MIRACULOUS GIFTS

     I wish to each one a very pleasant good morning. We are happy to
have you in our audience and hope and pray that these studies are
beneficial to each one. Are you writing down the scriptures so that
you may study them further in the privacy of you own home. Don't
accept anything just because I say it. Be sure that what I say and
the application of what I say is in agreement with the Unsearchable
Riches of God's Word. Measure everything that you hear by the
standard of the truth of the Word of God.
     Last Sunday I spoke on the subject, "The Work of the Holy
Spirit." Evidently, such a sublime subject cannot be covered in a
single 15 minute lesson. I introduced a passage from 1 Corinthians 13
and spent a very brief time in discussing it. In our study this
morning I wish to go back to that passage and go just a little deeper
in studying it. So turn with me now and we shall read again, 1
Corinthians 13:8, "Love never faileth; but whether there be
prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they
shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For
we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is
perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was
a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child;
now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now
we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. But
now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these
is love." Reading through the end of the chapter.
     You will note from this reading. Prophecies were to fail. To
prophecy meant to make known by inspiration God's revelation. Paul
did not say that the revelation would prove to be a failure. He is
saying that the gift of prophesying would come to an end, be
abolished. God chose prophecy to make know his will to man and when
that will was completed there would be no longer any need for
prophecy. Thus prophecy was to fail, to cease. When? When all of
Divine revelation was completed.
     You noticed also that tongues were to cease. In Acts 2, we learn
that to speak in tongues was to speak in another language. A language
that was understood by the hearers. It was a miracle that men could
speak in a language they had not studied or did not know and that
they would be understood, because those people stated, "we hear them
speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God" (Acts 2:11). Paul
states that tongues were to cease. Does that mean that other
languages were to cease. No, it means that the ability to speak in
another language that one had no knowledge of would cease. One of the
nine gifts of the Spirit was the ability to speak in a different
language that you had not been brought up in. That ability was to
cease.
     Paul also states that knowledge shall vanish away. When Paul
said knowledge, he was not referring to information gained through
study or experience. He is not referring to a time when people become
ignoramuses, when they have no knowledge. Paul is referring to the
miraculous gift of the Spirit, one of the nine mentioned in chapter
12. This knowledge was a knowledge that one gained by direct
revelation of the Holy Spirit. It was the kind of knowledge that Paul
refers to when he said, "For I make known to you, brethren, as
touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after
man. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but
it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-
12).
     Paul stated that knowledge was in part and prophesying was in
part. He also stated that which is in part shall be done away.
Spiritual gifts therefore were not eternal, but were temporary. the
miraculous revelation of God's will and its confirmation was not all
at once. Truth was revealed a little at a time during the first
century. It was given in parts and confirmed as it was given.
Finally, all of the parts were given and the whole truth was
established. The New Covenant was completed, revelation was finished.
John states that man should neither add to it nor take away from it.
(Revelation 22:18-19).
     As noted last week, Paul tells us that spiritual gifts, such as
prophecies, tongues, knowledge, would be done away with at the time
"when that which is perfect is come." The question naturally is: To
what does Paul refer when he speaks of "that which is perfect."
    Paul was not referring to Christ at His second coming. The words
used do not permit that. Paul did not say "He which" or "he who" is
perfect shall come. He said "THAT which is perfect." It is the neuter
gender, not masculine. Paul does not have reference to a person, but
to a thing, to the completed system, the gospel in its full
revelation.
     Paul does not refer to a perfect state of existence in heaven
which will come at the end of this creation. Heaven is not referred
to at any time in this context. He is contrasting that which is
temporary with that which is permanent in this life. It is a contrast
in the abiding nature of faith, hope and love with the brevity of
prophecy, tongues and knowledge. Nowhere is the term "perfect" used
with reference to a future sinless state in Heaven. It does have
reference to something that is complete, mature. The word translated
"perfect" means something that is brought to an end, mature,
complete. When referring to people, it means those who are fullgrown,
adult, or mature. When the word is used in a spiritual sense, it
means people of God who are mature in the faith, fullgrown
spiritually. Paul refers to the "perfect will of God" (Rom 12:2).
