Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:4 ¶ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:4 ¶ Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. |
Subject: some people say you must speak in tongue |
Bible Note: Hi EdB, We are not in disagreement here, Ed. I get carried away in my thoughts, knowing that people from many viewpoints are reading them, and I failed to stay focused on speaking to you personally. I am sorry about that. The question that I had asked you initially here, (and I hope that you view it as an honest question), is whether Pentecostals generally feel that are are filled with God Himself. Because they speak of the Gift [sic] of the Baptism [sic]. They infer that they are receiving more of God than anyone else around them is getting; or at least that is my perception of the situation. I say that not with malice or spite. Many years ago I prayed for the gift of tongues when attending a Congregational Church with a charismatic preacher. I wanted all that God had to give me; I had read some charismatic books. So even though I had a Reformed Church heritage and a preacher dad telling me that the gifts had passed away, I was open to receiving the gift of tongues. My wife had in this period of time spoken in tongues with the help of the minister. I have a brother who is attending a Pentecostal Church and speaks in tongues. So I say that I do not mean any malice. However, I still wonder what it is that we are to be filled with? Is "it" God or is it spirit [sic]? I have agreed with DocTrinsograce here for Ephesians 2:18 that we all have access in one Spirit to the Father. We are one body because of the blood of Christ shed on the cross. But the passage goes on to say that we are growing into a holy temple in the Lord; we are "being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:22. We are told to be filled with the (s)Spirit. So it is an ongoing thing in which we are actively involved. The indwelling of the Spirit was a one-time thing at the time of our salvation (or at the time that God determined was the time). Being filled with the (I would say) spirit is more something that we are told to do. We study the word of God, are led by the Spirit to think on the things of the Spirit. We speak to others in psalms and hymns and witness because we are filled with the things of God. I think that I would phrase my viewpoint like this: I think that we should be more interested in becoming complete in Him than having Him being complete in us. From the heart, Ray |