Dale Ridge church of Christ

When we previously had a look at the Purpose of the Holy Spirit, the majority of the scriptures referenced His mission to provide signs and wonders for the purpose of proving the Lord’s Word. In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to the Apostles to prepare them to “witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” During the transition period of the 1st century, there was no written record of the New Testament as we now know it. As we can see from the Scripture previously referenced, some way was needed to teach and prove the Gospel while it was being written and distributed.

According to 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, the different manifestations of the Spirit were wisdom, knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. In I Corinthians 12-14, Paul explains to the church at Corinth what the miracles were for and that they had a limited life as 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 makes clear: 

8Charity 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. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I’ve highlighted the parts of this passage that shows the imperfect limited nature of the spiritual gifts. This imperfect period was waiting for “that which is perfect” or the New Testament Scriptures. The New Testament is perfect and has all that we need to have salvation and please the Lord 2 Peter 1:3. If we say that we do not,  then we are call God a liar.

To say that we cannot witness a true miracle in this day and time is not the same as saying that we are not under God’s providential care. God promises that we will have all that we need Matthew 6:25-32, and reminds us to make our requests known unto Him Philippians 4:6. He is just not going to operate outside the laws of nature since we now have the Holy Spirit given to us in the form of the Scriptures.

For more excellent study on the Holy Spirit, be sure to take some time to listen to this excellent sermon by brother Michael on the Holy Spirit.

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Filed under: Butch Adams, Doctrine on September 23rd, 2008