Lesson 5 The Spiritual Gifts Measure of the

Lesson 5: The Spiritual Gifts Measure of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

The Holy Spirit Empowered N. T. Christians with Miraculous Gifts • It is evident that Christians in the N. T. had the power to perform miracles − There are numerous examples of various types of miraculous deeds − There are lists of the various types of miraculous gifts the early Christians had − There was absolute certainty when a miracle was done in the New Testament, for the miracles that the early Christians did: • • • Were done publicly (Acts 2: 6 -12, 22; 3: 1 -11, 16; 26: 26) Were affirmed even by enemies (Acts 4: 16, 21) Were instantaneously effective, without a single failure (Acts 3: 6 -7; 9: 18; 13: 11) Made people complete and whole, with no record of relapses (Acts 3: 16; 4: 10) Left no doubt in the minds of the witnesses that a true miracle had been done • It is evident that it was the Holy Spirit who “gifted” early Christians this miraculous power (1 Cor. 12: 1 -11)

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • In the beginning of the church, the apostles were the only ones recorded as having the power to perform miracles (cf. 2: 43; 3: 1 -11; 4: 10, 14, 16, 22, 30; 5: 12, 15 -16) • When the apostles “laid hands” on the seven men in Acts 6: 6, then there were other men who did “miracles” (8: 6), “wonders and signs” (6: 8) • Philip went to Samaria in Acts 8 – “preached Christ” and did miracles (8: 5 -7) • The apostles sent Peter and John (apostles) to Samaria, and “they laid hands on [the new converts to Christ], and they received the Holy Spirit” (8: 17) • It was evident that only “through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given” (8: 18)

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • Notice very closely that Philip was in Samaria and had the power to do great miracles (8: 6 -7), but his power was limited − Philip, while able to perform miracles, could not pass that power on to others • It is obvious from the text that: − The apostles alone had the power to confer the Holy Spirit − It was only through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the miraculous power of the Spirit was imparted − The miraculous gifts of the Spirit could not be bestowed in any other way • There are other New Testament examples that further emphasize that only the apostles could confer the Holy Spirit upon others: − Acts 19: 6 − Romans 1: 11 − 2 Timothy 1: 6

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • Through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, a miraculous gift of the Spirit was given − There was no other way for a Christian to receive such miraculous powers − While the apostles likely possessed all of the spiritual gifts themselves, early Christians appeared to possess only one gift (based upon 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 4) − If it was only through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the miraculous power of the Spirit could be given, what does that tell us about the availability and bestowment of miraculous powers today?

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Specific Purpose • Miracles were essential in order to reveal the truth of God − Without miraculous revelation to man of God’s inspired message, man could have never known the will of God on his own (1 Cor. 2: 10 -12) − It was essential that the Holy Spirit be given to the apostles and inspired writers in order for truth to be made known (John 14: 26; 15: 26; 16: 13) − Through the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and inspired messengers in the first century, the truth of God was revealed (1 Cor. 2: 10, 13; 12: 10; 14: 29 -31; Eph. 3: 3 -5; Gal. 1: 11 -12; 2 Pet. 1: 3, 20 -21; 2 Tim. 3: 16 -17)

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Specific Purpose • Miracles were essential in order to confirm the truth of God that was being preached − The apostles and other men in the first century performed miracles (by the power of God) to confirm the message that they were preaching was truly from God − Mark 16: 15 -20 is a key passage in understanding that the purpose of miracles • Direct connection between “preaching the gospel” (16: 15) and the “signs” (16: 17) − Hebrews 2: 3 -4 is a key passage in understanding that the purpose of miracles • Direct connection between the message preached and “signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (2: 4)

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Specific Purpose • Miracles were designed by God to produce faith − In the Bible, miracles were not designed by God to merely benefit the recipient(s) (2 Cor. 12: 7; 2 Tim. 4: 20; Phil. 2: 27) − The miracles recorded in the Bible were designed by God to produce faith: • First, in the hearts of the individuals upon whom the miracles were done (John 2: 23; 6: 2; 10: 42; 11: 45; 20: 8; Mark 11: 20 -22; Luke 17: 15; 18: 43; Acts 2: 5 -37; 8: 6 -8, 12 -13; 13: 11 -12; 19: 11 -18) – Read especially John 20: 30 -31 • Second (and equally so), in the hearts of individuals in the centuries that would follow, who read of these miraculous deeds in the pages of the New Testament – Read especially John 20: 29 and Romans 10: 17

