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THE NEW BIRTH
#2
Perry B. Cotham
1912-2013
THE NEW
BIRTH EXPLAINED
I. The Great
Commission of Christ Explains the New birth
During the Lord’s
personal ministry He taught in figures, symbols, and parables; but
after His resurrection He gave plain commands. Before He went back to
Heaven, He said to his apostles: “Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth,
and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned” (Mark 16:15-16). In stating the terms of
salvation upon this occasion, He stated exactly the same truth that He
had announced to Nicodemus early in His public ministry, only this
time, in plain commandments. Mark 16:16 and John 3:5 are identical in
their teaching — they both mean exactly the same thing. For
the sinner today to obtain salvation, he MUST believe AND be baptized.
After the church was
established, the apostles always considered the person who had believed
and had been baptized a Christian.
BELIEVE — BEGOTTEN OF GOD
In every natural birth
there must be the father who does the “begetting.”
In order to have a natural birth, two things are necessary: (1)
begetting, and (2) birth, or deliverance. In the spiritual realm, we
are “begotten” of God, our Father, through the
Gospel, the Spirit’s message; then, after being
“begotten” or made a believer, we are
“born” of water (immersed) according to the
teaching given by the Spirit.
Note these scriptures which
show we are begotten by the Father through the word:
1. “Of
his (God’s) own will begat he us WITH THE
WORD OF TRUTH, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his
creatures” (James 1:18).
2. “Being
born again” (having been BEGOTTEN AGAIN —
ASV), “not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth forever.
... And THIS IS THE WORD WHICH BY THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED UNTO
YOU” (1 Peter 1:23, 25).
3. “For
though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many
fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have BEGOTTEN YOU THROUGH THE
GOSPEL” (1 Cor. 4:15). This means: “have
made you believers by preaching the gospel to you.”
4. “The
seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).
But the Holy Spirit gave
the word of God through inspired men. Therefore, when one is begotten
by the word in believing the Gospel, it may also be said to have been
done by the Holy Spirit. “The WORDS I speak unto
you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John
6:63). To be begotten and to believe are one and the same thing. “Whosoever
BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Christ is BEGOTTEN OF GOD”
(1 John 5:1, ASV) The word (seed) is planted in the heart by hearing.
Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17). Being
begotten by the Spirit through the word is necessary to being born
again.
How is a person begotten by
the Spirit?
By hearing the
Spirit’s voice — the Spirit’s message.
In Paul’s sermon
at Antioch in Pisidia, he spoke of “the voices of
the prophets which are read every Sabbath day”
(Acts 13:27). These people heard the prophets; they heard the VOICES of
the prophets. How? By hearing the law read aloud every Sabbath day in
their synagogues — by hearing the WRITINGS of the prophets.
And so today we hear the voice of the Spirit by hearing the word of God
— the word given by the Spirit through inspired men. This is
the way we hear the Spirit today, and this is the only way we hear His
voice.
The Holy Spirit was given
to the apostles to guide them into all truth, and when they preached,
it was the Spirit’s message. The people heard and believed
— were begotten; and in obedience to the Spirit’s
command, they were baptized (immersed), and thus became the children of
God. “Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed,
and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
After one has been
begotten, he may then be born. “He came unto his
own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God” —
that is, of the will of God (John 1:11-13). When one believes, he has
the power (the right or privilege) to BECOME a son. A person does not
become a child of God (saved) the very MOMENT he believes. If he were
THEN a son, power could not be given him TO BECOME A SON! We are not
saved by “faith only” (James 2:24). The believer
becomes a son when his faith, working by love, leads him to repent and
be baptized as the Holy Spirit commands (Acts 2:38; Gal. 5:6; 3:26-27;
John 14:15; John 12:42-43).
So, when one believes with
the heart that Jesus is the Son of God, he is begotten of God; and when
he is baptized (immersed in water according to the Spirit’s
teaching), he is then “born of water and of the
Spirit.” The new birth is then completed and the
individual is in the family of God.
II. The New Birth is Explained in Acts of the Apostles
The apostles of Christ
explained the new birth in a very simple way in their preaching. When
we study the cases of conversion under the guidance of the apostles, we
learn exactly what the new birth is. One thing is worthy of note
concerning their preaching; namely, when they told sinners what to do
to be saved, they NEVER said: “Ye must be born
again;” but they preached its equivalent. People were told in
PLAIN LANGUAGE how to enter the kingdom. Therefore, the best way to
find the new birth explained, is to go to the divine records in the
book of Acts and learn what sinners did under the preaching of the
apostles.
(1) The Three Thousand On Pentecost
The first example is on the
day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit, on this occasion, came upon
the apostles to guide them into all truth, as the Saviour had promised
(John 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-13; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4). On this day
people were convicted — “pricked in their
heart.” What did the work? The Holy Spirit, but not in a
direct manner. The Bible says, “When they HEARD
THIS they were PRICKED in their heart” (Acts 2:37).
Not when they FELT this, but “WHEN THEY HEARD
THIS.” The Spirit, by the words preached by Peter, made
believers out of them — convinced them that they had taken
the Christ and killed Him, and that God had raised Him from the dead.
Hence, as believers, they cried out, “men and
brethren, what shall we do?” What were they told to
do? Now Peter did not tell them to be born again. He said: “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” (Acts 2:38). He told them in PLAIN LANGUAGE
what to do to enter the kingdom of God. Three thousand obeyed and were
saved. “Then they that gladly received his word
were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). The chapter closes by
saying: “And the Lord ADDED TO THE CHURCH daily
such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
Here is the new birth
explained. The church (kingdom) is now established, and people are told
exactly how to enter into it. The second chapter of Acts is the best
commentary ever written on John 3:5!
ALL COULD have been saved
that day, and WOULD HAVE BEEN, had they done what the three thousand
did. There was no direct operation of the Spirit upon the sinners. The
people did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; it came to the
apostles. The people who were saved received the Spirit’s
MESSAGE when they obeyed the command to repent and be baptized.
Years later, Peter wrote to
Christians scattered “throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1); and
told them they had been “born again” (1 Peter
1:23). In Acts 2:9-10, we read of people being present on Pentecost
from these places Peter mentioned in his letter. These Christians who
had been “born again” were the very people who were
saved on Pentecost. Peter, standing up with the eleven, preached the
word, the first Gospel sermon ever preached — sowed the seed
of the kingdom — and they heard it, believed it, received it
into their hearts, and were “begotten.” When they
cried out to know what to do to be saved, they were told to repent and
be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins; and they
gladly received the word and were baptized. Then years later, Peter
wrote to these Christians: “seeing ye HAVE purified
your SOULS in OBEYING THE TRUTH through the Spirit. ... Being BORN
AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter
1:22-23).
Some claim that the phrase,
“born again,” means “born from
above.” Some translations give it this way. In a sense this
is true. The Gospel, the word by which we are begotten, comes from
above, not from man. The Gospel preached was by “the
Holy Ghost sent down from HEAVEN” (1 Peter 1:12).
The commands to repent and be baptized are from above, not from man;
they are God’s commandments. Therefore, when one hears the
Gospel, believes, repents, and is baptized, he is born from above. The
three thousand on the day of Pentecost were born from above.
(2) The Samaritans
Let us take another example
(Acts 8:5-12). Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ
(the Gospel); the people HEARD, BELIEVED, and were BAPTIZED. “But
WHEN they BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were BAPTIZED, both MEN and
WOMEN.” When these people believed and were
baptized, they were saved (Mark 16:16)! Were they in the kingdom? Yes,
the saved are added to the church, and the church is the kingdom of
Christ. Then they had been born again, born of water and of the Spirit.
Friends, if it took that to
put people into the kingdom THEN, how do you expect to get into the
kingdom by doing LESS than that NOW? Has the law of entrance been
changed?
(3) The Eunuch
A similar story is related
in the same chapter concerning the conversion of the eunuch (Acts
8:26-39). He heard the same old Gospel story, believed it, confessed
his faith in Christ (cf. Rom. 10:10; 1 Tim. 6:12-13), was baptized, and
went on his way rejoicing. See him as he goes down the road —
he is happy! He is now a child of God, a saved man. (The eunuch
rejoiced because of sins forgiven AFTER he was baptized). This is the
new birth explained. Is there anything hard to understand about it?
