Hello hisway!
hisway wrote:Of course "tongues" are a sign to the unbeliever. I never claimed otherwise. But "tongues" is also the sign of Spirit baptism which is why "tongues" can be called a "sign" to the unbeliever. But if no one speaks in tongues then how can there be that sign to the unbeliever? There has been times when I prayed for non-Christian co-workers on the job by the laying on of hands. As I prayed and laid hands on them I began praying in tongues as part of the prayer. By doing so I demonstrated in real life the sign to the unbeliever. I did not demonstrate the gift of tongues with interpretation. I demonstrated the power of the Holy Ghost. Two of those co-workers came to the Lord. The spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 do not happen often in the assembly but only when the need arises for the edification of the assembly and not for the unbeliever. What value is the gift of tongues as sign to the unbeliever if it seldom occurs and when it does occur it is most often in church where there are no unbelievers to benefit from it? Unbelievers do not go to church. The spiritual gifts of 1 Cortinthians chapter 12 are for the benefit of believers not unbelievers. The signs that follow believers are for the benefit of the unbelievers. That is what the difference is.
Re-read my post hisway!
(Omega) wrote:So all who are spirit baptized speak with Tongues since spirit Baptism gives way to the presentation of the Holy Ghost! However you state that the GIFT OF TONGUES is not a sign of Spirit Baptism. Do you see the contradiction? Not only that, once again Paul clearly states that not all have the (gift) of tongues, but within your muddled doctrine of spirit baptism and gift of the Holy Ghost, all can speak in tongues and have the gift! Once again, you are in direct conflict with Paul.
So a person who speaks in tongues but does not interpret, does not have a gift?
And a person who speaks in tongues and interprets, is not considered as a sign?
Read Carefully:
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly (the best gifts): and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:30,31)
SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN CONSIDERED A GIFT! Whether one can interpret or not, it is in the category of Gifts!!! Notice the distinction between speaking in tongues and interpretation, they are both in the category of Gifts!
And according to you all can speak in tongues
(no interpretation) if Baptized with the Spirit, which is till a gift nonetheless. Once again my friend, you are in direct conflict with Paul. Seek after the best gift{agape}my friend and the Absolute Truth will be brought into the Light. Oh hisway, when will you cease to lean on your own understanding and the understanding of
men and submit yourself to Scriptural Truth?
Refresh yourself and move out an on from the book of Acts for a change my friend.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corninthians 13:1-9
God Bless!