultimately swallowed up in victory, Paul tells us that the stinger of death—the strike of death has been removed.  How?  By Christ.  You see, death plunged its stinger into Him at the cross and it stayed there.  Christ bore the whole sting of death for us so that death for us who are in Him has no sting.  And though death put the stinger in Christ, Christ returned the favor by putting the stinger back into death conquering death by death to give us life.

For more from this sermon click HERE and listen to “PRAISE THE LORD FOR YOUR FUTURE RESURRECTION.” 

"Quote" of the Week

“What looks like a victory for death and like a defeat for us when our bodies die and decay shall be utterly reversed so that death dies in absolute defeat and our bodies live again in absolute victory.”  -R.C.H. Lenski

"WE GO AROUND TWICE!"

In the early 70s, Schlitz Beer used to air these cheesy ads on TV with an unforgettable slogan that said, "You only go around once so go for the gusto.”  In other words, “This life is all there is so live it up in the here and now.” 

Now be honest, that mentality sounds appealing, doesn’t it?  And I will be the first to admit to you that if this life is all there is, this should be our mentality.  If it’s true that this life is all there is, we should live it up in the here and now—we should eat, drink and be merry because tomorrow we might die and be gone forever. 

But here’s the truth.  Scripture teaches, “We don’t just go around just once; WE GO AROUND TWICE!”  All of us, every human being who has ever lived has this life to live which is temporary and the life to come, which is eternal.  That truth changes everything.

"Quote" of the Week

"If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."  1 Corinthians 15:19 

"WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THE RESURRECTION?"

There are many within Christian circles today who do not think that the Christian faith is in jeopardy if you take the resurrection away.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Truth is, if you remove the resurrection, you no longer have Christianity.  Scripture is clear that if Jesus is still in a tomb somewhere in the Middle East, Christianity is sunk because, without the resurrection, we are without hope. 

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives six consequences that we are faced with if there is no resurrection.  He says, if there is no resurrection… 

·         OUR PREACHING IS POINTLESS

¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain.

What Paul means here is that if Christ is still in a tomb somewhere in the Middle East, then the efforts of pastors and church leaders around the world are of no value to anyone.  Why?  The Bible is clear that the Gospel itself is built on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  If you take one of those away, then you have removed the core of Christianity.  Therefore, if Jesus is not raised, then any time spent speaking about him is pointless. 

The second point Paul makes is that, if there is no resurrection of Jesus…

·         OUR FAITH IS FUTILE

Paul says, at the end of v. 14,

…and your faith is in vain.

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul explains the Gospel in a nutshell.  He says, “Christ died, He was buried and He rose again.”  So again, if the death and resurrection are at the heart of the Gospel message and you take one of those away you have no Gospel.  Therefore, your faith is futile.  If there is no resurrection, we should stop believing right now because the heart of what we believe is not true.

The third point Paul makes in this passage is that if Jesus is not raised then the…

·        OUR TESTIMONY IS UNTRUE

¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

Paul tells his readers, “If God did not raise Christ and we said he did, then we are saying God did something he didn’t do; therefore we are misrepresenting Him and our testimony is untrue.” 

There is a fourth consequence Paul gives, and it is found in v. 17.  Paul says that if Christ is not raised…

·         OUR SINS ARE NOT FORGIVEN

Paul says,

¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

If Christ did not rise we are without salvation.  Paul says in Romans 4:25, that Christ was “raised for our justification.”  It’s through His resurrection that we are made right with God; without it, we are still in our sins and things remain as they were in Adam. 

If Christ is dead, we have no perfect priest who lives to stand for us and have no perfect representative who makes us righteous—if Christ stayed dead, death put the stinger in Christ instead of Christ putting the stinger in death.  If he did not rise we are still in our sins without a hope in the world.

If Christ is still dead the…

·         THE DEAD ARE PERISHING

¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.    

This point is closely connected with the previous point.  Paul is saying, “If Christ is not raised then your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins awaiting condemnation and your loved ones who have died are perishing.” 

The sixth and final point is found in v. 19.  Paul says that if Christ is not raised…  

·         BELIEVERS ARE TO BE PITIED

¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

I have heard it said by some, “Even if Christianity is proven false--even if Jesus did not rise from the dead, I would still be glad I gave my life for the faith, because I’ve lived a moral life and have been a courteous and helpful member of society.  If this is a hoax, so be it, I’m fine with that.”

