"That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." {#Luke 1:35}
1Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
What do these verses have in common? They each use neuter genders to describe their subjects. A neuter gender is believed to be a non personal description yet we find here in Luke it is used very specifically as a personal description. It is describing Jesus as a babe in the womb.
The question is: Is it such a leap to consider that a neuter gender used this way in Luke could also be used in the same way in 1 Corinthians 13:10?
The camp that believes the gifts of the Spirit are no longer for today, and who denounce any idea of a post salvation Baptism of the Spirit being valid, generally use this argument as a basis for their belief.
They argue that the canonizing of Scripture fulfilled the, "that which is perfect," aspect. Yet, I never knew the Bible had a face for if we continued to read on in Corinthians we would discover that whatever the perfect thing is, it has a face, "for then we shall see face to face."
It makes so much more sense to see that passage as referring to when Jesus returns and gives all of us glorified bodies, and completes the process of our perfection by finalizing our spiritual consummation. "We shall all be changed," the Scripture says.
Even if I could perfectly embrace the process of sanctification in this life and never find myself in any sort of opposition to the work of the Spirit in bringing me to the place God wants me to walk in the flesh, I would still not have attained the perfection spoken of here in Corinthians.
This mortality must put on immortality. This tent called the body, is not yet renewed, it is perishing, for if it had been renewed and made alive as my spirit has, it too would already possess eternal attributes. It would not perish. My spirit already possesses the promises of being imperishable. I am an eternal being in Christ. But my body must also undergo transformation, and the promise of that occurrence hinges on His soon return. "When we see Him we shall be like Him."
Until then, I must have the work of the Holy Spirit in my life along with the working of His gifts which lead to encouragement and are useful in the execution of the ministry He has entrusted to me.
Perhaps it is more arrogant to think one could execute any type of spiritual ministry without the promised help of the Holy Spirit and His gifts, than it is to embrace both Him and them.
I think I will unashamedly continue to believe that I need to be, "being filled with the Spirit," and I need His gifts at work both, in and through me.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
