Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts

Not only were the Corinthian Christians abusing the Lord's Supper, they were mishandling their spiritual gifts, and specifically, they were elevating (in their own estimation) the gift of tongues, as if it was a gift to be desired above all other spiritual gifts. This message attempts to shed light on the Biblical gift of tongues, and healings, and miracles and wisdom and faith, etc. The question arises: "If these gifts were so prevalent in the first century church that this one congregation in Corinth evidently had some with the gift of tongues, some with the gift of wisdom, some with the gift of prophecy, some with the gift of miracles, some with the gift of healings, etc., WHERE ARE THEY NOW? We cite Martin Luther, who declared: "If it were necessary and conducive to the spreading of the gospel, we could do easily the signs, but since it is not necessary, we do not do them." The Apostle Paul affirms here that EVERY believer has been granted at least one gift, and the gift(s) we receive are not primarily for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the flock. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."