The Apostle Paul completely disagrees with this mentality.  He says, “That’s crazy!”  If Christianity is untrue—if we are giving our lives to something that is a sham, we are miserable and pathetic human beings.  If this life is all there is, then there is no hope.  So why live like there is?

"Quote" of the Week

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.”  -Timothy Keller

THE POWER OF EYEWITNESSES

And that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:5-7

During a trial in a court of law there is nothing more convincing to the jury and more damaging to the defense than an eyewitness testimony.  Especially if you have more than one and if they are intelligent, competent, sound in mind and ethical.  In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives evidence for Jesus’ resurrection by making mention of hundreds of eyewitnesses who all testified to seeing the risen Christ. 

In v. 5, Paul says, “He appeared to Peter.”  Think about Peter for a moment.  In the hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter was having a difficult time.  We are told, on three different occasions, that he denied Christ.  Now you would think having ended his time with Jesus in this tragic way, our Lord may have just skipped Peter and appeared to and commissioned someone else.  How amazing is it then, that He appeared to Peter—the one who denied Him angrily with an oath.  If Jesus’ resurrection were a hoax, Peter would not have been a likely candidate to conjure up this story. 

Paul says at the end of v. 5-6,

"...then (he appeared) to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep."   

Can you imagine if, during a trial, the prosecution had eyewitnesses lined up out the door and down the street all saying the same thing?  Notice Paul says, “Jesus appeared to the twelve and then to more than five hundred, most of whom are still alive.”  Paul says, “You got hundreds of eyewitnesses, alive and well that you can go ask, and they will tell you the same thing.”

Paul continues in v. 7 by mentioning the fact that Jesus also appeared to James.  Now he doesn’t specify which James here, but I don’t think he has to.  I think by singling out James, it is obvious that he is talking about the brother of Jesus.  The brother who in John 7:5 we are told did not even believe that his brother was who he claimed to be.  The brother who in Mark 3 tried to restrain Jesus from doing the things he was doing because he thought he was crazy. 

James like Peter would have been another unlikely candidate to fabricate a resurrection.  He was a cynic and a skeptic.  Yet Jesus appeared to James, and he believed and became the leader of the Jerusalem church and later referred to himself in James 1:1 as, “James a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

For more evidence of Jesus' resurrection click HERE and listen to the sermon, "CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE FOR JESUS' RESURRECTION."

"Quote" of the Week

The evidence for our Lord’s life and death and resurrection may be, and often has been, shown to be satisfactory.  It is good, according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. 

Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece as carefully as every judge, summing up on a most important cause.  I have, myself, done it many times over, not to persuade others, but to satisfy myself.  I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times and examine and weight the evidence of those who have written about them.

And I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair enquirer than the great sign which God has given that Christ died and rose again from the dead.  -Dr. Thomas Arnold, Oxford University

THE IMPORTANCE OF ORDER IN WORSHIP

After graduating from College, I moved back home for a semester to save money before leaving for Seminary.  One way I decided to make money that semester was by substitute teaching. 

On my first day, I was called to sub in a kindergarten classroom and the teacher that I subbed for had a student teacher who had been assisting her for the spring semester.  Because her student teacher was also sick on that day, I had to use notes left by the teacher for the student teacher and those notes were written in code.  They might as well have been written in Spanish because I had no idea what was being said. 

 

So, here I am my first day of teaching using notes left for another teacher trying to teach this class.  And after forgetting the pledge and unknowingly skipping their review of the alphabet, the kids began to act like any kid does when you throw a wrench in their routine.  It wasn’t ten minutes into the day, and I had already lost control of the classroom.  As a result, the class was anything but orderly. 

What I needed, more than anything on that day was a clear and comprehensible set of instructions written in a way I could understand.  Because I was clueless on the way the day was supposed to flow and on what was to be taught, and the way things were to be organized, the classroom was chaotic which resulted in each kid leaving that day having learned little to nothing from me.  Because of the chaos and disorder in the classroom, the time I spent with them was unfruitful and futile. 

 

The same is true of a disorderly worship service.  If when the church gathers together, there is little to no structure, and this “go with the flow” “whoever feels led” attitude, those attending will benefit little to nothing from the service—believers will not be built up.

"Quote" of the Week

"Disorder (is) a threat to the unity of the body and (is) incompatible with the God 'of peace'" (1 Corinthians 14:33).  -R.C. Sproul

COMMUNICATE TRUTH INTELLIGIBLY

When Leslie and I were on our honeymoon in San Antonio, we had an interesting encounter with a street preacher.  One night while waiting to be seated outside one of the local restaurants a car pulled up; and a Hispanic man stepped out with a Bible in hand and began passionately and fervently preaching to us. 

