Because Of The Church's Teaching On The Holy Spirit And Spiritual Gifts
The subject of the Holy Spirit is one of the most mis-understood of all
religious topics. Many people claim to have the gift of the Holy Spirit, but
don't know in what measure they have it. Others say that it is impossible to get
it all, and still others that only a select few can obtain it. And then there is
disagreement about how one will react if he does have it. For that reason we
propose to review it with you now.
I. THE COMMON GIFT OF THE SPIRIT. By the common gift, we mean
the gift common to all who obey the gospel of Christ. This gift is mentioned in
the following passages: Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." In Gal. 4:6
it reads, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father." Also in Acts 5:32,
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy
Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
It is evident that every obedient child of God receives the Holy Spirit. It is
received at baptism. This common gift was not super-natural. It is the
Spirit-clothing put on at baptism, Rom. 8:9. In Eph. 1:13-14 we are told that
this clothing is part payment in advance of the ultimate and ideal clothing of
eternity. This then is what we mean by the common gift of the Spirit.
II. THE GIFT THROUGH THE LAYING
ON OF HANDS. This gift
of the Spirit is entirely distinct from the one just noticed. The above gift
always immediately followed baptism. The laying on of hands always imparted
supernatural power; the gift just discussed never imparted supernatural power.
ONLY APOSTLES COULD IMPART THIS GIFT. IT WAS IMPARTED THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF
THE APOSTLES HANDS. There were nine such gifts. Please turn in your
Bible and read I Cor 12:8-12. The nine gifts may be
outlined as follows:
1. THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF WISDOM.
2. THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
3. THE GIFT OF SUPERNATURAL FAITH.
4. THE GIFT OF HEALING.
5. THE GIFT OF THE WORKING OF MIRACLES.
6. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.
7. THE GIFT OF THE DISCERNING OF SPIRITS.
8. THE GIFT OF TONGUES.
9. THE GIFT OF THE INTERPRETATION
OF TONGUES.
Let us now find an example of this type
of gift of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. In Acts 8:14-19 it reads,
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they
were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as
yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.) Then laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost
was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power that on
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." This is an
example of the apostles laying hands on people and imparting the power of the
Holy Spirit unto them. Realizing the possible gain from such, Simon wanted to
buy the power. But of course he couldn't. We need to emphasize the fact that
nobody, other than the apostles, had this power of imparting these gifts.
III. BAPTISMAL MEASURE OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT. Now we
wish to study the highest form of spiritual gifts. This is the ultimate gift of
the Spirit. It was never imparted through the laying on of the apostles hands to
anybody at any time, but always came directly from God. It was never commanded
of anyone, but was merely a promise to the apostles. Thus those who claim that a
reception of it is necessary to salvation, just do not understand the teaching
of the Bible on this subject. There are only two cases of it in the entire
Bible. Let us notice both of them carefully: Acts 2:1-5, "And when the
day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out
of every nation under heaven." This case of Holy Spirit baptism is
given to the apostles only. It enabled them to preach and perform miracles in
spreading the gospel of the kingdom. They also spoke in "other tongues"
which happened to be other languages. However, this speaking in tongues was not
some non-sense which could not be understood. It was not some jabber incoherent
to both speaker and hearer. The next case of Holy Spirit baptism is in Acts
10:44-48 and takes place at the conversion of Cornelius and his household. The
purpose is to show that God has accepted the Gentiles, and given them every
right and privilege to obey the gospel of Christ, as given to the Jews. In fact,
Cornelius was told by the angel, as referenced in Acts 11:14, to send for Peter
"...who shall tell thee words, whereby
thou and all thy house shall be saved." Notice Acts 10:44-48,
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them
which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues,
and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these
should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to
tarry certain days."
This covers the two examples of Holy Spirit
Baptism in the New Testament. To confuse this gift of the Holy Spirit with the
other two is a very serious mistake that is responsible for much of the
confusion in the world today.
Since the apostles and those in Acts 10 are the only ones who ever received Holy
Spirit Baptism, we have no reason for supposing that it still exists today. No
one, except the apostles, was ever promised it. It never was a general promise
to all people. Also, since the apostles were the only ones who could lay hands
on a person and impart spiritual gifts, it logically follows then that when the
last apostle died, this power ceased. When the last man died upon whom an
apostle had laid hands, then there were no longer miraculous manifestations of
the Spirit in existence. This leaves only the common gift of the Spirit in
existence today. That gift which every obedient baptized believer receives.
However, remember that even in the days of the apostles this common gift carried
no miraculous power with it. Thus there is no reason to assume that it carries
any with it today, regardless of the fact that some people claim to do miracles
that are just an illusional shadow of what Jesus and the apostles did.
In John 16:7-14, we have a list of
things set forth that the Holy Spirit would do as a part of His work. The
following things are mentioned: 1)He will convict the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment; 2)guide the apostles into all truth; 3)bring to
the remembrance of the apostles all that Christ said; and 4)He will glorify
Christ.
1.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT GIVEN TO MAKE PEOPLE BRAG or BOAST OF THEIR POWER.
