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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3
intimated that the gifts were to cease before the perfect day of glory
should come. The apostle proposes to instruct the Corinthians on the
subject. He would not have them ignorant in regard to it. Therefore if
the gifts were designed for the first Christians only, we might expect
to find somewhere in his epistles to them, some instruction on the
point. We affirm that there is not an intimation of the kind to be found
in his letters to them. But Paul does clearly point out the time when
the gifts will cease.
1 Corinthians 13:8-12
. “Charity [agape—love,]
never faileth: but whether there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether
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there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall
vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when
that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done
away. 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. 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.”
The apostle here contrasts the mortal state with the immortal; the
present imperfect, with that which will be perfect; the cloudy present
while we walk by faith, with the open glory of the life to come. Here,
we only know in part, prophesy in part; there, that which is in part
will be done away. Here, we see through a glass darkly; there, face
to face. Here, we know in part; there, we shall know, even as we
are known. Charity, or love, will never end. Here, it is the highest
Christian grace; there, it will be the crowning glory of immortals
forever and forever. In this sense, love will never fail. But prophecies
will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away. The
light of heaven through the dim medium of these, and the other gifts
of the Holy Spirit, is represented as being only in part, and is to be
superseded by the perfect day of glory when we may talk face to face
with God, Christ, and angels, as our first parents talked with God in
Eden before sin entered. But when? This is the vital question. When
were the gifts to be done away? Let Paul answer: “But when that
which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
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“And let all the people say, Amen.”
The apostle presents the gifts more fully in
1 Corinthians 12:28
.
“And God set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets;
thirdly, teachers; after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.”