Please read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 before reading...
Reminder...here is the real Gospel (1-2):
- which you received as your foundation
- which saved you
- which is the only truth
- which makes life worthwhile
Real Gospel means Christ fulfilled the Messianic prophecies (3-8):
- He died for our sins
- He was buried
- He was raised on the 3rd day
- He appeared to the 12 apostles, more than 500 believers, and Paul in a later vision
Paul’s take on his salvation:
- I am the most insignificant apostle
- I am least deserving
- I persecuted God’s people
- God’s grace reached me and changed me
- God has enabled me to work harder than all the apostles
After reading Paul's words, I must ask myself the following questions:
1. What does the Gospel mean to me?
2. What are the elements of the true Gospel?
3. How do I view my salvation and calling in light of Paul's perspective?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Use your gift for others...1 Corithians 14
1 Corinthians 14 contains some of the richest nuggets of truth concerning spiritual gifts, specifically tongues:
"Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air." (9)
"Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." (12)
"If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified." (16-17)
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." (18-19)
"If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God." (27-28)
"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." (33)
These are just a few highlights from this chapter. Paul was regulating the practice of a spiritual gift that had turned the Corinthian church into a circus. Converted pagans were using the gibberish pagan tongues in church thinking they were authentic.
Paul used the singular "tongue" to slam this pagan counterfeit and the plural "tongues" to uphold the legitimate sign gift. Throughout this chapter he uses sarcasm to make his point that the proclamation of Scripture is the most edifying gift to exercise in church. Gibberish builds up no one!
How ironic that the very chapter most charismatics use as a proof for practicing tongues is actually a harsh treatise regulating the sign gift and seeking to abolish its pagan counterfeit. The irony drips heavier when we see that women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men in church. Most charismatic churches practice just the opposite, while still using this chapter!
Spiritual gifts were never meant to be self-edifying. They were given to you at salvation to build up the church. Practicing a spiritual gift privately (as some do with "prayer languages") is not authorized in Scripture. My gift is to build you up, and yours is to build me up. How entirely selfish of me to think my gift was given for my edification or growth. I am one member in the body. Each member ministers to me, and I must find my place and minister to the body.
When I drive towards Binghamton, there are many signs giving me the mileage to my destination. As soon as I pass the city, the signs cease. There is no more need for Binghamton signs, because the city is behind me.
In the same way, tongues was a sign gift given for 3 purposes:
1. As a sign for unbelieving Jews of the authenticity of the Church - authority
2. As an indication that God's blessings had come to both Jews and Gentiles - blessing
3. As a warning of coming judgment (A.D. 70 this judgment by Rome was complete - no two stones were left standing in Jerusalem) - curse
Each of these 3 purposes has been complete. The early church was birthed, Gentiles were included, and judgment came to Israel. Then what is the current purpose of tongues?
Thanks for the powerful words of advice on this topic Paul! I am now more convinced than ever that even if the gift of tongues is active today - it is rarely, if ever, practiced legitimately and in-line with Paul's regulations.
"Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air." (9)
"Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." (12)
"If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified." (16-17)
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." (18-19)
"If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God." (27-28)
"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." (33)
These are just a few highlights from this chapter. Paul was regulating the practice of a spiritual gift that had turned the Corinthian church into a circus. Converted pagans were using the gibberish pagan tongues in church thinking they were authentic.
Paul used the singular "tongue" to slam this pagan counterfeit and the plural "tongues" to uphold the legitimate sign gift. Throughout this chapter he uses sarcasm to make his point that the proclamation of Scripture is the most edifying gift to exercise in church. Gibberish builds up no one!
How ironic that the very chapter most charismatics use as a proof for practicing tongues is actually a harsh treatise regulating the sign gift and seeking to abolish its pagan counterfeit. The irony drips heavier when we see that women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men in church. Most charismatic churches practice just the opposite, while still using this chapter!
Spiritual gifts were never meant to be self-edifying. They were given to you at salvation to build up the church. Practicing a spiritual gift privately (as some do with "prayer languages") is not authorized in Scripture. My gift is to build you up, and yours is to build me up. How entirely selfish of me to think my gift was given for my edification or growth. I am one member in the body. Each member ministers to me, and I must find my place and minister to the body.
When I drive towards Binghamton, there are many signs giving me the mileage to my destination. As soon as I pass the city, the signs cease. There is no more need for Binghamton signs, because the city is behind me.
In the same way, tongues was a sign gift given for 3 purposes:
1. As a sign for unbelieving Jews of the authenticity of the Church - authority
2. As an indication that God's blessings had come to both Jews and Gentiles - blessing
3. As a warning of coming judgment (A.D. 70 this judgment by Rome was complete - no two stones were left standing in Jerusalem) - curse
Each of these 3 purposes has been complete. The early church was birthed, Gentiles were included, and judgment came to Israel. Then what is the current purpose of tongues?
Thanks for the powerful words of advice on this topic Paul! I am now more convinced than ever that even if the gift of tongues is active today - it is rarely, if ever, practiced legitimately and in-line with Paul's regulations.
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