Though he was confident and did not seem to miss a step, there was a serious problem with his message…it was in Spanish, and there was not one Spanish speaking person in the crowd.  Though there was a large crowd gathered, there was not one person who understood this man’s message. 

I still have no idea what that guy said to this very day.  He might of have delivered one the greatest five minute sermons ever preached, but none of us would have ever known it because we did not know one word that was said.  There is a simple, and clear and key point to this story, and it’s this, “What good is a message if you can’t understand it?”  “If a message is unintelligible…what good is it?”  That’s Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 14:1-25.

To listen to the sermon click HERE.  And listen to “COMMUNICATE TRUTH INTELLIGIBLY.”

"Quote" of the Week

The purpose of language is the communication of thought. That is very basic. It means that if words are spoken that do not communicate an idea to those who listen, then the speaking serves no useful purpose.  –John Stevenson

THE GREATEST IS LOVE

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

In the midst of this section on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul includes a chapter on love.  Why?  Because he wanted his readers to realize that without it, the gifts are nothing. 
 

In this passage, Paul uses hyperbole to make the point that love is superior.  He says in v. 1 that languages without love are nothing—they are a big fat zero.  He says, “If I can communicate Christ in multiple languages and even speak Anglish (AKA Angel Language) and do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

In v. 2  Paul says,

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

First Paul talks about having “prophetic powers and understanding all mysteries and having all knowledge.”  In chapter 14, prophecy is considered one of the greatest of the gifts, yet Paul says, “without love you got nothing. 
 

He says, “If you have all faith—a faith that can move mountains and do not have love, you are nothing.”  In other words, if you believe and trust God in every way and continually walk in the faith you have and do not have love your spiritual life amounts to nothing. 

Paul gives the ultimate example in v. 3.  He says,

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.     

Paul says, “If I die a martyr's death, for the cause of Christ, and die without love for others—I gain nothing—my reward is zero.”  In other words, it doesn’t matter what you bring to the table if you lack love, you got nothing.  The loveless person produces nothing of value—just noise. 



"Quote" of the Week

"The indispensable mark of Christian life is Christian love. The measure and test of love to God is whole-hearted obedience (John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3); the measure and test of love to our neighbors is laying down our lives for them (1 John 3:16; cf. John 15:12, 13). This sacrificial love involves giving, spending, and impoverishing ourselves for their well-being."  R.C.  Sproul

THE CHURCH NEEDS DIVERSITY

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be?  1 Corinthians 12:14-19

A healthy church is a diverse church.  That’s Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 14:14-19.  He lets his readers know in this passage that God doesn’t want the church to consist of spiritual clones, functioning in the same way doing the same things.  That’s why Paul tells us in v. 14,

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

It is so important that believers realize this.  It’s so important that each one of us realize we are spiritual snowflakes—that there is no one just like us.  We are each uniquely gifted by God and bring something incredibly special and beneficial to the church. 
Some say, “What can I do?”  “I can’t teach.”  Guess what?  The church doesn’t need 200 people with the same gift of teaching.  It needs diversity.  It needs believers using their own unique gifting’s to build up the body. 

The problem at Corinth was that everyone was neglecting his or her own unique gifting’s.   They were each going after the same showy gifts that God had not given them.  That’s why Paul says what he does in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30.  He says,

“²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

The implied answer here is, “Of course not.”  Again, what benefit would it be to the church be if it were only made up of teachers?  You have everybody teaching in an empty classroom.  For the church to be healthy and function to its capability, it must have diversity.

"Quote" of the Week

"Whatever your gift is, it is essential, it is needed, and God wants it.  It has to be there and it has to operate."  -John MacArthur

For the past year, I have been preaching through the book of 1 Corinthians.  This past Sunday I began the section on Spiritual Gifts from chapters 12-14.  In anticipation of questions that I might receive when preaching through these chapters, I decided to submit to our church a position paper (below) explaining my position on the miraculous gifts.  

POSITION PAPER ON THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS

by Graham Hale

In recent years, miraculous gifts have received significant attention in certain Christian circles, polarizing believers and splitting many churches. The goal of this paper is to present a concise biblical perspective on the miraculous gifts. 