Simon in Acts 8:9-12 is a case
in point. This man was somewhat of a magician. He dazzled people with his works
and power. He was, however, converted to Christ. As he followed the Apostles
around he saw not only their miracles, but their power to lay hands on people,
thus imparting to them the power to work miracles. Simon wanted that power so
much that he offered the Apostles money in order to receive it. His motive was
wrong. He was told, "Thy money perish with thee." Today, we see
and hear many who boast of their power to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc.
Some even write books about their "Greatest Miracles." The Holy Spirit doesn't
make people boast of their ability to work miracles. The Holy Spirit came to
glorify Christ, not Himself (John 16:14).
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT GIVEN TO KEEP PEOPLE ALWAYS
WELL. The idea that God never allows His people to get sick and does
not want them to seek medical help when they are sick, is against Bible
teaching. Paul told Timothy to drink "...a little wine for thy stomach's
sake and thine often infirmities" 1 Tim. 5:23. Paul did not say "just
have faith" or "the Holy Spirit will heal you." Notice also that Paul left
Trophimus at Miletum sick (2 Tim. 4:20). Why didn't Paul heal Trophimus? The
answer is simple, the power of the Holy Spirit was never for the purpose of just
making sick people well. Even Paul himself had infirmity of the flesh, according
to Gal. 4:13. Why then does the Bible speak of people being physically healed by
the power of God? The answer lies in the purpose behind miracles. Notice John
11:15, "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent
ye may believe." The real motive was to produce faith. Today God's word
produces faith according to Rom. 10:17, "So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God." We do not need miracles today
to produce faith since we have the Bible. But, miracles also confirmed the
truth. Hebrews 2:3-4, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed
unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs
and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to
His own will?" In short, the scripture says that miracles certified the
message by authenticating the messenger. Thus by means of miracles Jesus was
shown to be "...a man approved of God unto you..." - Acts 2:22.
We are told in 2 Cor. 12:12 that Paul's miracles were the "sign of an
apostle." Those today who claim to have power to make sick people well
fail to realize why the apostles healed people in the first century. It was not
just for the purpose of making them well, but served to confirm the word of God
and produce faith in people's hearts and then obedience.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT CAUSE YOU TO FALL AND ROLL AROUND ON THE
GROUND OR INJURE YOURSELF. With many, excitement is the name of the
game. They run, shout, jump church pews, roll on the ground, get dirty and often
injure themselves. Some even teach that rolling on the ground and getting dirty
shows submission to the Holy Spirit. Others claim that rolling and jumping are
actually a sign that the Holy Spirit has come upon them. However, note the
behavior of the Apostles when they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4;
10:44-46), there is no hint of this type of behavior. If we examine such
behavior as it is given in scripture, we learn its true source. In Acts 19:13-16
and Mark 5:1-5 we find people hurting themselves and jumping on others. What
caused them to act in such a way? The Bible says it was an "evil spirit", not
the Holy Spirit.
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT SAVE YOU SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE WORD OF
GOD. Some teach today that the Holy Spirit must work on you from within
before you can be saved. An experience better felt than told. They claim that it
is impossible for a man to come to God unless the Holy Spirit directly calls
him. This teaching has led some to claim they have seen "bright lights," or had
"visions," "heard voices in the night," etc., all of which prove that the Holy
Spirit has called them. However, in the matter of salvation, pardon comes from
and takes place in the mind of God. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will
have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." -
Isaiah 55:7. This being the case, any evidence of pardon must come from God and
not from within ourselves. For me to say that "I have been saved because I saw a
bright light", means nothing since God has said nothing about such an experience
being evidence of my pardon. Hence, the only way I can know that I have been
pardoned is to comply with God's laws that offer pardon.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FROM TEMPTATION, OR KEEP YOU
FROM SINNING WITHOUT YOUR HELP. Some people claim to be immunized from
temptation and sin by the Holy Spirit. And yet many of us know people today who
have in time past claimed the Holy Spirit's leading that are living in sin, some
even serving prison terms. We have Bible accounts of men like Peter and
Barnabas, who received the Holy Spirit, who were tempted and sinned. However,
this did not protect them from sinning. They, as we, have to cooperate with God
by obeying His commands if we are to live above sin. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 9:27,
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by
any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
There is no magical wand that the Holy Spirit waves over people to protect them
from Satan. (See Gal. 2:11-14 for reference.) To so teach is to
mislead people and offer them hope that is false and unfounded.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT COME TO MAKE PEOPLE RICH. There are
some who teach "prosperity doctrines." The idea is that God intends for none of
his children to be poor. The promise of riches lures many of these men and their
false doctrines. People who can ill afford it often send in their last dollars,
believing that their donation will somehow return making them rich. They are
told to "plant a seed of faith." This interprets into "send me some money." The
truth is that the only ones getting rich are the preachers of this false and
misleading doctrine. They prey upon the innocent and unsuspecting. What a
tragedy. Peter spoke of false teachers like these in 2 Peter 2:3, "And
through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..."
These false teachers were motivated by personal gain. They used words
artfully and skillfully forged for the occasion. Many are active in the same
field today. The Holy Spirit did not come to earth to make people rich, and
those who so claim misrepresent God's Word.
May we all respect this third person of the Godhead. May we honor Him for
revealing the blessed word of God, for the fact that He inspired the apostles
and guided them into all truth. To forget these things and ascribe to Him things
that were not a part of His work and mission is to do a great injustice to God,
His word, and the Holy Spirit.