On the day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came to indwell Christians. Christ had promised His coming in John 14:16,17, And I pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, and He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but we know that for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The disciples had gathered in an upper room to wait for Him as Jesus had commanded (Acts 1:4) There was no doubt when He came; Acts 2:2-4, And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Since God’s Word, the Bible, is the final answer, let’s use it to answer some questions about being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.
1. What does the word tongue mean?
Apparently, the “cloven tongues” were visible. They looked like tongues, and yet they looked like fire. This sign was a proof that the Holy Spirit had arrived. The word cloven means “divided” and indicated that the Spirit of God was distributed among them all.
To “speak in other tongues” means something entirely different. Here the word tongue means a language. Because of Pentecost, men from every nation under heaven had traveled to Jerusalem. Although the disciples did not know these languages, they miraculously spoke to each man in his own language (Acts 2:8).
2. Three thousand were saved on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). How many of them spoke in a different language (tongue)? There is evidence that they spoke with many other languages (tongues). Acts 2:9 – 11
3. Does the Bible teach that every believer should, or must, speak in another language (tongue)?
No, it does not. In fact, Paul teaches just the opposite in 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29. While showing that Christians are different from each other, he asks several rhetorical questions. Are all apostles? Obviously not. Are all prophets? Of course not. Are all teachers? The answer is still no. Are all workers of miracles?, Again, no. Do all have the gifts of healing? No, they do not. Do all speak in tongues? The answer is still no. Not everyone spoke in other languages (tongues), nor was it expected of them.
4. How important was the ability to speak in another language (tongue)?
Paul placed this ability in its proper perspective. 1 Corinthians 14:19, Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an (unknown) tongue.” It was much more important to be understood. Why say something if people can not understand it?
5. Does the Scripture teach that we should be ‘‘baptized with the Spirit” ‘‘baptized in the Spirit” or “Slain in the Spirit?” (These are common term used by those in the charismatic movement)
No, the Bible does not even mention these phrases or the concept behind them. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, the Bible says, by one Spirit are we all baptized … ” However, this refers to the placement of the believer into the body of Christ. This occurs automatically at salvation in an instant.
6. Can one be truly saved without being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
No, he cannot. In Ephesians 1:13, 14, we learn that when we hear the Word of Truth and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the same time. Look at the last part of Romans 8:9, Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. A person not indwelt by the Spirit is not saved.
7. Should you seek the ability to speak in an unknown language (tongue)?
What is the purpose? We should edify (build up) our fellow Christians. If we speak in a language no one knows, it does not edify. It only confuses people. Paul writes the church at Corinth and devotes three chapters in 1 Corinthians (Chapters 12-14) and advocates the importance of other gifts that help edify rather than speaking in an unknown language (tongue).
8. If speaking in other languages (tongues) is not an evidence of being saved, what is the evidence?
First there is a new transformed (changed) life. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. This is followed by the joy of the Lord, Ephesians 5:19, Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. There is a love for God’s Word; 1 Peter 2:2, As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby: and peace with God; Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. The fruit of the Spirit will then begin to develop; Galatians 5:22, 23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
9. Doesn’t the Bible teach that there will be another outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
The prophet Joel told of the day when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on people (Joel 2:28-30). This prophecy has a double reference. It was fulfilled partially on the day of Pentecost, but will also be fulfilled completely during the Tribulation. The godly remnant will preach that the kingdom of God will come soon. Isaiah 32:15, “Until the Spirit be poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
10. Why is a proper understanding of tongues so important today?
Satan is a great deceiver, pretending to be an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” Paul told Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1) about “seducing spirits“. If we are deceived by this error, we are open to much more error and deception. Besides all error is wrong. John warns us, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1. We are to test the spirits by comparing them with the Word of God.
Comments 1
Am greatly edified and build up by this lesson.i have now understood about the tounges.More grace for the sound doctrine.