This blog post, along with the entire series on the Holy Spirit, has been revised and turned into a chapter in the volume Rethinking the Spirit, which is part of Frank’s Titan (There Must Be More). GO HERE to check out the Titan and join the wait list for it.
For God So Loved the World vs. Love Not the World
Interesting. Can’t wait to read part 2
I like how you “stirred the pot” with the first post.
Looking forward to the rest.
”The fruit of the Spirit relates to our walk. The manifestation of the Spirit relates to our service.” Thanks, that defines both perfectly.
“A cardinal mistake that many believers make is to confuse spiritual gifts with spiritual life. God’s highest aim for His children is that they grow and develop in spiritual life”
Well said.
I would be interested to know the scriptures used to support the cesstation position concerning spiritual gifts.Aren’t we admonished to not add to or take away from God’s word? Is the Holy Spirit no longer needed as well? I don’t see how you can have a new testament church without the manifestation of the Holy Spirit!
Although weak I have been shown ! Cor 13:8 “and these will pass away” but that’s really stretching the word thin.
Like your last sentence Frank. Looking forward to reading…
Really promising start. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I, too, like the distinction of the fruit showing the character of Christ and the gift for the service of Christ. However, I can see the two crossing over. In one sense the fruit is for service in that fruit is for others to eat for reproduction of Christ. Fruit is not for ourselves alone, then. Gifts are clearly a service for others, but are given because of the character of Christ is to help others. Thank you for your service to the body of Christ, Frank.
Very interesting topic, thanks for embarking upon it. I went to a charismatic church once and got really scared. (really, had to walk out of the room) Don’t really have an opinion on the gifts of the Spirit, so am really looking forward to reading thoughts on the subject.
I like that line, ”The fruit of the Spirit relates to our walk. The manifestation of the Spirit relates to our service.”
I haven’t heard a better definition of the distinction between the two. Thanks, Frank, and looking forward to the series!
Growing up traditional Church of Christ, I couldn’t buy into the theology they were teaching on Holy Spirit. I’m looking forward to the results of your study.
Sounds like a great series Frank, looking forward to it brother!
I’m looking forward to this series. Having come from the “charismaniac” side of things, I laid down all expectations about the gifts of the Spirit — even those I’d walked in for years. I want to seek only Christ, not things on a spiritual wish list. I’ve seen the spiritual gifts used to badly abuse the body of Christ, but I know they’re gifts God wants to bestow on His children, so it’s important to have a balanced view of them. So, I’ve just been waiting for the Lord to show me how He’s meant these gifts to function in His body in a healthy way to manifest Him, His glory and power.
Thank you for embarking on this series. So much misunderstanding exists in the Bride concerning the gifts and how they really manifest themselves today. I hope part of your sharing is about spiritual discernment and identifying “true” from “false” manifestations of the gifts.
I agree that they exist today, but certainly not at the level of the “alpha” generation during the 1st century. Having said this, displaying them relates to the ministry you are called to serve, not as a result of a level of maturity or “zenith of spirituality.” I support the charisbalance viewpoint.
Look forward to future discussions. Shalom and Grace be with you.
Frank,
Will you also include in this discussion the gifts that are listed in Ephesians 4?
Those are already addressed in “Rethinking the Five-Fold Ministry.” See the Archives page https://www.frankviola.org/archives
Frank–
I am excited for this series. Remember, this kind of stuff can scare us Church of Christ-ers a little! But, I love the challenge that you bring (or is it Scripture that brings it? LOL!) and I am willing to be challenged!!
Love it brother!
I’m looking forward to the series, however, i’m looking forward to reading the comments section even more 🙂
Yea, you want to read those entertaining flames . . . 😉
Thank you SO much for doing this series! I am really excited about it!
Looking forward to the series. Thanks Frank!
I’m in agreement with you so far. Looking forward to seeing how this series progresses!
Look forward to the series, brother! I greatly appreciate your identification of the distinction between fruit and the gifts.
Wow thanks Frank, refreshing as always! I think this is a theme of urgent need in the body because the excesses and abuse around it, but definitely we need the manifestation of them a lot. The Lord bless this new effort of you.
I can tell this blog series will be a good one. Thank you.
While this looks like an interesting series, I find it odd that you would dismiss the cessation position as being without Scriptural merit, when in fact there is plenty of merit to this position.
It’s been refuted by just about every notable evangelical scholar to date . . . I personally don’t know anyone who believes in full cessationism today. Except for a small handful of older folks from Reformed, Baptist, or Church of Christ circles, it’s pretty much been discounted. Even most of the “new Reformed” have accepted the supernatural power of God as being operative today. But as I’ll explain in the series, a lot of these “gifts” are described differently by different groups. So some of it is semantics.
My new favorite thing to do on my breaks at work is check out this blog. awesome! Look forward to more of this series. Thanks Brother.
I would like to see some scriptural merit.