What are Spiritual gifts and their purpose?
An old friend from high school found my profile on Facebook and noticed the interest I had in systematic theology. He asked me about the Spiritual gifts, what I felt their purposes were, and what did I think about speaking in tongues. Are they relevant in today’s religious circles, especially the speaking in tongues: he was very curious to see if I agreed with him that it was still important as it was in biblical time? I’m so glad you asked me these questions, because this is a very mis-understood subject I said. God gives each and every one of us gifts; it is our choice whether or not we choose to use them for him or for our own gain and purposes. The Spiritual gifts are given to us to edify the church. I have several passages that I’d like to give you to read that list all the gifts.
1. Romans 12:6-8 – This passage is describes and defines proposing, serving, teaching, leadership/administration, encouraging gifts.
2. I Peter 4:10-11 – This passage describes and defines the speaking gifts of the spirit.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 – This passage speaks of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, and the speaking in tongues.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:28 – This verse describes the teaching, miracles, and healing gifts.
5. Ephesians 4:11 – And this verse refers to the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, pastors and teachers.
How do spiritual gifts differ from the Fruit of the Spirit, and which of these 3 concepts show one’s spiritual maturity? Fruit of the Spirit actually shows one’s spiritual maturity; Galatians 5:22-23 tells what the Fruits of the Spirit are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Spiritual gifts are what God has given you, such as teaching, encouragement, and compassion. I believe that these work side by side with one another. Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit teaches us and tells us what is right and what is wrong as well as giving us knowledge and wisdom to understand the scriptures that God has given us to follow.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit simply means the promise of God (Luke 24:49). Acts describes this baptism of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God (Acts 2:38, 10:45). The biblical definition of tongues is language, as we see in Acts 2:6 states: “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” The speaking in tongues is not a necessary sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Once we have been born again, we are all subject to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Christ also called the comforter. Speaking in tongues is no longer needed since there are churches all over the world and pastors and teachers can speak in their own languages now. Did you know that the least valuable gift according to Paul was indeed speaking in tongues? If there was no interpreter what good was it to speak in tongues? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31-“But eagerly desire the greater gifts; the greatest gift that you can have is love.” 1 Corinthians 13 is a great chapter showing this, if you have all these gifts and have not love, then you’re like a tingling cymbal. This is why Paul states they will be stilled, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (meaning speaking in tongues/different languages). The “perfect” or with the NIV “the completeness” is referring to the maturity of the Church when we’re as one in the New Heaven and New Earth. When Christ reigns on this earth all will be completed.
An old friend from high school found my profile on Facebook and noticed the interest I had in systematic theology. He asked me about the Spiritual gifts, what I felt their purposes were, and what did I think about speaking in tongues. Are they relevant in today’s religious circles, especially the speaking in tongues: he was very curious to see if I agreed with him that it was still important as it was in biblical time? I’m so glad you asked me these questions, because this is a very mis-understood subject I said. God gives each and every one of us gifts; it is our choice whether or not we choose to use them for him or for our own gain and purposes. The Spiritual gifts are given to us to edify the church. I have several passages that I’d like to give you to read that list all the gifts.
1. Romans 12:6-8 – This passage is describes and defines proposing, serving, teaching, leadership/administration, encouraging gifts.
2. I Peter 4:10-11 – This passage describes and defines the speaking gifts of the spirit.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 – This passage speaks of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, and the speaking in tongues.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:28 – This verse describes the teaching, miracles, and healing gifts.
5. Ephesians 4:11 – And this verse refers to the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, pastors and teachers.
How do spiritual gifts differ from the Fruit of the Spirit, and which of these 3 concepts show one’s spiritual maturity? Fruit of the Spirit actually shows one’s spiritual maturity; Galatians 5:22-23 tells what the Fruits of the Spirit are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Spiritual gifts are what God has given you, such as teaching, encouragement, and compassion. I believe that these work side by side with one another. Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit teaches us and tells us what is right and what is wrong as well as giving us knowledge and wisdom to understand the scriptures that God has given us to follow.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit simply means the promise of God (Luke 24:49). Acts describes this baptism of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God (Acts 2:38, 10:45). The biblical definition of tongues is language, as we see in Acts 2:6 states: “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” The speaking in tongues is not a necessary sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Once we have been born again, we are all subject to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Christ also called the comforter. Speaking in tongues is no longer needed since there are churches all over the world and pastors and teachers can speak in their own languages now. Did you know that the least valuable gift according to Paul was indeed speaking in tongues? If there was no interpreter what good was it to speak in tongues? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31-“But eagerly desire the greater gifts; the greatest gift that you can have is love.” 1 Corinthians 13 is a great chapter showing this, if you have all these gifts and have not love, then you’re like a tingling cymbal. This is why Paul states they will be stilled, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (meaning speaking in tongues/different languages). The “perfect” or with the NIV “the completeness” is referring to the maturity of the Church when we’re as one in the New Heaven and New Earth. When Christ reigns on this earth all will be completed.