The Holy Spirit, VII.
We have now studied enough concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and wish in this article to progress to the secondary gifts of the Holy Spirit. We call the gifts that we will study today secondary gifts to distinguish between them and primary gifts received by the apostles on Pentecost day. The main difference between the power that the apostles received that day, and the power that some early Christians received is in the manner received and the extent of the power. The apostles received their power direct, through the advent of the Holy Spirit upon them. The early Christians received their power by the laying on of hands as we will learn in this article. The apostles could and did pass the power of signs, wonders and miracles on to others. The early Christians after they received the power to do miraculous things could not and did not pass this power on. Thus we can see the main differences between the two measures of the Holy Spirit.
The secondary gifts of the Spirit were needed for the same reason that the baptism of the Spirit was needed. We have already studied the apostles' lack of education, power, and money and how that they needed divine help to implant this new idea in the minds of the people. The early Christians were in the same condition and thus had the same need. They did not have the New Testament to guide them and thus needed the divine gifts imparted by the apostles.
First of all let us notice from the scriptures just how these secondary gifts were received. Acts 8:14-19, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." It is very plain from this passage that those who became Christians at Samaria received power through the laying on of the apostles' hands. If the apostles were not needed, then why, may I ask, was it needful for them to be sent all the way to Samaria from Jerusalem? The obvious and only answer to the question is that the apostles were necessary for the impartation of the Spirit to those people. Verse 17 makes it clear that after the apostles, Peter and John, had laid hand on the people, they then received the Holy Spirit. It was not until they had laid hands upon them. We also see that Simon who had been converted at the preaching of Philip, saw that this power could be had by laying on of hands and offered to buy the power to impart the miraculous measure of the Spirit. Any honest person who can understand the English language can readily see that the power was not given unless the apostles were present. Philip was an inspired evangelist, but even he could not impart this miraculous power. No one but an apostle could. This is important, for, when we realize this fact we will further realize that one today cannot make claim for such power unless he can prove that the apostles are still alive and imparting the power.
We read of another instance of early Christians receiving secondary gifts of the Spirit in Acts 19:1-6, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed ? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." We see here that these twelve men received two particular gifts and these gifts were received by the laying on of the hands of the apostle Paul. The Holy Ghost did not come upon them and they did not receive the gifts of prophecy and tongues until after Paul had laid hands upon them. We must then conclude that it was necessary for an apostle to be present and to lay his hands upon a person before that person was endowed with the power to do miraculous things. Thus, we call this the secondary measure of the Spirit or the measure received by the laying on of hands.. The Bible speaks of no one else that could impart this power except the apostles. Can we not logically argue then, that if the apostles were the only ones who could impart this power, men today cannot lay claim to the power unless they can also prove that the apostles are still alive and imparting these gifts? Of course we can. But who would be foolish enough to attempt to prove that the apostles still exist and are imparting this power? No one, of course. Then we must logically conclude that the power to pass these gifts on, died with the apostles and when the last man died, who had received the power, the miraculous age ceased to exist. All who are honest and logical must agree to this conclusion.
But we want to notice in our article the nine spiritual gifts that are enumerated in the New Testament as having existed in the age when the New Testament was being written. We will find them listed in I Cor. 12:5-11, "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." These nine gifts herein enumerated were not all given to all men, nor do we learn that all men received even one, but were given to individuals as the need arose and were used to confirm and preach the gospel as we have already learned. These gifts were given for the profit of all as is mentioned in verse 7. They were divided at the will of the Spirit. A man might be able to speak in tongues but might not have the gift of interpretation. You may read of this in I Cor.14:13 and 27,28. In fact, a man who had the gift of speaking in tongues was forbidden to speak in them unless someone could interpret them. I Cor. 14:28, "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." Yet we find many today who claim to have power to speak in tongues do so regardless of an interpreter. It also seems strange that so many people can speak in tongues, that they have this gift and play upon its importance when no one seems to have the gift of interpreting the tongues. There is probably good reason for that though, the tongues are not really tongues, but an unintelligible muttering or jargon and thus, could not be interpreted. They mean nothing and are foolish utterings.
It also seems strange that of these nine gifts mentioned in I Cor. 12: only two or three are chosen by present day religious groups as being worthy of having. And it seems that they have chosen those which are least in importance. We have those who claim to be able to speak in tongues and heal miraculously but none lay claim to other miracles, which are included in the 10th verse. Do they turn water into wine, still the wind and the waves, raise the dead, etc.? No, nor do they heal or speak in tongues as they claim. Can they preach without study as is included in the 8th verse; or by inspiration, prophesy as is mentioned in the 10th verse? No, they skip over these gifts, which are in reality the more important of the nine and chose to claim power of speaking in tongues and healing. It is easy to jabber and call it a tongue. It is simple to screen out applicants to be healed and choose those with internal disorders or emotional ailments and thus lay claim to healing someone of something not seen. Thus, no one can immediately prove them wrong. Difficult cases are passed up. Why? Because their fraudulent claims would be exposed.
The miraculous age has passed on. The power to lay hands on individuals and to impart spiritual gifts is no longer with us. These secondary gifts have ceased. They had their purpose and fulfilled it. Since they are no longer necessary they are no longer in existence. That which they accomplished miraculously is accomplished today through the Word and natural means such as study. A person today can speak in a tongue if he studies that tongue. In fact each person has his own tongue (language) and others can speak many tongues (languages) as a result of study. However, no one can perform any of the miracles or signs of the Christians of the first century.
(To be continued)