1.    WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Scripture is clear that spiritual gifts are important.  In 1^st Corinthians 12:1, Paul stresses the importance of God’s people discovering, receiving and using these gifts.  He also teaches that these gifts are not to be divorced from the church, but are to be exercised publically for the common good.  He says in 1^st Corinthians 12:7,

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 

In Ephesians 4, Paul explains how the Lord has given all believers gifts he expects them to use, and has placed his people in local assemblies to use their gifts to build up the body of Christ (4:12). 

2.    THE ABUSES OF THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS

Though I do not agree with the Cessationists, who argue that the miraculous gifts ceased in the first century, I do take an open-but-cautious view when it comes to the miraculous gifts because of the ways they have been misused and abused by certain individuals in certain churches.

Many today are guilty of doing the same things Paul accused the Corinthians of doing in 1^st Corinthians 12.  They are rejecting the gifts God has given and are pursuing the showy and miraculous gifts, believing them to be more important and more spiritual.  Paul says in 1^st Corinthains12:29, 

²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

The answer of course is…no.  Truth is, God has uniquely gifted each individual and expects each to use those distinct gifts to bless the church in a unique way.  Paul says in vv. 17-18, 

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

Paul clearly states that the church needs diversity.  It does not need believers refusing to accept and exercise less showy gifts, and it does not need all believers pursuing the same miraculous gifts.  Instead, the church needs all believers to identify and accept their own unique gifts and exercise them for the purpose of building up the body and blessing the church.

THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS

Several passages in Scripture provide a list of the spiritual gifts. 

Romans 12	1 Corinthians 12	Ephesians 4	1 Peter 4
prophecy	wisdom	apostles	speaking
service	knowledge	prophets	service
teaching	faith	evangelists
exhortation	healing	pastors and teachers
leadership	working of miracles
giving aid	prophecy
acts of mercy	ability to distinguish spirits various tongues interpretation of tongues

Of all these lists, the one given in 1^st Corinthians has drawn the most attention because it mentions the miraculous gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, tongues and the interpretation of tongues. 

HEALING

Many people have abused the gift of healing.  It has been overemphasized and counterfeited, and has also been the source of much pride.  Scripture is clear that the gift of healing is simply the ability to call on God to heal the sick through supernatural means. The purpose of healing is to reveal God. 

WORKING OF MIRACLES

The gift of miracles is the ability to call upon God to do supernatural acts to reveal His power.    Though some claim to witness them on a regular basis, miracles are, by definition,
rare. 

Scripture is clear that there are two ways God works in the world.  One is through miracles and the other is through providence.  A miracle is when God intervenes into the natural world—when he disrupts the flow of normal life to accomplish His purposes.

Providence is another way God works in the world and accomplishes His purposes.  Providence is when God does not interrupt the normal course of life, but instead, works in and through it.  With providence, God sovereignly weaves events and circumstances together to fit His purposes perfectly. 

Though God works in both of these ways, He primarily works through providence—through the laws of nature He has created. 

PROPHESY

Of all the gifts mentioned, the gift of prophesy poses the biggest threat if abused.  Many claim they have received new revelation from God and share it as if it holds equal weight with the teachings of the Bible.  That’s how many cults have started and false systems of belief have been formed—all from this misunderstanding of prophesy.

Scripture refers to the gift of prophesy in two ways.  It either refers to those who speak the words God has already spoken or to those who speak new revelation.  There was a time when God communicated new truth primarily through the prophets.  The author of Hebrews tells us,

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.   Hebrews 11:1

However, now that we have God’s completed word, there is no need for additional revelation.  There is only a need to take what God has said and share it with others—that too is prophesy. 

TONGUES

Of all the gifts, none are more mysterious, misunderstood and misused than the gift of tongues.  Though many today claim to have this gift, many different descriptions of it are given, with different ways the gift is administered, and different reasons given for why it’s important.  These misunderstandings have led to abuses in this practice.  For example, in many churches, multiple people speak in tongues at once during the service without interpreters, a practice which is confusing, disorderly, unedifying and unbiblical.  Below is what I believe the Bible teaches about tongues.

WHAT IS TONGUES?

Speaking in tongues is when a person speaks aloud during a worship service in a language unknown to him or her.  It is clear that the gift of tongues was given by God to the church in the first century.

