Spiritual Gifts In The Apprenticeship With Jesus By Gary Moon

Introduction In the Apprenticeship with Jesus, Gary Moon describes the story of God’s relationship with humanity and the role of the Holy Spirit by stating that God “sends the Holy Spirit with music and a dance chart so that we can learn how to waltz with the Trinity, even now, as we wait for the real party to begin.” This playful imagery of music and a dance chart imparts the underlying importance of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to each believer as well as the ongoing process of their spiritual maturity. For without the spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit a Christian lacks to be in step with God. Therefore, the question of whether all the spiritual gifts recorded in the Bible are still in operation is often considered

From this passage (1 Cor. 13:8-12), two principal interpretations are inferred from the meaning of the word “perfect.” The continuationist interprets the “perfect” as a face-to-face encounter with Jesus in his full glory, while the cessationist interprets the “perfect” as the completed New Testament canon. Therefore, the continuationist believes that prophecy continues until Christ returns, and the cessationist believes that the “perfect” has come and prophecy has stopped. Additionally, because the cessationist takes the “perfect” as the New Testament canon, the “in part” in verse 8 refers to the three spiritual gifts (prophecy, tongues and knowledge), as each giving a portion of the revelation God has intended for the church at the end of the apostolic era. Likewise, because the continuationist understands “in part” as Christ’s return, the message of the three spiritual gifts, which is communicated from the Spirit of God, lacks divine authority of Scripture, and is imperfect because it represents only a portion of what can be known of God. What did God intended? If the “perfect” is to be the New Testament canon, then verse 12 use of the word “then,” which refers back to when the “perfect” coming face to face, cannot mean an encounter with a person. Yet, the phrase “face to face” is used thought the

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good” (ESV). Therefore, carefully observing the Scripture’s illustrations regarding the gift of miracles and gifts of healing will help distinguish between truth and error. The continuationist believes that the gift of miracles and the gifts of healing have been exercised in every age and are still continuing today. However, the cessationist believes that the lack of miraculous experience historically is proof that they have ceased, and the healings that occur in the twenty-first century are an answer to prayer. Is there any connection in the Scriptures for either view? The continuationist contends that in the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14, the New Testament church was not looking for reason to exclude the gifts, rather the early believers were seeking the gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1-2). Therefore, 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 teaches that the gifts, which operate on the eternal foundation of love, will continue until Christ’s return. However, the cessationist believes that the gifts of miracles and healing are connected directly with the authority of the apostles and what is written is Scripture, and is not the standard for the life of the church. Moreover, they point out that for more than 1, 900 years of church history these gifts lack evidence. In fact, Chrysostom testified that they had ceased long before his time. Additionally, they