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Miraculous Gifts Exist Today? If Not, Why Not? Introduction: A. In our last
study we noted that the Bible describes differing “measures” of the
Spirit. 1. Jesus (and Jesus alone) was given “the Spirit without
measure” (John 3:31-35; 1:32-34; Col1 :19). 2. The apostles were
provided a “baptismal measure” of the Spirit (Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; John
14:26). 3. Others enjoyed a “laying on of the apostles’ hands
measure” of the Spirit (Acts 8:12-19; 19:1-7). B. In 1 Corinthians 12,
Paul describes miraculous spiritual gifts in detail (12:1-11). 1. These
“manifestations of/he Spirit” were given “for the common
good” (12:7). 2. ‘These are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who
apportions to each… as he wills” (12:11). C. This led us conclusively
to a recognition of certain “limitations” of the measures of the
Spirit. 1. Jesus, who had “the Spirit without measure,” baptized
the apostles with the Spirit. 2. The apostles could impart gifts of the
Spirit through “the laying on” of their hands. 3. No Biblical
record exists of those “laid hands on” being able to pass along the
Spirit to others. D. Which is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:31,
“And I will show you a still more excellent way. I. Love: The Still More
Excellent Way (1 Cor 13) A. 13:1-3: the exercise of any spiritual gift is in
the absence of love. B. 13:4-7: the fundamental of love. C. 13:8-13: the (and
thereby the superiority) of love. 1. “As for prophecies, they will pass
away” (13:8a; Prov 30:5) .2. “As for tongues, they will cease”
(13:8b; Isa 55:10-11). 3. “As for knowledge (12:8), it will pass
away” (13:8c; Luke 16:17). 4. “For we know in part and we prophesy
in part … n ( 13:9). a. “In part” – ek (in, of) merous (part,
share, district). b. Paraphrase: “via miraculous knowledge and prophecy,
we have a portion of the whole. “5. “…but when the perfect comes,
the partial will pass away” (13:10) . a. liThe perfect” – to
teleion (the mature, the full, the complete). b. Paraphrase: “when the
completion is realized, the portions will be done away with.” 6. The age
of miraculous spiritual gifts was a kind of “childhood” era for the
church (13:11-13). II. Miraculous Spiritual Gifts in the Larger (Historical)
Context A. Remember, no record exists of those “laid hands on”
being able to pass along the Spirit to others. B. What happened when those
people passed away? Miraculous spiritual gifts passed away as well. |
