Part 1 of 11
Thank God that His Spirit is with us today! What a world of apathy and chaos we would find ourselves in without His glorious Comforter. Sadly, many denominations and Christians cling to the idea that the gifts, ministries and manifestations of the Holy Ghost served only a temporary purpose and are now expired for New Testament believers. This idea is known as Cessationism, and is far more prominent than you might think. However, in discovering what the Bible says about the promise of the Spirit, we have very good reason to believe in the Holy Spirit's present continuation. This holy “Comforter” is promised to abide with us forever, not solely for a special dispensation: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (Jn 14:16). In fact, Paul tells us that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise “until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph 1:14). In other words, we have been given the Holy Ghost and His ministries until the ultimate completion of our salvation (2 Cor 1:10).
In another place Jesus says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (Jn 16:7). Dear cessationists, the Holy Spirit is with us because Jesus has ascended back to His Father. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us. Why then would His ministries and gifts be expired? What good is a gift when it’s taken away as soon as it’s given? Was the early church to be the sole recipient of this promised gift? No. In fact, the book of Acts gives us an accurate account of the lengthiness of the Holy Spirit’s stay upon the earth: “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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). Notice the future tense of this phrase “shall call”. This phrase is the Greek word “proskaleomai”. It means, “To summon; to invite; to call toward oneself”. Have 21st century Christians been summoned, invited and called? Of course we have. Scripture in no way suggests the Holy Spirit is soon to exit the scene. Rather, it implies His earthly presence up until the very end of the age. Nevertheless, an eager Cessationist will proclaim that Peter was referencing the promise of salvation (justification) that is available to “as many as the Lord our God shall call”, and not the promise of the Holy Spirit. However, just a few verses prior, we see Peter define this “promise” as the Holy Ghost: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
Furthermore, this said justification is always preparatory for the Holy Ghost. So why would Peter offer one without the other? Why would he offer salvation without the Holy Spirit too? Galatians informs us of this preparatory nature: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [in order] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; [in order] that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (3:13-14). The “blessing of Abraham” is justification by faith; and why have we been justified? We’ve been justified “in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”. It’s plain and simple: the salvation of Jesus Christ (coupled with the promise of the Holy Spirit) is available to “as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).
With the Holy Ghost, comes His giftings. The gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit are the direct result of our “immersion” into Him: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mk 16:16-18). Notice that the only qualifiers here are belief and obedience (vs. 16). The Lord Jesus did not limit these signs to a dispensational era, and therefore neither should we.
In fact, concerning such spiritual gifts and their lengthy necessitation, Paul writes, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:4-8). Can we not realize the obligation presented here? These gifts are to be recognized in the context of “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” One translation presents it this way: “Therefore, you don't lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”. James Moffatt’s translation is especially helpful here: “Thus you lack no spiritual endowment during these days of waiting till our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed”. Furthermore, the Greek sentence structure of this passage is very useful and important. The present participle is temporal; simultaneous with the present infinitive. The present tenses in both the infinitive and the participle are probably progressive presents. These participles indicate a state of possessing all spiritual gifts and eagerly awaiting. This signifies that the possession of all spiritual gifts continues until this “waiting” is fulfilled . The next verse explains what will happen at the revelation of Jesus Christ: Christ Himself will confirm us, blameless, until the end at His coming. It is interesting that Paul uses the same verb here in First Corinthians 1:8 (bebaioō) as he did in 1:6. This may indicate that means of confirmation to the end is the same as the means by which God confirmed the testimony of Christ among them, through spiritual gifts . Thus, Paul seems to promise that Christ, through spiritual gifts, will progressively strengthen and confirm believers until His second coming. The relationship is quite obvious.
Would to God that His people would allow Scripture to determine truth, never an experiential deficiency.
To be continued...
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