Dispensationalism IV

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C.        The Ceasing of Tongues

 

1.   Tongues are never mentioned after 1Corinthians

2.   History records the ceasing of tongues

3.   Tongues ceased with the other sign gifts (Mark 16:17-18)

4.   The greatest revivals, missionary work, evangelism, Bible-study, church-building of ages past was accomplished without tongues

5.   Tongues are a fleshly experience which will be used to bring about the one-world church

 

D.        The Interpretation of 1Corinthians 13:8-13

 

1.   Many struggle with this passage because they focus on the meaning of “that which is perfect” in 1Corinthians 13:10. 

a.         Charismatics identify this as Jesus Christ and, in so doing, put the ceasing of tongues to the time of the return of Christ

b.        Most Baptists identify this as the completion of the New Testament but then struggle to apply the later “face to face” statement (v.12) to the word as well.

2.   However, the theme of this passage is not the identity of that which is perfect.  The passage is proving that charity is perfect because it abides even when all else passes away. 

3.   The passage makes more sense when we look at it as a series of proofs for the superiority of charity and not a description of a particular event: neither the second coming or the completion of the New Testament.  Consider this outline with a series of proofs for the superiority of charity over all other forms of the working of the God.

a.         The properties of perfection (13:8-9)

(1)      Most things will cease, but charity is perfect because it will not cease (v.8)

(2)      Most things are partial, but charity completes that which is partial (v.9)

b.        The principle of perfection (13:10); that which is perfect displaces that which is partial.

c.         The process of perfection (13:11); that which is perfect may slowly replace the partial by a process of maturing as with a child becoming a man.

d.        The prospect of perfection (13:12); absolute perfection will come in that perfect day when we see Christ face to face (Proverbs 4:18)

e.         The pinnacle of perfections (13:13).  There are levels of perfection, but the greatest perfection is charity.

4.   The argument of this passage

a.         The Corinthians had placed too much emphasis on the sign gifts

b.        Paul tried to correct their imbalance by stressing the excellency of charity

c.         He also referred to the temporary character of the sign gifts

d.        Their partial nature means that they will be replaced by that which is perfect

e.         This is much as a person puts away childish things as he becomes a man

f.          In fact, all partial elements will eventually be made obsolete by the ultimate perfection of charity.

g.         But for now, they can count on the continuation of faith, hope and charity

h.         But of these three, charity is the greatest, because only charity will never fail (see Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1). 

 

XVI.                 THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

 

A.       The Positions Paul Held

 

1.   A chosen vessel (Acts 9:15-16; 26:16-18)

2.   The minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (Romans 15:16; Colossians 1:24-25)

3.   The apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13)

a.         With the signs of an apostle (2Corinthians 12:12)

b.        Considering himself the least of the apostles (1Corinthians 15:9-10)

4.   A teacher of the Gentiles (1Timothy 2:7; 2Timothy 1:11)

5.   A prisoner for the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1)

 

B.        The Gospel of the Apostle Paul

 

1.   Received by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-17; 2:1-2)

2.   Titles given to Paul’s gospel

a.         The gospel of God (Romans 15:16)

b.        The glorious gospel (2Corinthians 4:4; 1Timothy 1:11)

c.         The gospel of the uncircumcision (Galatians 2:7)

d.        “My” gospel (Romans 2:16; 16:25; 2Timothy 2:8)

e.         The gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)

 

C.       Other Significant Ministries of Paul

 

1.   He received and revealed the grace age mysteries (Ephesians 3:1-9; Romans 15:25-26)

2.   He preached the gospel in the regions beyond (Romans 15:20; 2Corinthians 10:16)

 

D.       Paul as a Pattern for Today

 

1.   A pattern for salvation (1Timothy 1:15-16)

2.   A pattern for service (1Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17)

3.   A pattern for sound doctrine (2Timothy 2:2, 7)

 

XVII.               THE MYSTERIES OF THE AGE OF GRACE

 

A.       The Nature of the Grace Age Mysteries

 

1.   Not previously known (Ephesians 3:4-5, 9)

2.   Selectively revealed (Matthew 13:10-11; Ephesians 3:10)

3.   Beyond human understanding (1Corinthians 2:7-10)

4.   Meant to be taught (1Corinthians 4:1-2)

 

B.        A List of Grace Age Mysteries

 

1.   The mystery of Israel’s blindness (Romans 11:25)

2.   The mystery of translation (1Corinthians 15:51-52; 1Thessalonians 4:16-17; see Hebrews 11:5)

3.   The mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:3-6; 5:29-32; Colossians 4:3) – that all [Jew and Gentile] are one in Christ

4.   The mystery of Christ in you (Colossians 1:26-27; Galatians 2:20)

5.   The mystery of godliness (1Timothy 3:16; John 1:14)

a.         That God took on a body of flesh in the person of Jesus Christ

b.        May be the same as the mystery of the Father (Colossians 2:2; Matthew 11:27; John 10:30)

6.   The mystery of iniquity (2Thessalonians 2:7; Genesis 3:15) – the devil incarnate in the antichrist

7.   The mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19; 1Corinthians 15:1-4) – evidently, the gospel of the grace of God

8.   The mystery of the faith (1Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9; Romans 10:17; 1Peter 1:23-25) – that the word is the source of salvation and all doctrine

9.   The mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:9-10; 1Corinthians 15:24-28) – God’s purpose for the ages

10.     The mystery of God (Colossians 2:2; Revelation 10:7) – God’s plan for the ages