If the language of John 3
seems to be difficult to understand, then study it in connection with
the plain and easily understood cases of conversion, for after all,
these are but examples of people being “born
again.” The first law of Biblical interpretation is that
“passages which are obscure or difficult to understand must
be interpreted in the light of those scriptures which are clear and
explicit.”
(4) Saul Of Tarsus
Let us take one more
example — Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul. He was on his
way to Damascus to persecute Christians; saw Jesus; was convinced of
his disobedience to the Lord; and in faith cried out, “Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?” Jesus answered, “Arise,
and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou MUST
DO” (Acts 9:6). Saul went to Damascus and for three
days waited to be told what to do (Acts 9:6). Ananias, who knew the
plan of salvation, was sent to him. And to this believing, sorrowing,
praying, penitent man, Ananias said: “And now, why
tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling
on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). As soon as
Ananias came to Paul, the “altar services” (his
praying) ceased, and he arose and was baptized. Ananias told him what
he MUST DO, and he did it. Paul did not obtain forgiveness until he was
baptized. In baptism, his sins were washed away (forgiven) by the blood
of Christ. Years later, Paul wrote in Colossians 1:13-14 —
God “hath delivered US (that included
Paul) from the power of darkness, and hath TRANSLATED US INTO
THE KINGDOM of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (cf. 2 Cor.
5:17; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27).
The Lord appeared to Paul,
not to save him, but to qualify him to be an apostle (Acts 26:16: 1
Cor. 9:1; 15:5-8). Before Paul could be an apostle, he had to see Jesus
after His resurrection. He was saved by obeying the Lord’s
law of pardon, the same law that you must obey if you are ever saved.
Summary
In all the cases of
conversion, we do not read that it took a direct operation of the
Spirit to convert ONE sinner. The people were converted by the power of
God’s word, the Gospel. It is true that many were not
converted, but it was not because of some power withheld; it was
because of their own decision in the matter. The people that were saved
heard the word, believed, repented, confessed their faith in Christ,
and were baptized. This put them into the kingdom of God. This is the
way we enter the kingdom today!
WE HAVE LEARNED, THEREFORE,
THAT:
1. We are begotten of God
by the word. (James 1:18)
2. The Holy Spirit has
given the word. (John 15:26; 1 Peter 1:12)
3. The word is the seed of
the kingdom. (Luke 8:11)
4. By the word, sinners are
begotten. (1 Cor. 4:15)
5. We are begotten when we
believe. (1 John 5:1; Rom. 10:17)
6. Then when we are
baptized — brought forth from the water — according
to the Spirit’s instructions, we are “born of water
and of the Spirit.”
7. When we are
“born again,” we are in the kingdom, saved,
pardoned, a new creature, a child of God, a Christian.
Please note these
scriptures relative to entrance into the kingdom:
1. John 3:5 —
born again, enter the kingdom.
2. Matt. 18:3 —
converted, enter the kingdom.
3. Matt. 7:21 —
Do God’s will, enter the kingdom.
If one cannot understand “born
of water and of the Spirit,” then maybe he can
understand “conversion.” It is the same thing, for
it brings the same results — entrance into the kingdom. If
“conversion” (a sinner turning to the Lord) cannot
be understood, then doing the will of God can be. This is the same;
this also results in entrance into the kingdom. A person cannot be a
citizen of the kingdom who does not obey the will of God. All three are
equal to the same thing, and must, therefore, be equal to each other.
-------------------------------------------------------------
|
We have three books available for free:
- A 24 page book by Perry B. Cotham (1912-2013) on “The New
Birth” [How And When One Is Born Again], (Printed in the June, July & August 2023 issues of STOP.
- A 69 page book by W. N. (Bill) Jackson (1929-1991), “That
Ye May Grow Thereby.” For new converts.
- An 80 page book by Tom House, “Fundamentals of the Gospel Plan of
Salvation.”
All three of these books are great
evangelistic tools. Get some and pass them around (while supplies
last). Send your request to:
Seek The Old Paths
PO Box 7506
McMinnville, TN 37111
|
Table of Contents
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WATER BAPTISM
Garland M. Robinson
Some would have 1
Corinthians 12:13 say that all who believe are baptized with the Spirit
into the body of Christ.
