Are the gifts for today, or did they cease?

The bible is certainly clear about the Holy Ghost and the gifts of the Spirit. I understand that the gifts are not the Holy Spirit, but the same Holy Spirit gives to any man as He wills, and works in every man in whom He gives those gifts (when they are used).

Ref:  “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit........ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He wills” – 1 Corinthians 12:4, 11

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

       To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

       To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:” – 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10

I do believe that the gifts are still for today, and are active in this day and age. I shall begin with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1.  Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

       Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

       And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This scripture speaks to people of all ages, from the time Jesus Christ walked on the earth until when He comes back to judge the earth. He says ‘many’ will say to me in that day; He did not say “a people from certain time period shall say to me”. In this scripture, He certainly warns that possessing the gifts do not qualify one to enter heaven, but doing the will of His Father does.

2.  Mark 16:15-18 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

       He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

       And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

       They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

The Lord Jesus commanded the disciples to go and preach the gospel to all creatures. They obeyed this commandment and made more disciples, who continued in the work of making disciples and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ (teaching all He had commanded). To those who shall believe in all ages, these signs will follow them; not just to some in the first century, but in all ages until His return.

"That believe with that very faith mentioned in the preceding verse." (Though it is certain that a man may work miracles, and not have saving faith, Matthew 7:22,23.) "It was not one faith by which St. Paul was saved, another by which he wrought miracles. Even at this day in every believer faith has a latent miraculous power; (every effect of prayer being really miraculous ;) although in many, both because of their own littleness of faith, and because the world is unworthy, that power is not exerted. Miracles, in the beginning, were helps to faith; now also they are the object of it. At Leonberg, in the memory of our fathers, a cripple that could hardly move with crutches, while the dean was preaching on this very text, was in a moment made whole." Shall follow - The word and faith must go before.” – John Wesley’s commentary

3.  Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

       Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

       Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

All power belongs to Jesus Christ and He sent His disciples out as seen here and also in Mark 16, Luke 24. One question to ask here is “do we still baptise Christians?” If so, we must certainly believe that Jesus really meant those signs will follow the believers.

4.  Luke 24:46-49 “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

       And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

       And ye are witnesses of these things.

       And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Do we still preach repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus among all nations, and did this not begin at Jerusalem with the disciples? And ever faithfully, He baptises believers with the Holy Spirit and fire. – Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16...also see Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13

5.  Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

They were to be baptised with the Holy Spirit into Christ and then receive power to be witnesses of Him the world. The power to witness also includes the power to live and be holy as He is holy. For by this they will be effective witnesses in reaching the world. The apostles did not reach the uttermost part of the earth, but as they made disciples, these carried the gospel to the ends of the earth (with power) even to this very day.

Are the gifts of the Spirit given only through the laying on of hands?

Certainly not! We see an example in Acts 10:44-46

       ^“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

       And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

                For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”

We see that though the apostles laid hands on people in other verses of scripture, the Holy Spirit can still be given directly by God because He is not limited by us.

Argument

Why should the gifts cease? Did the Holy Spirit just decide not to give these gifts anymore? If we say that it has ceased, then the Holy Spirit is no longer given to us on the earth.

But this is not the case since God made a new covenant with us, and this covenant was sealed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” Hebrews 10:16

With the new covenant came the promise of the Spirit.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

                For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38-39

It is therefore evident through scripture that the new covenant is for as many as the Lord our God shall call.

So then we can look at 1 Corinthians 12 with the view that the Holy Spirit is still on His earthly ministry, enabling us to walk in the ways of Christ and continuing His work on earth.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” – 1 Corinthians 12:1

The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul will not have us stay ignorant about the gifts available to the believer. These gifts are then listed later in the chapter.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4

Though these gifts are diverse, the same Spirit gives them to any believer as He wills; for the benefit of the body of Christ (both individually and collectively).

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

       Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

       Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:28-30

It is evident here that since the Spirit gives the gifts diversely as He wills, not everyone will speak in tongues, prophecy, work healings, and so on. So we can hereby view this in light of Mark 16:17-18 and say that every believer can be used by the Lord to heal, cast out demons, and so on, but some will also be given specific offices or gifts by the Spirit in which they can work in.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul begins to let them know that without Love/Charity all gifts used or works done by the believer is of no use (not profitable). Can a man say He loves God whom he has not seen and then hate his brother? Certainly not. 1 John 4 addresses this issue also.

 “Charity 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.

       For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

       But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

       When 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.

                For 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. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

       And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John3:2

Love will never fail; for if we love God we will keep His commandments. And if we do so, we shall be with Him where He is. Prophecies will fail; for we prophecy in part. We can die and not see them come to pass. Or again, a man may deny himself a word of prophecy if he walks in disobedience (see King Saul’s example from 1 Samuel 9 to 13, also see 13:13-14) (also 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). When a man dies, tongues cease, but he will be judged afterwards according to his work on the earth. These gifts are hereby temporary until that which is perfect comes; which is Jesus Christ and His return (to take His Church, judge the earth and establish His kingdom).

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit gives the gifts to whom He wills. Do not let unbelief cause you to deny the truths in scripture. Even if a well known theologian says otherwise, the Lord is able to reveal truth to those who will seek to know (and obey Him).

I have not included personal experiences of my own in this because I chose not to. I am however happy to share if necessary.

Thanks for reading. May the Lord give understanding.