     Paul, in the passage, is discussing that which is in part
(prophecy, tongues, and knowledge) with that which is complete (the
completed word of God. While the New Testament was being written,
these gifts were necessary to furnish these early Christians with
guidance and confirmation of the truths they taught. When these gifts
accomplished their purpose of bringing to existence the Revealed word
of truth, they would no longer be needed, thus would fail, cease, be
done away with. Thus, that which is perfect refers to the fulness of
God's revelation. When it was completed, there would be no longer any
need for these miraculous gifts.
     Paul uses two examples to illustrate his conclusions. The first
was, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I
thought as a child, now that I am become a man, I have ut away
childish things."  He is contrasting the infancy stage of the church
with its state of maturity. While these miraculous gifts were present
the church was still in its infancy, its beginning state. The church
would pass from infancy to fullgrown maturity. And when it did there
would no longer be a need for the partial gifts. No longer do we
depend upon someone to have prophecy, tongues, knowledge. We now have
the completed, perfect Will of the Father. We do not have to depend
upon someone revealing truth for us; we have the truth. And it is
available for every person to use, to know, to obey. The church has
passed from its infancy state to its full-grown state. Thus,
prophecy, tongues and knowledge have been done away.
     The second illustration is also a contrast. A contrast between
the dark and the clear. "How we see through a glass darkly; but then
face to face." Here is a contrast between knowledge in part and
knowledge in fullness. He says, "now I know in part; but then shall I
know even as also I am known." These contrasts further emphasize the
difference between the time of the revealing of the New Testament and
the time after the completed revelation. The Word of God no longer
needs the confirmation of miracles.  Spiritual gifts belonged to the
former time when that revelation was being given. It is now complete,
perfect, and these gifts did indeed cease, they were done away with.
To see through a glass darkly means that things are not clear, or
that things are known only in part. To see face to face, clearly,
means that the light is fully known and we have the full revelation
of God. We can look into that perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) and
see reflected the image that should guide us and lead us to do the
perfect will of God.
     You should also notice that Paul is contrasting the cessation of
spiritual gifts with the continuance of faith, hope and love. At some
point in the history of the church, spiritual gifts would cease while
faith, hope and love would continue on. These inspired words of Paul
would not be true if spiritual gifts continued until Christ's second
coming. Faith and hope will not continue on after Christ's coming.
One does not have faith in something they possess. One does not have
hope for something they possess. Faith and hope are attributes
directed toward the future. Notice Paul's statement in Romans 8:24,
25, "For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope;
for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which
we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."  When Christ
returns, faith will be turned into sight; hope will become actual
possession. The appearance of Christ will bring faith and hope to
their completion. And yet, Paul says that there was time that
prophecy, tongue and knowledge would cease while faith, hope and love
would continue. Therefore Paul was speaking of a time between the
spiritual gifts age and the second coming of Christ. I believe that
we live in that time today, in fact have been living in it since the
time that the Bible was completed and revelation was finished. Then,
spiritual gifts were no longer needed. But, faith, hope, and love
still continue to be desirable.
     Do you have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God? You must,
you know, if you would please God. Hebrews 11:6, states, "Without
faith it is impossible to please God..." I encourage each listener to
examine the credentials of Christ. His life, His message, His
death, burial and resurrection; His commandments. And, then, because
of that faith to cry out, "Lord what would you have me do?" Peter
answers that question in Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized, every
one of you for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit." You will receive what the Holy Spirit
gives you, salvation from past sins and the hope of Heaven when this
life is over.  When some see the term "gift of the Holy Spirit," they
conclude that that must mean you shall receive the Holy Spirit as the
gift. The language permits and I believe means, You shall receive
what the Holy Spirit gives you. The gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit has promised you eternal life when you obey the commands
revealed by the Holy Spirit.
     Thus, if you have faith, faith enough to obey the words of the
inspired men of the first century, you can become a child of God. You
will then have the hope of salvation when this life is over. Truly,
there remains faith, hope, and love.

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