First Corinthians 12:13
says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
This verse does not say one
is baptized into the Spirit or baptized by the Spirit or baptized with
the Spirit. What it says is that men are “baptized into one
body.” The instruction to be baptized is given by the Spirit
(just as all instructions in the Bible are given by the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit). 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says: “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works.” Also, 2 Peter 1:20-21 says, “that
no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Whether Old Testament or
New Testament, the Scriptures were not given by man’s
interpretation, opinion, thinking or ideas. These verses have nothing
to do with how one interprets the Bible. They have to do with
“how” the Scriptures came about. They reveal to us
the “source” of the Scriptures. The Scriptures were
given by “holy men of God” as they were inspired by
the Holy Spirit to write. Their written words (Scriptures) were
infallible because they were not their own words. They were words given
them by the inspiration of the holy Spirit.
Sinners who believe
in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of their sins
(Acts 17:30), confess that Jesus is the Son of God
(Acts 8:37), are then baptized into the one body (church) of
Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:38). The
“body” is the church of Christ (Col. 1:18). The
“church” is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). HOW
does one become a member of the body, the church? By being baptized
into it (Rom. 6:3, “baptized into Jesus
Christ”). WHEN does one become
a member of the church? When one puts Christ on in baptism (Gal. 3:27, “for
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ”).
Baptism (and all that we
know and do) is made known by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit inspired men to speak and write the Scriptures. According
to the teaching/instruction of the Spirit, a sinner is baptized into
the one body. When one is baptized in water, he/she becomes a member of
the body of Christ —the body of the saved (Eph. 5:23).
During Peter’s
sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, he revealed to the audience
that God had declared Jesus to be both Lord and Christ (v.36). “Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we
do? 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. ... And with many
other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from
this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-38, 40-42). When they
were baptized, the Lord added them to the body/church of Christ (Acts
2:41,47). That does not happen WHEN one believes, or WHEN one repents,
or WHEN one confesses faith in Jesus. If so, where is the Scripture
that says that? There’s not one. However, the Scriptures do
say that God adds those who are baptized to the body of Christ, the
church, the saved (Acts 2:41,47).
As the waters of the flood
saved the eight people on board the ark from the destruction beneath
its waves, “...baptism doth also now save
us” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism has nothing
to do with washing the body of flesh, but it has everything to do with
washing one’s soul/spirit. Baptism is the “answer
of a good conscience toward God.” That is, when a
sinner, from the heart, obeys the commands of the Spirit to be baptized
(Acts 2:38; 10:48), he is “THEN made free from
sin” and becomes a “servant of
righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18). Water baptism is the
“form of doctrine” that
was delivered to them (in verses 3-6); therefore, when they obeyed that
doctrine by being baptized, they were made free from sin. A sinner is
immersed in water and a child of God is raised from the water.
Salvation is IN Christ, not
outside of Christ (2 Tim. 2:10). “Therefore if any
man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
One’s old life of sin is done away and a new life begins.
That is the purpose of water baptism.
The baptism spoken of in 1
Corinthians 12:13 reminds those who are Christians that they were
baptized into one body —the body/church of Christ. This is
done according to the teaching of the Spirit. The brethren at Corinth
had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it was limited
to only a few. It was given to the apostles (Acts 2:1-4) to enable them
to preach by divine inspiration. It was given at the house of Cornelius
to prove to Peter that God accepts the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35, 44-48).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit had not occured since the day of
Pentecost and never occured again after Acts 10.
The baptism mentioned in 1
Cor. 12:13 is for everyone who desires to have forgiveness of sins and
be added to the body of the saved (Acts 2:38,41,47; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter
3:20-21; Eph. 5:23). Water baptism was instituted in Acts 2 and will
continue till the end of the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).
That cannot be said of Spirit baptism. It was temporary, limited to
only a few, and never made one a Christian. Water baptism is permanent,
for all humanity, and makes one a Christian.
Acts 8 provides a good
example of water baptism and shows that it does not include Spirit
baptism; nor the ability to work miracles (v.16). Philip went to
Samaria and preached Christ unto them. “...When
they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of
God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women” (v.12). At their baptism their sins were
washed away (Acts 2:38; 22:16; cf. Rom. 6:17-18). It was not until
Peter and John (apostles) came and laid hands on them that “they
received the Holy Ghost” (vs.14-19). It was only
through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the Holy
Spirit was given which enabled them to work miracles (vs.17-19).
