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Dr. Talboi'$ Question Box
This term does not apply to any particular “ tongue,” but to any tongue, or language, which is foreign to. that of the speaker, In this specific instance, it was a language foreign to the Corinthians. Many of the early church Christians felt t h a t the gift of speaking in tongues was one to be greatly desired. To be able to emulate the miraculous witnessing of the apostles at the time of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1-4), was the wish of many an earnest Christian ox. a later day, and Paul, in this chapter is Warning the Corinthian Christians of some of the dangers of this prac tice. He, no doubt, has in mind the fact that the gift of tongues at Pente cost was for the purpose of testimony to be given to every man in his own language. The testimony dealt with the “wonderful works of God” (cf. Acts 2:5-11). In the first verse, he urges the peo ple to desire spiritual gifts for the one purpose of prophesying—telling forth the gospel to others. Then, in the sec ond verse, he says that to speak in an unknown tongue is to speak unto God, and not to prophesy unto men. There by, the speaker “ edifieth himself” and not the church; therein he would fall short of the proper use of spiritual gifts which is that of service. However, Paul does not here forbid the practice of speaking in tongues; he suggests three ways by which it may be carried on: (1) It must, with other practices of the church, be per formed in such a way as to result in the edification of the church (v. 26). (2) It must be done in the presence of two or three witnesses with an in terpreter present (v. 27). (3) There must be no confusion accompanying the practice (v. 331. THIse warnings and conditions pertaining to this subject are just as applicable in the church life of today as they were in the day of the Corinthian church. Patiently, week after week, that young missionary, with one or two of her friends, met regularly to pray for Julia. It was a partnership. They real ized that undoubtedly the witnessing to Christ’s saving power would be done by just one of them, but the others must be “ helping together by prayer.” The intercession for Julia continued. The witness to Christ’s power was given to her faithfully. There was a struggle, a bitter struggle in Julia’s heart, but alone in her room she one day accepted Christ. Hers was a glow ing testimony, a transformed life. The partnership of prayer had borne its fruit. TWO OF YOU [ Continued from Page 199]
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Questions for answer in this depart ment should be sent to the Editorial Department, THE KING'S BUSINESS, 558 So. Hope St., Log Angeles 13, Calif. QUE..: Are baptism and good works necessary for salvation? Nowhere ,in God’s Word is Salvation said to be the result of any effort on man’s part, whether it be in the ob servance of an ordinance, or in the performance of some worthy service. We are saved “ by grace . . . through faith,’’ and both of these qualities are gifts of God (Eph. 2:8). “Believe” (John 1:12; Acts 16:31), “ receive” (Acts 10:43), and “call” (Acts 2:21), are the key words of the salvation verses in God’s Word. Baptism, for a believer, is ah act performed in obedience to God’s com
mand. It is the Christian’s testimony of his having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Too, it is the outward manifestation of-the inward cleansing work of the Holy Spirit, and is symbolic of the soul’s resurrection from spiritual death unto spiritual life (cf. Col 2:11-13). Salvation is not by good works (cf. Eph. 2:9), but the sinner is saved unto good works, the accomplishment of which is the result of salvation rather than the occasion for it (cf. Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:17; Titus 3:8). QUE.: What is the interpreta tion of the term “ u n k n o w n tongue” referred to in the four teenth chapter of i Corinthians?
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