Please enable Javascript to play audio

The Cessation Of The Gifts: Part 1

November 20, 2005

The miraculous gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

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

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

10 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:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

I. The gifts ceased by the writing of the New Testament

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Love never ends but the gifts shall end

1 Corinthians 13:8

8 Charity [or love] never faileth [or comes to an end]: but [in contrast] whether there be prophecies, they shall fail [inactive, done away with, or cease]; whether there be tongues, they shall cease [stop]; whether there be knowledge[miraculous knowledge, 1Cor.12:8], it shall vanish away [inactive, done away with, cease].

The question is when?

1 Corinthians 13:9

9 For we know in part [or imperfectly, incomplete, or in a portion], and we prophesy in part [or imperfectly, incomplete, or in a portion].

10 But when that which is perfect [or complete, whole] is come, then that which is in part [or imperfect, incomplete, or a portion] shall be done away.

Two illustrations to explain the point

A child versus a man

1 Corinthians 13:11

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but [in contrast] when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 Maturity illustration
Child 33-100AD	During the time of spiritual gifts when revelation of incomplete and the Bible was not fully written.
Man 100 AD - present	Revelation complete and whole, Bible finished in 96 AD. Gifts ceasing is equated directly with a MATURE man doing away with childish things.

Now versus then

1 Corinthians 13:12

12 For now (at Paul’s time of writing to the Corinthians) we see through a glass [or a brass mirror], darkly (revelation is in part not yet complete, it is partial); but then face to face (clear and fully known – revelation complete): now I know in part (not fully or imperfectly, incomplete knowledge); but then shall I know even as also I am known (fully or perfectly, complete knowledge).

Faith, hope, and love remains

1 Corinthians 13:13

13 And now abideth [or remains] faith, hope, charity, these three (remain when prophecies fail, tongues cease, and knowledge vanishes away); but the greatest of these is charity [or love].

Something ceases	"Prophecies they shall fail" "Tongues they shall cease" "Knowledge it shall vanish away" 1Cor.13:8
Something abides for a time after that which ceases.	"Faith & hope abide" 1 Cor 13:13 till second coming Heb 11:1; Rom 8:24
Something never ceases	Love never fails 1 Cor 13:8, the greatest of these is love because it never ceas

A supporting passage to 1Corinthians 13:8-13

Ephesians 4:8-16

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the (full) knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The faith was once delivered

Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The Faith comes by hearing the word of God

Romans 10:17 So then the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God has given unto us the knowledge of the Son of God

2 Peter 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the (full) knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

A perfect man by all scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God (through the gifts of the Spirit), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

A comparison of 1Corinthians 12-13 with Ephesians 4:8-16

I Corinthians 12:30 – Variety of Gifts / Ephesians 4:8 Gave gifts

I Corinthians 13:10 – Gifts to cease "when that which is perfect is come" / Ephesians 4:13 Continue "until …a perfect man"

I Corinthians 13:12 – Then shall I know / Ephesians 4:13 Knowledge of the Son of God

I Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child / We are no longer children Ephesians 4:14

I Corinthians 13:11 – Became a man / Ephesians 4:15 May grow up

I Corinthians 12:14-27 – Different members work together / Ephesians 4:16 Whole body and every joint

1 Corinthians 13:13 - greatest is love/ Ephesians 4:16 edifying itself in love