Ephesians 4:5 says there is
“ONE BAPTISM.” If, as some say, there is
“spirit baptism” and there is “water
baptism,” then that makes two baptisms. But,
there’s only one. You can’t have both. Jesus
commanded the apostles to go into all the world and “teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt.
28:19-20). The command to teach and baptize is to be practiced
“unto the end of the world.” Was it
“Spirit” baptism or “water”
baptism that Jesus commanded the apostles in the great commission? It
was water baptism. Therefore, water baptism is the one baptism we read
about in Ephesians 4:5.
Read Ephesians 4:4-6:
How many BODIES are there?
ONE.
How many SPIRITS are there?
ONE.
How many HOPES are there?
ONE.
How many LORDS are there?
ONE.
How many FAITHS are there?
ONE.
How many BAPTISMS are
there? ONE.
How many GODS are there?
ONE
Why do people believe and
say there are many bodies, many hopes, many faiths and many baptisms;
and at the same time say there is only one Spirit, one Lord, one God?
God calls all men to be
saved, not just some men. The whole world is called to be saved by the
Gospel. Second Thessalonians 2:14 tells us HOW God calls men. He calls
sinners by the GOSPEL, the teaching of the Gospel, not a mysterious
experience. Regarding this point Jesus said, “No
man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and
I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And
they shall be all taught of God. Every man
therefore that hath heard, and hath learned
of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45).
Table of Contents
THE
SAMARITAN WOMAN:
AN EVANGELISM MODEL
Scott Richards
We need to take full advantage
of the excitement that new converts have to bring their friends and
family to Christ.
While reading through the
account of Jesus’ interactions with the Samaritan woman at
Jacob’s well (John 4:3-43), it occurred to me that it gives a
blueprint for evangelism. Several important aspects of God’s
plan to redeem man are demonstrated as well as some examples of how to
go about bringing people to Christ.
Evangelism is not
limited to any particular race, nationality or tribe. We
cannot allow any personal prejudices to limit the scope of our efforts.
Jesus talking with this woman powerfully demonstrates God’s
desire for “all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). By speaking
to a Samaritan Jesus breaks social and ethnic barriers. As she said, “Jews
have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). When
His disciples returned they, “marveled that he
talked with a woman” (John 4:27). God’s
grace, only found in the Christ, is available to all people. Later at
Cornelius’ house, Peter proclaimed, “Of a
truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every
nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
him” (Acts 10:34-35). The great commission leaves
no place for racism or prejudice.
Jesus took a
common physical need and used it to begin a conversation about the
spiritual need of this woman. He said, “If
thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me
to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee
living water” (John 4:10). While she failed to
understand at first, she soon realized she was speaking with the
Messiah. How often do we speak with people we don’t know and
never say anything about Jesus or his church? How many times do we fail
to sow a small seed that could develop into a personal Bible study with
someone? Jesus demonstrates for us how to turn a physical conversation
into a spiritual discussion and perhaps a Bible study will result.
Everyone is
subject to the Gospel. Have you ever prejudged a
person’s receptivity based upon what you knew about them?
Unlike our Lord, when we meet someone new, we do not know their
spiritual condition. The woman at the well was in a spiritual mess.
Jesus knew all about the turmoil and trauma she experienced in life
—five husbands and currently with another man! We might be
inclined to give up on her without saying a word. God did not give up
on David when he sinned with Bathsheba, nor did He give up on Saul when
he stood by and held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. By reaching
out to the Samaritan woman Jesus shows us that His redeeming blood can
cleanse a person who seems hopelessly mired in sin —if they
will repent and obey the Gospel.
The zeal of this woman
resulted in many additional believers. After recognizing that Jesus was
the much anticipated Messiah, she promptly forgets everything else,
leaves her water pot and rushes back to the city to tell others about
Jesus. Her excitement was contagious and as a result the men of the
city came out to meet Jesus themselves. They wanted to see if what the
woman was saying was true. While “...many of the
Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman,
which testified, He told me all that ever I did. ... many more believed
because of his own word” (John 4:39-41). There is a
lesson in this for us. We need to take full advantage of the excitement
that new converts have to bring their friends and family to Christ.
