The Sign Gifts of the Spirit

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The expression sign gifts may be an expression some are not familiar with. So what are they?

Paul speaks of the gifts given to the church in Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4:10-16. These gifts and offices are given to build up the church in love and unity until the entire body of Christ attains maturity. Any other use is illegitimate. Some continue because they still serve their purpose, some have ceased because they have, with the completion of the NT, served their purpose. All that they signified or pointed to we have contained within our scriptures.

Those that have ceased are the sign gifts. These are tongues, prophecy, and miracles. They are called sign gifts because they are tangible with evidence, and they were indicating (sign) specific things that had been foretold in prophecy in the OT as being fulfilled, and the passing away of the old covenant, inaugurating the new covenant.  

Tongues---actual languages---was given in Acts with the visible manifestations of tongues of fire and a shaking of the house, followed by actual speaking in languages unknown by the one speaking. Something that had been prophesied in the OT in Joel. "This is it. It is here!" The sign. In addition there were gathered around Jews from many surrounding nations gathered in Jerusalem, and differing languages, so all could understand. And this was also the case in many of the places where the gospel was being preached. Language barriers could not stop the spread of the good news. We now have the Bible translated in many languages. The need no longer exists.

As well, the same sign was given to Gentiles as a visible sign that that salvation is given to Jew and Gentile alike.

Those scriptures of Paul's that are used to support tongues being active and necessary today, and unknown tongues, the language of angels, we must recognize that just because Paul was a Christian does not mean he does not use sarcasm and hyperbole. He does.

Prophecy has two usages in the Bible. Foretelling and forthtelling. One concerns telling of future events as we see in the OT prophets (which is an office and one appointed by God). The other is expounding on the word of God in teaching. The first is no longer active and neither is the office of prophet. Jesus in His life, death, and resurrection has fulfilled all the foretelling of the OT. Now our trust is in Him, not in God using men to tell us what the future holds for us or to direct us in the decisions and questions we have. That is akin to seeking out sorcerers, psychics, mediums, palm or tea leaf readers.

The forthtelling is meant to exist still, though it is becoming a far and few between occurrence as the full counsel of God is not preached, (and possibly few even know or care what that means) but rather here a scripture, there a scripture, and seldom if ever even those used in a doctrinal way.

Miracles: Always the miracles performed even with Jesus were authenticating the message as being of God. It was needed in the beginning of the church as validation of the apostles message and the Christ given authority. We no longer need that. We have it in our Bible. If we need to get the message from an outside source and a human one at that by miracles being performed but no message of the gospel given, then we are saying Christ and His word are insufficient. It sets aside the power of God through the word to call people to Him. If that is what we need as proof we may find ourselves among the crowds that came to Him for the loaves and fishes.