Series | The Spirit
Filled Life
Scripture | 1 Corinthians
13:8, “Love
never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are
tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
Lesson 27 | Have the Gifts of
the Spirit Ceased?
Some Christians who reject the present day
manifestations of the Holy Spirit try to use Paul’s own words against him. They take the following verses to mean that
when the “completeness” comes (i.e., “the Bible”), the gifts will no more be
needed. However, please read carefully
these important words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:8-9, “8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease;
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it
will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when
completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”
Accordingly, the “completeness” Paul refers to
is not the Bible, otherwise when the disciples were finished writing the Bible
“knowledge” would have passed away too!
Likewise, most scholars today believe “completeness or perfection” is
referring to the resurrection body. At
the resurrection of the Christ the Christian’s body will be perfect and
complete. Everyone will be in the
presence of the Lord face-to-face, thus spiritual gifts and human knowledge
will no longer be needed for every believer will know God clearly.
Plus, Paul makes his point even stronger in the
following verses when he writes, “For now
we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I
know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known,” 1 Cor.
13:12. As a result, as Paul continues to
write in the next chapter to “eagerly desire the spiritual gifts” and “do not
forbid speaking in tongues” it is obvious Paul never believed the gifts were
going to cease until everyone is face to face with Jesus!
Reflection | Do you believe the gifts of the Spirit will never cease until Jesus comes back?
Action | (1) Has anyone ever tried to discourage you from using the gifts of the Spirit? (2) Remind anyone who thinks the gifts have passed away, that the gifts will be around as long as there is knowledge. (3) Lastly, never stop operating in the gifts of the Spirit until Jesus comes back!
One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalm 145:1-21, & Proverbs 18:1. Click here to read online.
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