Topic : Gifts, spiritual, cf. spiritual gifts

With the rise of the current Charismatic Movement there is a new interest in the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Such desire for knowledge is certainly good and commendable, however for many this has meant a deviation from the teachings of Scripture on what have come to be called the “supernatural gifts of the Spirit” (miracles, healings, tongues and their interpretation). The historic Doctrinal Statement of Scofield Memorial Church clearly states that we believe that these particular gifts were temporary in nature (Article XII, paragraph 3). The intent of this position paper is to expand on this statement in an attempt to help those in our fellowship to better understand our stance as the elders of our church in these most crucial and significant days.

At various times in history, God employed supernatural signs and miracles to accompany the message being given by His messengers. The purpose of these miracles was twofold: to draw special attention to the message, for it was, in most cases, new, or stronger than the one given before; and to authenticate the speaker. The miracles, and the special power given men to effectuate them, were not the focus of the message; they were secondary, simply intended to draw attention to the spoken words and to validate the speaker as God’s chosen representative.

Likewise the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ—salvation solely through faith in Him—was new in that it centered men’s relationship with God on Jesus Himself—the Son of God, our Advocate, God as Man. In the same way His promise of the Holy Spirit as our Helper—God in us—required such abandonment of current Jewish thought that Christ’s ministry and that of the apostles were supported by continuous miracles—supernatural healings, speaking in unknown languages, sudden death—designed by God to promote His truth and lead witnesses to a saving faith in Christ.

At the moment of salvation when the believing person is baptized into the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit gives to every believer one or more gifts, God-given abilities for service as He chooses (1 Cor. 12:11). However we believe certain of these gifts were temporary, and were used of God to authenticate the gospel to the first century church and, in the process, to establish the biblical canon. Today, having a completed canon which provides for the full knowledge of God, these temporary gifts are no longer necessary to reveal God’s truth or to validate the speaker, and they are thus not a part of the believer’s normal life. At the same time, other gifts endure to equip believers for service and to edify the whole church body.

Some of the gifts described in the New Testament were foundations to the beginning of the church: the unique ministry of the apostles and prophets in bringing direct revelation from God (Eph. 2:19-22). Other gifts are evidently permanent or enduring throughout the history of the church and are especially directed toward edification and enablement for worship and service. The list of such gifts which follows with brief definitions demonstrates the diversity of capabilities distributed among believers for mutual edification, care, and direction. The very nature of these gifts precludes any intention to exalt the gifts, but emphasizes humble service to the saints and communication of the gospel to the lost (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 4:10,11).

1. Apostolic: In a specific sense, the term apostle has reference to the 12 disciples of Jesus; in a general sense, it may have reference to those who are sent by God with the supernatural ability to proclaim the gospel and plant churches as pioneer missionaries (Eph. 4:11).

2. Prophecy: In a specific sense, a prophet was one who received direct revelation from God and gave it to others with supernatural power (in this sense this gift is no longer active with the completion of the canon of Scripture). In a general sense, it is the supernatural ability to interpret the authoritative Word and to proclaim the truth so that it becomes very clear, vital, and compelling (preaching) (Eph. 4:11; Rom 12:6).

3. Evangelism: The supernatural ability to present the gospel with exceptional clarity and effectiveness to the unsaved so they respond with saving faith (Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5).

4. Pastoring: The supernatural capacity to provide spiritual leadership, nurture, and protection for God’s people in the fellowship of the church (Eph. 4:11).

5. Teaching: A supernatural ability to explain and apply God’s truths which have already been received by the church (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28,30).

6. Knowledge: The supernatural ability to perceive and systematize the great facts which God has hidden in His Word (1 Cor. 12:8).

7. Wisdom: A supernatural ability to put the insights of knowledge to work in the application of knowledge to specific situations (1 Cor. 12:8).

8. Exhortation: The supernatural ability to come along side of another or to draw close in time of need with counsel and encouragement, and to appeal to believers in an unusual way for action and change in their lives (Rom. 12:8).

9. Serving: The supernatural ability to perform with joy any task in such a way that it strengthens and encourages others spiritually (Rom. 12:7).

10. Helps: The supernatural ability to bring immediate support and assistance to another in order to relieve a pressing burden (1 Cor. 12:28).

11. Showing Mercy: The supernatural ability to cheerfully show practical and compassionate love to relieve the physical suffering of the lowly, the sick and the aged (Rom. 12:8).

12. Giving: The supernatural ability to joyfully and generously share one’s material resources without selfish motives as the Holy Spirit give opportunities (Rom. 12:8).

