The Supremacy of the Gospel in Spiritual Gifts

I really did not anticipate the response to my post informing why I am no longer at Seminary. However, since I know that many people have read it, I feel that it is my responsibly to explain what I think is the Biblical view of spiritual gifts and the miraculous.

There are two extremes in the church concerning spiritual gifts. On the one hand many believe that some of the gifts has ceased to be in operation. Others focus so much on the gifts that they miss the Gospel all together, 

Let’s look at Scripture to see what God has said:

Jesus taught that He was bringing the Kingdom of God. (Before you assume you agree with me about what the Kingdom is, maybe you should read one of my previous posts of the Kingdom) In His Kingdom, all would know God, God would wipe away every tear, all imperfections would be done away with. It sounds like an awesome place! 

However, we have one huge problem. We are sinners who deserve the wrath of God. Why would God give us such a great gift when we have sinned against Him? 

Mark 2: 5-12 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Here we get a glimpse of the mission of Jesus. How could Jesus forgive sins? We know that Jesus would bare ours sins on the Cross. By doing so, Christ absorbed the wrath of God. He validated His message and authority by the miracles that he did (Chiefly his Resurrection).

So in this story we see that Jesus allows this man to taste of his future Kingdom. He was reconciled to God and healed of his disease. This is the mystery of the Kingdom of God. This man that was healed still struggled with sin. He probably got a cold every now and again. He eventually died. But, Jesus gave His a foretaste of His heavenly Kingdom.

He does the same thing with you Christian, How is it that you have defeated certain sins? It is because the power from the age to come has worked in you. Have you overcome all your sins? No. Will you be sinless in the fullness of his Kingdom when he comes back? Yes. This is the already not yet of the Kingdom. Spiritual Gifts and the miraculous authenticate the message of the Gospel. The same is true in the book of Acts. The apostles healed and cast out demons to prove that their message was true. Many have read of modern miracles in other parts of the world in missions. God will bring His Kingdom. 

Some may say: I see that God does miracles in places that do not have a Gospel witness. Why does the church need these gifts today? Well I would turn to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 So God in his grace gives us evidences of his kingdom for our common good. He uses the miraculous to build up faith, to remind us of his love and power, and to make us look to the Gospel. We cannot force his hand, He is sovereign. Even those who do not know much about spiritual gifts have had times when God did something so out of the ordinary that it got your attention. He is showing you His love.  

Why would he give such gifts to us? Because of Christ and His Gospel! 

Those who boast in spiritual gifts are foolish. What do you have that was not a gift from God? 

I kinda feel like I rambled, but I want you to know that the use of Spiritual Gifts that does not point to Christ, His Kingdom, or the Gospel is not of God.