Our task is to do
the will of God. After returning with food His disciples say
to Jesus, “Master eat,” but our
Lord replies, “...I have meat to eat that ye know
not of. ... my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to
finish his work” (John 4:31-34). The disciples
exhibit the human preoccupation with the physical when they ask, “Hath
any man brought him ought to eat?” Jesus responds, “Say
not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I
say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are
white already to harvest” (John 4:35).
Our Lord’s work
was to “...seek and to save that which was
lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus’ work on earth
was finished by His death, His burial and resurrection. We carry on His
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“this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the
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Table of Contents
MIRACULOUS
GIFTS
I CORINTHIANS CHAPTER TWELVE
Jon Gary Williams
It should be understood that
miraculous gifts no longer exist, as well as the baptismal measure of
the Holy Spirit given to the apostles. All such miraculous powers
ceased with the passing of the apostles and the arrival of what Paul
called, “that which is perfect.”
Chapters twelve, thirteen
and fourteen of I Corinthians, have to do with properly understanding
the purpose of miraculous gifts. Chapter twelve lists these
gifts, chapter thirteen tells of their duration,
and chapter fourteen tells how not to abuse them,
with emphasis given to misusing the gift of speaking in foreign
languages.
The spirit of divisiveness,
which permeates Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church,
can be clearly seen in chapter twelve. Among the members there was envy
over the relative importance of the miraculous gifts. Paul exposes the
erroneous idea that some gifts were more important than others. Pride
over possessing certain gifts had created contention and was harming
the unity of the spiritual body of Christ.
No doubt, the purpose of
these spiritual gifts was being overlooked. Some were making the claim
their gifts were more important. The apostle’s message was
for them to put away such nonsense. All of these gifts were important,
no matter how less essential some may have appeared to be. Paul reminds
them that though the gifts were diversified they all had a place to
fill, having come by means of the same Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:5,6,11).
It should be understood
that these miraculous gifts no longer exist, as well as the baptismal
measure of the Holy Spirit given to the apostles. All such miraculous
powers ceased with the passing of the apostles and the arrival of what
Paul called, “that which is perfect” (1 Cor.
13:8-10). The “perfect” thing was God’s
final word to man, the “perfect law of liberty”
(James 1:25; 2:12).
WHAT WERE THESE GIFTS?
In the first century church
there was a need for the use of special powers. From the very beginning
the apostles exercised miraculous “signs” which
helped in “confirming the word” they were
proclaiming (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).
After the church was
established, the ability to perform such miraculous powers was passed
on to others by the “laying on of the apostles’
hands.” In Acts chapter six the apostles laid their hands on
seven men, among whom were Stephen and Philip. We then read that
Stephen, “did great wonders and miracles among the
people” (Acts 6:8). Later we also see Philip
performing miracles. “And the people with one
accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and
seeing the miracles which he did” (Acts 8:6). Also,
we read that after Paul had laid his hands on twelve new converts, “they
spake with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).
And, we also see how Simon was convinced that only through the laying
on of the apostles’ hands could the Holy Spirit be given
(Acts 8:18-19). These gifts were, of course, given to various, limited
members of the church.
Paul’s list of
miraculous gifts is found in three short verses (1 Cor. 12:8-10).
Following is a brief rendering of each one.
(1) WORD OF WISDOM
Notice, this was not merely
“wisdom,” but, “word of
wisdom.” A preferred rendering would be, “a spoken
utterance” of wisdom, which came by the direct influence of
the Holy Spirit. One possessing this gift could reveal and speak new
inspired truths. And, it is likely this wisdom played a role in the
composing of the writings of the New Testament. Peter speaks to this by
saying that the inspired writings of Paul were the result of, “the
wisdom given unto him” (1 Peter 3:15-16). In
Jerusalem, Jewish antagonists disputed Stephen’s preaching.
Luke records, “...they were not able to resist the
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts
6:10).
(2) WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
As above, notice this is
not merely “knowledge,” but “word of
knowledge.” Again, a preferred rendering would be,
“a spoken utterance” of knowledge, coming by the
direct influence of the Holy Spirit. This was the ability to know
(perceive) inspired truths and to explain those truths. This could
include, for example, the ability to explain messages of the Old
Testament, and also the ability to identify and verify the inspired
writings of the New Testament as they were being written and received.