OCCURRENCES OF TONGUES IN THE NT

The Jews (Acts 2:4, 11)

The Gentiles (Acts 10:44-47)

The Ephesians (Acts 19:6)

The Corinthians (1 Cor 12-14)

PURPOSE OF TONGUES

The NT specifies two reasons for the gift of tongues along with the other miraculous gifts of healing, miracles, etc.  The first purpose of these gifts is to confirm God’s spokesmen (Acts 8:6-8).  When these gifts are exercised rightly and not counterfeited, it shows that the one exercising the gift is a true spokesperson for God.  It also gives further authority to an already authoritative message. 

The second reason these gifts are important is because they unify believers.  They show us that the God who was at work in the first century church and at work in the lives of men like Noah and Abraham and David is just as active in our lives today.

IMPORTANCE OF INTERPRETATION

In 1^st Corinthians 14, Paul makes it clear that when someone exercises the gift of languages, interpretation is required.  He says at the end of v. 27,

Let someone interpret. 

In other translations it says, Let one interpret.  The Greek puts emphasis on the word one.  He also says in v. 28 that the speaker is to keep silent if the designated interpreter is not present.  Why all these rules?  Because this gift is to be exercised in an orderly manner with one or two, but no more than three, speaking in turn (v. 27) with one translator. 

Interpretation is also required because when this gift is exercised, the message must be understood by the hearer or it is of no benefit to anyone.  Paul is clear in the latter half of 1^st Corinthians 14 that if spiritual gifts do not serve to edify others, they are of no benefit to anyone.

CONCLUSION

In the final analysis, though I take an open-but-cautious view when it comes to the spiritual gifts—though I believe that the Spirit dispenses those special gifts today, I know that we should not set our lives to seeking them.  God bestows them upon His people sovereignly—He alone determines who the recipients will be (1^st Cor. 12:11).  Our calling is to accept them from God and exercise them for Him and His glory. 

Appendix I

TONGUES ARE HUMAN LANGUAGES

The New Testament texts dealing with the gift of tongues seem to suggest that tongues are human languages.  For example, the word translated tongue is the Greek word glossa which means language.  Also, we see that which was spoken by the disciples on the day of Pentecost were actually human languages of the world, unknown by the speakers.  This fact is apparent from the context of Acts 2, where people from various nations heard the disciples speak each in their own native language (v. 8). 

When the Gentile converts were speaking in tongues and praising God, Peter said that the Lord gave them the same gift that the disciples had at Pentecost, when foreign languages were spoken (Acts 10:47).  Peter repeated this fact to his friends in Jerusalem.  He explained, As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning (Acts 11:15). 

Though many agree that actual human languages were used in Acts 2 and 10, they argue that the later use of tongues among the Ephesians and Corinthians were different.  Many argue those with the gift in these churches spoke in heavenly language, and they support this idea by using several statements Paul makes in 1^st Corinthians.  For example, in chapter 13 Paul speaks of the tongues of men and of angels, thus apparently allowing for the possibility of angelic language. 

It is important to note that in 1^st Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul is using what is called hyperbole.  Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration used to make an important point.  Notice the breakdown of what he says…

·         “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels”

·         “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge”

·         “If I have a faith that can move mountains”

·         “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames”

Notice he says, If I have the gift of prophesy (which he has) and all knowledge (which he doesn’t have).  He says, If I have faith (which he has) and the ability to move mountains (which he doesn’t).  Following this pattern, it’s safe to say that Paul did not speak in the tongue of angels—he is exaggerating. 

Many have also argued that Paul speaks of unknown tongues in the following chapter in 1st Corinthians 14:2.  What many fail to realize there is that the word translated unknown was added by some translators.  That word (unknown) does not appear in the original Greek. 

Appendix II

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

When Paul talks about the baptism in the Spirit and when he talks about drinking of one spirit in 1^st Corinthians 12:13, he is talking about an occurrence that happens for all believers at the moment of salvation. 

There are times in Scripture when the word baptism is used to talk about identification and this is one of those times.  When Paul talks about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, he is saying, “Just as we were brought together in Christ and identified with him, crucified and made righteous in him, and made co-heirs with him, so we have also been brought together by, indentified with and made one through the Holy Spirit.

All believers, without exception, at the moment of salvation have been indwelt with, have access to and have been empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, all of us are one.  There aren’t upper tier and lower tier Christians—there aren’t first class free and Jewish and second class slave and Gentile Christians. 

Though many believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation which should be sought out and is experienced by some, but not by all believers, Scripture says otherwise.  It makes no sense that Paul would call for unity, as he clearly does in 1^st Corinthians 12, and then in the next few verses introduce a doctrine that divides.