SERMONS - BIBLE TEACHING - SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY - REVELATION
The Gift of Tongues Taught Today
What do they say about the gift of tongues today?
They say that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. According to Romans 8:9, without the Spirit of Christ (the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit) you are none of his! So, if they say that you showing the gift of tongues is initial evidence of the Holy Spirit in you, and (according to Romans 8:9) the Holy Spirit in you is needed to be his - Christ's, they are essentially saying that you need to speak in tongues to be saved? I say that this is a miserable teaching, and not according to the scripture of truth, the Bible.
Who is then saved, if almost none have the gift of speaking in tongues? Who did Christ die for so we can be resurrected with him? Did he die for those speaking in tongues, only? No.
So it needs to be said that speaking in tongues is not required as an initial sign of your salvation, and as such neither as a "must" sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit might give you the gift of speaking in tongues, in addition to receiving the gift of salvation, whereby you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) after you believe on Christ Jesus. Not everyone, even in whom the Spirit of God dwells, must have that gift of speaking in tongues. But everyone who is of God has the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit in him/her (Romans 8:9).
-By Lubomir
The Gift of Tongues Practiced Today
How is the gift of tongues practiced today?
The gift of tongues: the way it is understood, taught, and especially, practiced in some churches today—invites believers and church elders to unbiblical practices, misinterpreted use or even a false imitating of this gift and/or training, a coaching of the gift which is not in line with the scriptural teachings in 1 Corinthians 14. Can they tell; if somebody truly has it? The Spirit of the Lord can tell. To say again, some of those who claim to have it are not practicing it according to the scriptures. Is the Lord pleased? And often there is no correction by pastors nor an attempt to teach the general congregation thoroughly about this gift.
As such, this gift of tongues (given initially as all spiritual gifts, for the edifying of the Body of Christ) is now in some churches allowed (by not judging any unknown or uncertain display thereof) to become an instrument of self-promotion, either of the individuals or a church organization or a denomination.
Further down in the same chapter (1 Cor 14), Paul teaches that what he is writing are commandments of the Lord:
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Paul is warning here against teaching and practicing these spiritual gifts contrary to his writings, which are commandments of the Lord. And as such I say: where in the scripture of truth is described a coaching of speaking in tongues by a man - either a pastor of a church or someone on YouTube - such a way that the sound is supposed to come out of your flesh, before it comes upon you from the Spirit? The scripture says, in Acts 2:4, on the day of Pentecost, when some in the assembly were speaking in tongues, the Spirit gave them utterance. Hear me! The Spirit gave them utterance, not that they gave utterance to the Spirit. But certain one now teaches you that you should start some kind of utterance yourself. Release those syllables and sound, certain one said, coaching his viewers, and trust that the Holy Spirit will fill those sounds, said he, looking into the camera.
Brothers and sisters, let us not allow ourselves and our churches to proceed after a deadly appetite for controversial fame, but rather hunger for a true filling of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God and edifying of the body of Christ.
-By Lubomir
The Gift of Tongues and Salvation - the Truth
The gift of tongues became a form of bondage and a stumbling block to salvation.
They say that the gift of tongues is a necessary sign of the baptism of the Spirit, thus putting bondage and uncertainty of salvation onto the poor soul, which happens to not have the gift of tongues and is eagerly waiting to receive it to seal his/her salvation. I say, this is pure robbery of the peace in the believer and also creates classes in the congregation, similar to priests and laymen.
To the great thanks to God, immeasurable grace was poured out unto us and the atonement made for our transgressions unto salvation of those who believe in Christ Jesus, and such a salvation is beautiful and simple. Now freed by Christ, and the Lord our God giving that Spirit of life to those who are in Christ, are we to enquire from the Spirit to seal our salvation by some additional performance, any additional kind of sign, even a sound of speaking in tongues?
If you are Christ's, you have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you, and that makes you his (Romans 8:9); no speaking with tongues, no gift of tongues from the Holy Spirit is needed to seal your salvation.
The speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit of God as purposed by the Holy Spirit, but not needed as a sign of salvation. In Acts 10:44-46, the Holy Ghost fell on the believers, Gentiles, and they spoke with tongues and magnified God. It says that they of the circumcision (Jews) which believed (believers in Christ) were astonished, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. In this case, Gentiles were given the gift of tongues for a sign to the believing Jews that salvation was come also to the Gentiles. They (Gentiles) received the Holy Ghost, and additionally the Holy Ghost, by the gift of tongues, manifested himself to Jews for a sign so that there would be no doubt among believing (in Christ) Jews, like Peter, that Gentiles also are partakers of the kingdom of God. The gift of tongues was not given as a proof of salvation, but as a sign to be heard by Peter and other Jews.
My brothers and sisters, you do not need the gift of tongues for your salvation, and whosoever is telling you that does not have it from the scripture of truth. In 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, the apostle Paul teaches extensively about the gift of tongues, as one among many gifts of the Holy Spirit, but nowhere in those chapters is there even one grain of sand suggesting that these are needed for one's salvation.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Christ has made us free. Amen.
-By Lubomir