13. Leadership: The supernatural ability to rule or direct a work or church for the Lord (Rom. 12:8).

14. Organization: The supernatural ability to give vision and direction toward the accomplishment of specific goals ( 1 Cor. 12:28).

15. Hospitality: The supernatural ability to entertain strangers and friends so that they feel welcome and edified (Rom. 12:13; Titus 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:2).

16. Faith: The supernatural ability to believe God for the supply of great needs, to see what needs to be done, and to believe that God will do it even though it looks impossible (1 Cor. 12:9).

17. Discerning of spirits: The supernatural ability to distinguish between truth and error and sense the true motives of a person (1 Cor. 12:9).

The believer who follows Christ in an attitude of humble submission to the teaching and direction of the Spirit is “filled” or controlled by the Spirit and exercises these gifts with lasting benefits to the body of Christ. Such a Spirit-filled life is a command for all believers (Eph. 5:18).

Of the spiritual gifts mentioned specifically in the New Testament at least four seem to be temporary in nature: (1) tongues, the supernatural ability to speak in a known language which is unlearned (1 Cor. 12:10,29); (2) the interpretation of tongues, the supernatural ability to understand a person speaking in a known language which is unlearned (1 Cor. 12:10,30); (3) miracles, the supernatural ability to perform miraculous acts (1 Cor. 12:28,29); and (4) healings, the supernatural ability to heal any and all diseases (1 Cor. 12:9,28,29). Interestingly, in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, it is these same four temporary gifts that are emphasized as being most significant in God’s program for every believer today. Since God is unchanging in His person and power, He certainly could bestow any of the gifts upon an individual believer as He might choose, but the Scriptures are clear that these temporary gifts are not considered to be the norm in God’s purposes for today.

Five lines of evidence lead us to the conclusion that certain gifts were temporary in their nature.

1. The evidence of the New Testament writers. Hebrews 2:3-4 indicates that these miraculous gifts were given to confirm the apostolic messengers and the message of salvation in Christ, and that this purpose was completed in the life-time of the twelve apostles. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 indicates that certain gifts were temporary in nature and would cease, in contrast to God’s love which is eternal.

2. The evidence of Old Testament history. It is a fundamental assumption of the Charismatic movement that miraculous gifts are to be expected today because they existed in the early church. The history of the Old Testament clearly reveals that miraculous gifts were not always present, and in fact were evident in only two time periods (Moses, and Elijah and Elisha).

3. The evidence of the Book of Acts. Miraculous gifts appear on the biblical scene only during periods of prophecy and/or revelation. With the close of the canon of Scripture, the completion of the New Testament revelation, we would expect the cessation of the miraculous gifts.

4. The evidence of church history. The testimony of history is that certain miraculous gifts ceased with the passing of the apostolic age. For example, the gift of tongues. In the first three centuries after the apostolic age there are but two references to this gift. There are accounts of individual speaking in ecstatic utterances, but not of believers displaying the New Testament gift of tongues (i.e. the supernatural ability to speak in another language without having previously studied that language).

5. The evidence of the nature and purpose of the temporary gifts. For example, the gift of tongues was given as a sign to unbelieving Israel (1 Cor. 14:20-22) before God’s judgment upon the nation in 71 A.D.

God never changes, though His methods of communicating with men do. Some of His methods were temporary—they ended as abruptly as they started. But this in no way limits God from performing miracles in the church today, including those exercised in the form of gifts in the first century, for nothing is impossible with God (Lk. 1:37). In reality all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and supernatural in nature. As believers today we would be wise to concentrate on discovering which of the permanent gifts God has given unto us, and then faithfully developing and exercising those gifts in our daily service for the Lord.

- Approved by the Board of Elders January 14, 1993.

The Constitution, Doctrinal Statement and Position Statements of Scofield Memorial Church, As Amended to December 18, 1995.

Ed McManus, editor of The Jokesmith newsletter, has put out a booklet of humor about folks in human resources. It’s called What is a Human Resource? and in it he explains how people get assigned to particular jobs.

You leave them in a conference room for four hours. Then, you go back to see what they’re doing.

• If they don’t look up when you enter the room, assign them to the Security Department.
• If they’re counting the butts in the ashtray, put them in Finance.
• If they’ve taken the table apart, put them in Engineering.
• If they’re screaming and waving their arms, send them off to Manufacturing.
• And if they’ve left early, put them in Sales.

Bits & Pieces, March 4, 1993, p. 10