Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts
THESE “spiritual gifts,” or gifts of the Spirit of God, are especially set forth in Rom. 12: 6-8; 1 Cor. 12: 8-10, 28, 29; Eph. 4: 8-13. These gifts and offices may be named, as follows: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, interpretation of tongues, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, faith, ministry, exhortation, giving, etc. We are expressly told that “God hath set,” fixed, placed, appointed, these gifts “in the church.” See 1 Cor. 12: 18, 28. Yet notwithstanding all that is said we are told that God set them in the church immediately to take them away; and to support this, 1 Cor. 13: 8-10 is quoted: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” But the perfect will not come until Christ shall appear, and His church is complete. Note the following Scripture passages, which show who gave the gifts, what they are, what their purpose, and for how long: Who gave the gifts?—“Wherefore He saith, When He [Christ] ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Eph. 4: 8. What are the most important of these gifts?—“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Verse 11. For what purpose?—“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ.” Verse 12. For how long were they given?—“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Verse 13. The saints are not yet perfected, the work of the ministry is not yet done, the body—the church—still needs building up; for the perfect man is not yet come, nor will he come till the appearing of Jesus Christ. What then?—The gifts are now needed, and the true church should possess them.