(3) FAITH
Obviously, this was more
than the faith by which Christians daily walk. Rather it was faith that
showed special, amazing visible results. Paul spoke of such faith, in
this instance a faith that could move mountains (1 Cor. 13:2; see Matt.
21:21). This miraculous faith would be seen as a wonder-working belief,
a belief so strong that observers would find the results difficult to
comprehend. It appears to demonstrate a special endowment of confidence
in God. Compare also Mark 9:23.
(4) GIFTS OF HEALING
Notice that the word
“gifts” is plural, involving a wide range of the
miraculous healing of diseases and injuries. The book of Acts records
several such cases of healing, in these instances by the apostles. In
Jerusalem Peter and John healed a man lame from birth (Acts 3:2-11).
And at Malita, Paul healed a man of dysentery (Acts 28:8).
(5) WORKING OF MIRACLES
Reaching into a broader
area, it seems that “miracles” included much more
than the gift of healing. Stephen is said to have performed “great
wonders and miracles” (Acts 6:8). This, no doubt,
would include raising the dead. Paul restored life to the young man
Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10) and Peter restored life to Tabitha (Acts
20:36-40). This could also include special miracles, such as items
brought from Paul’s body and taken to heal people from
diseases and to cast out demons (Acts 19:11-12), or not being harmed by
the bite of a deadly serpent (Acts 28:3-6), or the blinding of Elymas
the sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11).
(6) PROPHECY
This category of prophecy
is not the same as the work of the prophets associated with the
apostles as part of the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:29). Agabus is
such an example (Acts 11:28; 21:10-11). Though the gift of
“prophecy” was not as eminent as the prophesying of
the prophets, yet, it endowed its receivers with the power to foretell
future events. The purpose of this gift was to encourage believers and
to convince unbelievers of the Christian system. Such prophesying was
foretold by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18). The
evangelist Philip is said to have had four daughters who possessed this
gift (Act 21:9). At Corinth, those who possessed this gift were
admonished to be orderly in speaking in their assemblies (1 Cor.
14:29-33).
(7) DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
This was the gift by which
one could discern false claims of miracles, and expose those who used
such “miracles” to promote false doctrines. With
this gift one could determine whether a doctrine was genuine or
counterfeit. The apostle John addressed the issue of exposing such
false prophets (1 John 4:1). This reminds us of Old Testament passages
showing how to deal with corrupt prophets (Deut. 18:22; Jer. 23:16).
(8) TONGUES
The gift of tongues was
foretold in the Old Testament (Isa. 18:11; 1 Cor. 14:21). The word
“tongues” simply means languages. Those with this
gift could fluently speak languages in which they had not been
educated. Such an ability would, of course, astound the hearers. This
was evident on the day of Pentecost when the apostles spoke in the
languages of more than a dozen nations (Acts 2:4-8).
Apparently, at times in
their assemblies, one with this gift might begin speaking in a foreign
language. When this occurred it would have been needful for one with
the gift of interpretation to interpret those words. But if no one was
present with the gift of interpretation, it would be confusing, and
especially so if non-believers were present.
In view of this, Paul
cautioned the Corinthians about the proper use of tongues. He explained
to them that tongue speaking was not for their own benefit, but was
primarily for helping to convert the unbeliever. Rather, it was
prophesying (preaching) which was most beneficial in their assemblies
(1 Cor. 14:22-23). Paul also reminded them that those who spoke in
“tongues” should do so in an orderly manner. He
stressed that if there was no one present to interpret these words they
should remain silent (1 Cor. 14:27-28).
(9) INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
There were probably many
instances when, in various assemblies, one with the gift of speaking in
tongues, would begin speaking in a language some could not understand.
This made it necessary for one who had the gift of interpreting
tongues, to immediately interpret what was being spoken. This would
remove unnecessary confusion. Also, this gift was a valuable tool in
helping spread the Gospel to the lost of different nations.
ADDENDUM
As mentioned, the apostles
possessed all these gifts. Paul, for example, said he had the gift of
speaking in tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of knowledge, and
the gift of faith (1 Cor. 13:1-2). No doubt, having received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit, the power the apostles possessed far
exceeded that of others (Acts 1:5; 2:4).
jongaryw@aol.com
www.jongarywilliams.com
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