Apostle Paul is sharing herein how the body of Christ church should operate when the saints assemble. In I Corinthians 12-14, Paul further elaborates on how His church should come together -- ensuring that every one who believes has an opportunity to participate. And yes, let all things be done unto edifying.
In John 4, Jesus tells a man named Nicodemus -- a Pharisees and ruler of the Jews -- about salvation. Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night, and asks, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him." (John 3:1-2)
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus saith unto him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, "Ye must be born again." The wind blows where it lists, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8)
Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel, and know not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:9-21)
Interestingly, Jesus had to reprove Nicodemus -- a ruler of the Jews -- "and ye know not these things? If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you [of] heavenly things?" This is a good question -- one that we should all take note of.
You see, Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but rather that the world through Him might be saved. He told Nicodemus (and you and I too) that we need to be born again. And in so doing, we need to come to the Light -- Jesus is the Light that has come into the world -- and believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins.
Therefore, the first lesson herein is that we must be born again! If we read further, we see that we must be born of BOTH the water and the Spirit.
Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:5-7)
This is the same message Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) preached to the first 3,000 souls saved on the new testament side -- after the cross. That is, we must first repent and be water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38; 2:36-41) We see this same message preached throughout the new testament. Everyone who repented and believed on Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords went onto be water baptized in the precious, holy name of the Lord Jesus -- becoming clothed in His righteousness. Not as works (as some religious would have us believe) but as an answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 3:21) Buried with Him in death and arising out of the water with Him like unto the resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)
"Marvel not that I say unto thee -- ye must be born again!"
By now, you may be wondering about the gift of the Holy Ghost? As Peter said, " ... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!" (Acts 2:38) The Comforter that Jesus spoke of -- that could not come before Jesus ascended. (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3)
On the Day of Pentecost, when the risen Jesus through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen, we see the Holy Ghost poured out like a rushing wind. (Acts 1:2-3; Acts 2:1-4)
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
There came a sound like the rushing wind, just as Jesus had previously told Nicodemus. What was this sound? It was the Spirit of the Lord speaking through the believers in the upper room. Just like Jesus said would happen to everyone that is born of the Spirit. Just as the prophecy in Joel had earlier proclaimed would happen.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions ..." (Joel 2:28-29)
When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the men heard them speaking in their own language ... as they began to speak with other tongues (Acts 2:4, 7-8, 11) Scripturally, this aligns with Acts 10:46 wherein those who believed and were water baptized in the precious, holy name of the Lord Jesus did speak with tongues AND magnify God and similarly, Acts 19:6 when they spake with tongues AND prophesied! Note the dual component -- which also occurred in Acts 2, when every man heard them preaching in their own language.
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:3-4)
Let's not stop here.
"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, "What means this?" Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." (Acts 2:5-13)
"And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"
Indeed, the men heard them preaching the wonderful works of God in their OWN language. Before continuing, it is important to note that apostle Paul writes of both tongues of men and of angels in I Corinthians 13 - the charity chapter. It is also critical to understand that these speaking in tongues also preached the good news -- again, consistent with those water baptized in Acts 10:44-48 and Acts 19:1-5.
Taking this further -- we understand from Paul’s writings in I Corinthians 12 - that he would not have us spiritually ignorant when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, wherein the Lord gives "severally" as He will. (I Corinthians 12:11)
“... to another [diverse] kinds of tongues" -- which aligns with the tongues of men and of angels. (I Corinthians 13:1) And the confirming scripture -- “diversities of tongues" (I Corinthians 12:28)
But there are some who would have us believe that receiving the gift of tongues is the beginning and ending of our faith journey. That once we have spoken in a heavenly language, our salvation is secure and thus, there is no need to seek further the Lord's purpose for our life. In so doing, many who believe have sadly not moved forward in the Lord after receiving the gift of tongues. It is in this context and to offer clarity that we continue -- with the intent of stirring up the gift(s) that are within us.
First, it should be noted that if the Lord only intended for His people to speak in tongues, there would be no further guidance offered. But as we see from I Corinthians 12:30 - “Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” If we answer yes to the question, "do all speak in tongues?"- then should we not also answer yes to “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?” in I Corinthians 12:29?
But as the scriptures further state, we are to covet earnestly the “best” gifts (I Corinthians 12:31) In I Corinthians 14:5, apostle Paul states, “I would that ye all spake with tongues ...” From this scripture alone, is Paul suggesting that not everyone will speak in tongues? This is an question few want to explore because it would mean we would have to desire spiritual gifts - plural - so the Lord could give to us “dividing to every man “severally” as He will (I Corinthians 12:11)
Severally -- as in more than one.
Moreover, Paul says that he would rather we prophesied - for greater is he that prophesied than he that speaks with tongues (I Corinthians 14:5) In I Corinthians 14:21 Paul writes “with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people ...” - a study in and of itself aligning with the law plus the prophecy in Joel, and definitely a subject for another day. Notable too is that I Corinthians 14:18-19 refers to tongues as an unknown tongue.
And then finally the scripture that plays with all our taught theology- I Corinthians 14:22 wherein Paul states, “wherefore tongues are for a sign - NOT to them that believe, but to them that believe not ...”
In other words, the Lord Jesus has so many more to give us (re: gifts; operations; administrations; aides, helps, governments, etc. - I Corinthians 12:1-28) Desire spiritual gifts.
We should also know that as the Lord moves our status from that of His servants to His friends, we come to the understanding that while a day will come when prophecies, tongues and knowledge will cease, that charity (the flow through heart for others to be likewise saved) will never fail.
So much more to study and understand herein. Stand in the offering plate.
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