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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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April 25, 1990
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Contents:
1) Miraculous Gifts -- Their Temporary Nature (Part Two) (Tom Edwards)
2) Thoughts from Proverbs (several
selected Bible
passages)
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-1-
Miraculous Gifts -- Their Temporary Nature (Part Two)
by Tom Edwards
Termination Of
Continuing on the theme of the temporary nature of miraculous gifts, we
shall begin our consideration with a passage from 1 Corinthians 13:8;
which states: "Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy,
they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there
is knowledge (supernatural knowledge, T.E.), it will be done away."
Unquestionably, the gifts were temporary. But does the Bible make any
indication or statement as to when they were to cease? The answer is an
unequivocal "yes"; and these proofs are located in a plurality of
passages. One such informative verse is 1 Corinthians 13:10 in which
Paul shows that the duration of miraculous gifts was to continue only
until the time "when that which is perfect is come." In view of this,
we must ask ourselves the following question....
The "Perfect"
What is the "perfect" Paul speaks of that was not present then, but
later would be? Many sincere people today believe that it has reference
to Jesus Christ at His second coming, but verses 9 and 10 indicate that
whatever it was that they then had "in part" they would one day have in
"whole"; and then the "partial" would have been made perfect by the
completion. Therefore, this "partial" they already had was part of the
"perfect" that was to come. Certainly, we would never say that there
has
been a time when Jesus was only partially on this earth, and the world
had to wait for the rest of Him to arrive. Concerning this, Gary
Workman states the following:
"There are some who assume 'that which is perfect' can only come at the
end of the world. So it has been suggested that Jesus, when he comes
again, is 'that which is perfect.' An examination of the Greek in 1
Corinthians 13:10 will reveal that this cannot be true, for it is a
neuter article which modifies the adjective 'perfect' and which tells
us that 'perfect' is also neuter. Jesus Christ is masculine and is
always referred to by masculine terms. He is never spoken of as a thing
but as a person. He is a 'he who,' not a 'that which.' So 'that which
is perfect' cannot be Jesus or any other person."
The pronoun "who" always refers to a person; "that," however, can be
used with reference to either a person or a thing; but the pronoun
"which" can never be used to indicate a person, but only a thing. It
would not be correct to say, "John, which is the best player on the
team, made twelve baskets during the game." Rather, we could say,
"John, who is the best player...." Knowing this grammatical rule helps
us to better interpret the above passage.
Reading from the New American Standard: "For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done
away" (1 Cor. 13:9,10). The prophesying was done little by little.
Gradually, more and more pieces to God's gospel puzzle were
carefully being set in place. As time progressed, the incomplete
picture of God's word finally reached the culmination of its complete
scene. Now man can no longer refer to it as "in part," "partial,"
etc., for it has been fully delivered to
him.
More on the Duration of the Gifts
After Paul makes mention of "when that which is perfect is come," he
then speaks in 1 Corinthians 13:13 of the time that would follow, by
saying: "But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest
of these is love." We can infer from this text that after the
termination of miraculous gifts, faith, hope, and love would still
continue. Many commentators realize this, but make the mistake when
they put faith and hope in heaven. This they are forced to do because
of their misconception that miraculous gifts are to last until Christ
returns. Romans 8:24,25, however, refutes this concept by stating that
"hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he
sees"; and the Hebrew writer defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as "the
assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." When
the faithful child of God finally reaches his glorious destination of
heaven, he will no longer have to believe that it is or earnestly hope
for it; for hope and faith will be swallowed up by sight.
Macknight
also expresses this thought by saying: "The
clause 'now abideth,' implies that the graces spoken of are not always
to abide; at least the graces of faith and hope. For seeing 'faith is
the persuasion of things hoped for,' Heb. 11:1 and 'hope that is seen
is not hope,' Rom. 8:24, in heaven, where all the objects of our faith
and hope are put in our possession, there can be no place for either.
It is quite otherwise with love. The objects of love exist in the
greatest perfection in heaven, and will exist there forever; so that
love will burn in that world, with a delightful warmth and brightness,
to all
eternity."
Defining the "Perfect"
The "that which is perfect" in verse 10 is the completed revelation of
God's word, which would direct every soul in the way of
righteousness. One of the purposes for miraculous gifts was in
order that man could receive and know God's divine revelation; and as
we have seen, this was revealed gradually and not all at once. However,
when it was finally all given to completion there would be no longer
any need for more revelations. Now it is up to man to believe and obey
the inspired word. James refers to it as "the perfect law of liberty"
(James 1:25), and Peter declares that they had "everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him" (2 Pet.
1:3). Paul shows that the gospel has all that we need to
be perfect and thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2 Tim.
3:16,17). This indicates why all "latter day revelations," such as
those by Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, are unscriptural and
without the authority of God. The Lord's word has been "once and for
all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3), and it is found in the New
Testament. If a man today would go beyond the things which are written
in the Scriptures, he would no longer have God and would be accursed (2
Jn. 9: Gal. 1:6-10). We do not have the right to add or take away
from God's perfect revelation which has been graciously and
miraculously given by the special workings of the Holy Spirit. Because
of this Divine Imparting, we now have the message of God's word that
can help all mankind see the way that leads to heaven above.
(to be continued)
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-2-
Thoughts from Proverbs
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger"
(Prov. 15:1).
"All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a
continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than
great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables
where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it" (Prov. 15:15-17).
"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is
quick-tempered exalts folly" (Prov. 14:29).
"My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my
sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the
midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and
health to all their whole body" (Prov. 4:20-22).
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the
bones" (Prov. 16:24).
"Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of
it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly
makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens" (Prov.
23:4,5).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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