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Specific Purpose • In summary, miracles were designed by God to confirm the Word − First, they accomplished their purpose when the message was actually being spoken − Second, the recording of the miracles fulfills their purpose in hearts of readers today • There is not any new revelation being given, therefore, no miraculous acts of confirmation are necessary today • The Bible is the completed revelation of God for man today, for it is: - Inspired by God (2 Tim. 3: 16) - All-sufficient (2 Pet. 1: 3; 2 Tim. 3: 17) - Fully delivered (Jude 3) • In its completed and written form (which is available around the world today), the Bible does what the miracles and signs did in the first century: - It proves that the message is from God - It produces faith in the hearts of its readers − Therefore, since the Bible fulfills the purpose of miracles today, there is no need for any miraculous signs today

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Set Duration • The Bible teaches that miracles were to last “until” “the unity of the faith” came (Eph. 4: 8 -13) − Ephesians 4: 8 -13 is a key passage in understanding the duration of Bible miracles − The occasion of the gifts is specified – when Jesus “ascended on high” (4: 8) − The nature of the gifts is specified – miraculous functions to the leadership (4: 11) − The purpose of these gifts is specified – for equipping & edifying the church (4: 12, 14) − The duration of these gifts is specified – the miraculous “gifts” were to last “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (4: 13) • The word “till” is from the Greek mechri, which is a “marker of continuance in time up to a point…the point at which something ends or finishes” • Miracles would terminate when “the unity of the faith” came (cf. Gal. 1: 11+1: 23; Jude 3) • The conclusion that miracles (including spiritual gifts) would cease in the first century is unavoidable in this passage

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Set Duration • The Bible teaches miracles were to last until “that which is perfect” came (1 Cor. 13: 8 -13) − 1 Corinthians 13: 8 -13 is a key passage in understanding the duration of Bible miracles − 1 Corinthians 13 is in the middle of 3 chapters on miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit • Chapter 12 emphasizes the presence or existence of the miraculous, spiritual gifts - They are introduced and listed, with an emphasis on their origin and unity • Chapter 13 emphasizes the passing or expiration of the miraculous, spiritual gifts - They are contrasted with agape love, which is permanent and enduring • Chapter 14 emphasizes the practice or exercise of the miraculous, spiritual gifts - They are regulated in their use, with an emphasis on decency and order − The inferiority of these gifts is specified – the miraculous “gifts” were inferior to the “greatest” of God’s enduring gifts – agape love (12: 31 -13: 13)

The Miraculous Gifts Had a Set Duration • The Bible teaches miracles were to last until “that which is perfect” came (1 Cor. 13: 8 -13) − The duration of these gifts is specified (13: 8 -13) • • • Paul sets forth a great contrast, which demands that a change is forthcoming (13: 8 -13) Paul sets forth clearly “that which is in part” and its temporary nature (13: 9, 10, 12) Paul sets forth the time “when” these gifts would pass away (13: 10) − Put all of the evidence together: • For a time, God’s will was being revealed “part” by “part” through miraculous powers of the Spirit upon early Christians • But, “when” the whole, complete, full, perfect revelation of God’s will would “come, ” “then” the part-by-part revelation (miraculous gifts) would cease • God’s revelation was complete upon the writing of the book of Revelation • At that point, revelation ceased; therefore, at that point, miraculous gifts ceased • Miraculous, spiritual gifts no longer exist today

The Miraculous Gifts Measure of the Spirit Has Ceased • Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were inherently connected to the apostles − They were endowed upon the apostles through the baptism of the Holy Spirit − They were endowed by the apostles through the laying on of their hands • Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were purposely designed to confirm the Word being proclaimed − The purpose of miracles was to reveal and confirm all truth − The Bible states that all truth has been revealed and confirmed by God − Without any new revelations to confirm, there are no miracles needed today • Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were designed by God with a specific duration − They were to last until the revelation of God was completed (and available in a written, enduring form) − The revelation of God has been “once for all delivered” (Jude 3; cf. John 16: 13) • The revealing of God’s will and the presence of miracles went hand-in-hand • How blessed we are to have the full, complete revelation of God!