Dispensationalism IV

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XII.                    TRANSITIONAL CHANGES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

A.       From Judaism to Christianity

B.        From Law to Grace

C.       From Jew to Gentile

D.       From Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gospel of Grace

E.        From Peter to Paul

F.        From Signs and Wonders to the Word of God

G.       From Temple and Synagogue to the Local Church

H.       From Earthly Kingdom to Heavenly Kingdom

I.          From Jerusalem to Antioch

J.          From East to West

XIII.                 THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH – A NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN

A.       A Soul-Reaching Church (Acts 11:19-21)

B.        A Preaching Church (Acts 11:19-24)

C.       A Teaching Church (Acts 11:26; 13:1; 15:35)

D.       A Faithful Church (Acts 11:26; 14:27) – they assembled themselves

E.        A Serving Church (Acts 11:26) – called Christians first in Antioch 

F.        A Holy Church (Acts 11:26) – Christians would be Christ-like

G.       A Giving Church (Acts 11:27-30)

H.       A Praying Church (Acts 13:2-3)

I.          A Mission-Sending Church (Acts 13:1-4; 14:26-28)

XIV.               GRACE AGE GIFTS

A.       Three Views

1.   That apostolic gifts have continued unaltered

2.   That the gifts have been replaced by ministries, callings, etc.

3.   That the gifts have been transformed from the apostolic gifts to the grace age gifts – that is the view of these notes

B.        The Purposes for the Change – Why did God not continue the apostolic gifts as He originally gave them?

1.   The completed Bible removed the need for gifts of confirmation (Mark 16:17-20; 1Corinthians 13:8-10); there is no longer any need to confirm the divine authority of the spoken word since we now have the written word as a check on the truth of the speaker.

2.   The transition from Jew to Gentile removed the need for the sign gifts (1Corinthians 1:22).  God deals especially with the Jewish people through signs but in this age He is working through the Gentiles.

C.       The Character of the Changes

1.   From gifts of confirmation (confirming the spoken word) to gifts of edification (Romans 12:6-8).

2.   From gifts given in an immediate and supernatural way from the Spirit of God to gifts given according to the grace of God working in the believer (Romans 12:3, 6; Ephesians 3:7; 4:7-8) and practiced according to the measure of faith in the believer (Romans 12:3, 6).

D.       The Working of the Grace Age Gifts

1.   A gift is something that is given; something transferred from one person to another.  Both the sign gifts and the grace gifts fit this definition.

2.   The grace gifts come as abilities given to us by God according to His purpose for us (2Timothy 1:9).

3.   They appear at different times: in childhood or later in life.  They can even appear before salvation since they are part of God’s eternal plan for us.  At other times, they appear when the need arises. 

4.   Though their appearance may not be immediate and supernatural as with the sign gifts, they are still just as much the working of God in our lives.  They are the result of His grace working in us to the performance of His will for His service.

5.   We still must decide to use these gifts for the Lord.  He enables them by the working of His grace.  But we must use them by the operation of faith.

6.   Finally, they are never to be a source of pride.  Since they are given, we have nothing to glory in when we have received them (Romans 12:3; 1Corinthians 4:6-7). 

XV.              THE GIFT OF TONGUES

A.       The Meaning of Tongues: languages unknown to the speaker and unlearned by the speaker.  They are unknown in 1Corinthians 14 in that they are languages no one present knows.  When tongues were spoken on the day of Pentecost, every man heard the word in his own language (Acts 2:8).  This is not angelic language.  Paul only uses "the tongue of angels" as a contrast.  [Even if I spoke in the language of angels, that would do no one any good if they could not understand me.]  He was not defining unknown tongues an angelic language.

B.        The Regulation of Tongues in Corinth

1.   Tongues were already unimportant in the service of Christ by about 60AD.

2.   The most carnal church Paul wrote to (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-4) was caught up in tongues-speaking and gave way too much emphasis to it.

3.   No speaking of tongues should be done unless the tongues are interpreted (v.27-28).

4.   No more than three should ever speak in tongues in a church service (v.27).

5.   Only one should ever speak in tongues a one time (v.27).  That's what "by course" means--in order, one after the other.

6.   Those who truly speak in Spirit-given tongues can speak if they want or refrain from speaking if they want (v.32).  God-given tongues is not some uncontrollable urge that comes over someone.  It is a gift that they can use when they want just like preaching.

7.   Women are not to speak in tongues in a church service (v.34).

8.   Truly spiritual people will agree that these restrictions are necessary (v.37).

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Dispensationalism IV Index                         Lesson Six

 

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