Featured How many of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit still operate today?

None.

 

Because their purpose has passed. Read The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit by Larry D. Pettegrew.

Ask why God bestowed spiritual gifts. When we correctly answer that question we can more readily come to a better understanding of when, and why, they ceased.

 

Yep.

A spiritual gift was a supernatural, Holy Spirit-energized ability that was sovereignly given by God for service within the local church during the transition from the old covenant program to the new covenant program. (Ibid, page 160)

. . . (T)he Spirit gave gifts to the first Christians . . . to make the transition from the old covenant program to the new covenant program as smooth as possible. (Ibid, page 157)

But the Holy Spirit bestowed all gifts abnormally during the apostolic era. Christians were enabled to minister without having to learn in a conventional way. They did not have to attend a Bible institute or a theological seminary, in other words, to be able to minister effectively. The very fact that they did not have the New Testament prohibited them from learning how to minister as we do today. They needed supernatural help from the Holy Spirit. (Ibid, 162)

What is the relationship of the gifts to the new covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit? It is evident that the gifts were only inaugural in character, a truth for which we today can be grateful. To be under the full gift program is not something to be desired. The church members in the apostolic era always had to evaluate the prophecies, always had to determine if a translator was present, and always had to operate under the knowledge that their information was partial. Who would want this situation today? . . . (Ibid, 186)

But Paul explained to the Corinthians that eventually revelation would be completed so that they would not have to go through all of the required checks. They could simply expound completed revelation. (Ibid, 186)

[1] The revelational gifts, therefore, were bestowed on the apostles and prophets to explain what the church was to believe and how it was to operate in the first age of the new covenant program.

[2] The miraculous gifts were given to authenticate the new covenant ministry and authority of the apostles—especially in the giving of revelation.

[3] Many of the other gifts were given to enable the churches to function according to the will of God when no New Testament Scriptures were available on a widespread scale. We today have providential abilities, talents, or gifts that parallel the gifts of the New Testament era. But we must be careful that we do not focus so much on these that we miss the most important truths for spiritual maturity, such as the lordship of Christ and the sufficiency of the Word of God. . . . (Ibid, 187)

 

Depends on the reason they were given. Scripture presents the gift of tongues as a sign for the unbeliever, and at least all other sign gifts as pointing to something other than the gift itself. Scripture presents all of these gifts as ending when that which they symbolize has arrived. I think that all agree on that much (if not, then we can allow them that bit of error as Christmas charity ). So people’s conclusions vary depending on their understanding of to what these signs point, and of course if that thing alluded to has arrived.

If these things point to the completion of the Canon of Scripture, then these things ended when those books were completed, gathered, assembled and accepted either by the universal Church or by some governing church body. If these things point simply to the completion of the books which would comprise the Canon of Scripture, then these things ended as John authored Revelation.

I think that there are a couple of problems with both of those reasons.

First,, Sign gifts are described as being for the non-believer to validate what was said. Scripture, however, is not for the unbeliever but for the church. Many seem to think that Sign Gifts ended because the Bible was completed. Think about that for a minute, and consider the implications.

This would mean that the completion of Scripture was for the lost. It would also mean that the Bible itself accomplishes the purpose Scripture presents as belonging to the Church (hence the sign gifts to begin with) as they point to Christ. And consider the implications of that. So regardless to say, I disagree with that logic.

And second, both of those conclusions assume much of Paul's words, ignoring that his purpose is not denouncing other gifts but exalting love. It is too weak a support to be dogmatic about gifts ending.

I believe that Paul’s comment was not about gifts ending but about love. He was simply saying that all of these gifts will end when that to which they point has come – generally speaking in order to highlight love as the greatest gift.

 

Eh....glorification, canonization.....tomato, tomahto

Some have used this verse to explain that sign gifts will operate until Christ comes. I'm not willing to go that far either. I think that Paul was speaking generally (when that which is perfect is come, that which is less than perfect is done away with).

So my weird idea is that when and if we see these signs exercised, we compare them to how the Bible describes those things. If they match, and we still don't like it, we simply leave it alone and mind our business. If they are wrong, we warn our congregation.

 

Looking in a mirror and seeing ourselves as others see us is more in keeping with the context.

 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

"But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Sign gifts never stood in place of Scripture. In fact, the Scripture that validated the gospel for the earliest church had existed for over four centuries. The gospel is proclaimed by the church. It is nonsense to believe that Scripture validates the gospel to the lost who do not believe the Scripture. You may say "but it is the Spirit"....but it has ALWAYS been the Spirit.

The Sign Gifts plainly never stood in the place that Scripture now stands. The church validates doctrine by Scripture. But what validates the gospel to the world is the witness of the church.

 

For the same reason they would be necessary today - to evidence God among His people.

For example, the gift of tongues - where one speaks in a language unknown to him but understood by the unbeliever - is a sign for the unbeliever (the unbeliever discerns the language). In the assembly, only one was to speak so as not to cause confusion (if all spoke in tongues it would be as gibberish). The gift of prophecy is a sign to the believer (the secrets of the unbeliever's heart are disclosed to the assembly) and they call into account the unbeliever (or ungifted) who is convicted and realizes that God is with them.

Signs never stood in the place of Scripture. The signs and miracles Jesus performed pointed the unbelieving Jews to who He is. Likewise, the sign gifts given to the church point the lost to who they are, that God is with them.

Are they necessary today? I do not see that they would be necessary in our culture (we reject the supernatural as a whole). But I do not know that this can be said world wide (and even within segments of our own culture). So I take these accounts as they come my way.

 

Maybe this will clarify (I'll look at the rest after church as I think we have much where we would agree).

1 Corinthians 14:20-25
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.
22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.