Have the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased?

There is a popular belief in Christian circle that –“the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased, so presently the Holy Spirit does not operate through gifts like- Healing, deliverance, prophecy, gift of tongues etc’’. Also some people further believe that those who are claiming that they are operating in gifts of the Holy Spirit – they are false teachers and trying to misguide people. So, let us understand the reliability their belief and the truth of the scripture.

Argument # 1: The gifts of Holy Spirit were in operation in early generations of believers, when written word of God (bible in present from) was not available. But afterwards people received the written word of God (bible) so, the gifts of Holy Spirit are no longer required and therefore they were ceased.

Now there is a passage that people often quote to justify their arguments that the gifts of Holy Spirit have ceased.

1 Corinthians 13: 8-10 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Now these verses indeed teaching that prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will be ceased some day. But the question is – When will that happen?

Some people argue that the word “perfect” mentioned in verse 10 , represents the written word of God or bible. As we already received written word of God so there is no need for Spiritual gifts in present time.

Let’s examine this:

Let us check the context of the text. In the first chapter of Corinthians Apostle Paul says this –

1 Corinthians 1:7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here Paul the apostle, is telling the believers that they should operate in spiritual gifts and eagerly wait for coming of Jesus Christ. So till the time Jesus Christ comes back we should continue operating in spiritual gifts for ministering people.

After understanding this we should go to 1 Corinthians 13: 10, where it says that when the perfect comes, the gifts will cease. Now we have to understand the word – Perfect here.  What does it refer to?

The word “perfect” was never used to represent the bible as a book or New Testament letters. It is (“Perfect”) is always mentioned as a state that a believer should eagerly seek for. There are verses where the word “perfect” is used as a state of the believers. (John 17:23, Mathew 5:48, Ephesians 4:13, Colossian 1:28)

John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Mathew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Colossian 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

In all these verses the word perfect represents the state of believers.

The word perfect is also used about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks about the return of Christ in this context. He wrote.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Paul spoke about seeing Jesus face to face. We will only see Him face to face when He comes again. Jesus says he will be perfected-

Luke 13:32 …… ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’

Book of Hebrew says Jesus is the perfect one.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

So we can come to the conclusion the word perfect means the second coming of Jesus Christ.

So summery is like this -in the starting of first 1 Corinthians Apostle Paul says desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7) and wait for coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect one. So we are waiting for perfect one is –Jesus Christ.

Argument # 2: Spiritual gifts were sign gifts for special people who were doing apostolic and prophetic ministry in the early Christian era to confirm their authority. So present day we do not need these.

Hebrews 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,  God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Let us understand it: Now if the sign gifts were given to confirm apostolic authority, then why did people who are not considered as apostles or prophet also were operating in same sign gifts?

Scripture tells us that disciples of Jesus, other than the 12 apostles also performed miracles as they shared Gospel and healed the sick.

Luke 10: 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

(Mark 9:38-40) An unknown disciple was performing miracle and Jesus told his disciple not to stop him

Also Stephen and Philip who are not considered as apostle or prophet they also were performing miracles

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 8:6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

The sign gifts were used in Corinth, where no apostle lived? The miracles were performed among the unbelievers.

Conclusion: We come to the conclusion that this belief that -the gifts were ceased-is not true. Lord Jesus never mentioned that his ministry of signs and wonders will end when he will return to his Father. In fact, he said that it is because he is returning to his Father that his followers will do even greater things than these.”

John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

If the sign gifts as tongues were to soon cease, why did the Apostle Paul write to the Corinthians:

1Corinthians 14:39 “Do not forbid to speak with tongues”?

Also Jesus mentions some characteristics of believers

Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Now we need to understand one of the main reasons of this debate is there are believers who cannot operate in gifts of the Holy Spirit because of some reasons, they feel offended to see other believer who are operating in gifts of the Holy Spirit.

There are many reasons why they cannot operate in gifts of Holy Spirit

–      May be they have not received the Holy Spirit

–      May be they were not taught how to operate in gifts

–      Or May be they have unbelief regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

People do not believe that’s why they cannot operate in spiritual gifts. They use Counterfeit doctrine to support their faith.