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NASB | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, ¶ To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice], To the saints (God's people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: |
Bible Question:
My pastor says that the only way a person knows they have the Holy Spirit is that they will speak in tongues. Each person has their own special tongue or language He uses Acts1 and 2 to back this up. I understand those chapters say that the people praying and worshipping Jesus spoke in tongues. Peter told the people outside that when a person gets the Holy Spirit,that person will dream dreams or prophesy. Nothing was said about tongues. It eays elsewhere in the Bible that when people get the Holy Spirit,some will get gifts of prophesy,some dreams some teaching,some speaking in tongues,some translating for those who speak in tongues. I talked to him privately a couple of weeks ago about the gift I felt god had given me. He toally blasted me out of the water and said no way. Unless I speak in tongues,I do not have the Holy Spirit. If I have a gift from God,I want to use it to glorify God. If I deny the gift or try to give it back,I feel like I am calling God a liar or that I am saying I am not worthy. I am not trying to score brownie points or win an argunebt. I want to apply God;s to my life as accurately as possoble and this has left confused and shutting down. Are tongues the only way a person knows he or she has the Holy Spirit? Isit the1 gift He gives everybody? Does he gift different gifts to different people and all gifts are valuable? I know this is a lot to ask all at once? I don't want to make a mistake if I can avoid it. This is making me question my faith. Thank you Crys Ingalls |
Bible Answer: Hello Crys, Let me give you a brief rebuttal: 1. The rest of scipture does not support you pastor's claim; Eph 1:13 clearly tells us, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise" (NASB) 2. What of 1 Cor. 12:30? Here it states "All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" The Greek demands a negative answer, so no, not all (of us) are or will speak in tongues! I would much rather that someone exhibit "Love" than the gifts of tongues.. (cf 12:31, 13:1-4) I believe this to be Paul's point in 1 Cor. 12-14! 3. Gal. 5:22-23 is explicit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." These are characteristices 'of the Spirit', they do not emanate from us or apart from "the Spirit" So one must have the Spirit to evidence these! 4. Using Acts 1 and 2 to support this notion is poor hermeneutics to say the least. Acts is a historical narrative in it's purpose, not a doctrinal book. Otherwise we should also support doctrines such as raising the dead, etc! While this may be a pet doctrine of your pastor and/or his denomination, it's short on solid historical biblical basis. He is simply not correct. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |