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"Tongues" was a sign gift. It demonstrated something to the hearer. Tongues was a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost that God was at work among them. The Jews came to Jerusalem for the Pentecostal celebration. Each spoke Hebrew as part of their religious practice. They also spoke the national language of where they lived. Many had been born and raised in a foreign nation. They returned to Jerusalem to worship on special feast days. Each Jew heard the prophesying of Christ's disciples in their native tongue (Acts 2:1-12). They understood the message clearly in their own language. That's what amazed them and brought them to Peter, John, James and the rest of the disciples to get answers to what was happening. They were utterly amazed and asked, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?" Luke documents 16 different countries and regions where the languages would differ. Peter reminded the crowd of Joel's prophesy of the last days when God would pour out His Spirit on all people and the sons and daughters of Israel would prophesy (Acts 2:14-21). The "tongues" of Pentecost were real national languages. Everyone understood what was said.
A group of 12 Jews in Ephesus had received John the Baptist's baptism, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. Paul told them about Jesus, baptized them into the name of the Lord Jesus, laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. They also spoke in tongues (other languages) and prophesied. (Acts 19:1-7) Nothing more is said about them or the gift of tongues they had received.
Paul wrote the Corinthians about spiritual gifts (charismata ). He mentioned "those speaking in different kinds of tongues?" He then asked, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?" The answer is obviously "no." Not everyone in the church was an apostle, prophet and teacher who worked miracles, healed, spoke in tongues and interpreted those tongues. Then Paul wrote, "But eagerly desire the greater gifts." (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) This raises some important questions. Who did speak in tongues? What are the "greater gifts?" What are the lesser gifts?
Paul went into great detail about prophecy and tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. Read it carefully and prayerfully. It's obvious that the gift of tongues had changed by the time Paul was writing. He pointed out that the person who spoke in tongues did not speak to men but to God. "Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit." The person who spoke in tongues edified himself. That's a major change from Acts 2 when everyone understood God's message through the gift of tongues. The Corinthian believers who prophesied (preached the Word) edified the church. "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." Paul told the Corinthians he would like every one of them to speak in tongues, "but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified." That's one indication about which gifts are the "greater" ones. Paul told the Corinthians that if he came to them and spoke in tongues but didn't bring them a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction, it wouldn't do them any good. "Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?" In that context, Paul wrote, "Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." Paul also wrote, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." He then added an interesting line: "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: 'Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord."
Paul wrote that tongues were a sign, "not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'"
Paul wrote the Corinthians about how to worship together properly. He said that everyone should use their spiritual gifts "for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God."
It's obvious from a close observation of Paul's letter to the Corinthians that they had a lot of problems. One of those problems was the way the Christians looked at spiritual gifts. Paul spent three chapters on it! He didn't give that much space to baptism, the Lord's Supper, divisions in the church, lawsuits among the believers, food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality! Spiritual gifts was a big problem in Corinth. One of the worst problems was Christians emphasizing the wrong gifts. Pride about gifts was rampant among the brethren. Christians had their priorities wrong. They were not using the gifts to encourage and build up each other. Instead, they were showing off! They were focused on themselves instead of being focused on each other. Paul wrote that "Love" was the key. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymabl. If I have the gift of prophecy and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) What follows is one of the most quoted portions of Paul's writing about true Love. What's interesting about that is the context. Paul wrote about the purity of love in the context of a church struggling with spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were out of balance in their understanding and practice of spiritual gifts. Paul set them straight in three powerful chapters. Read all three at one sitting and you'll see and feel the power.
Paul is quite clear in 1 Corinthians 14 about the place tongues had in the church. If we do what God tells us through Paul's writings, we'll be fine.
Peter, James, John and the other apostles who spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost were understood by their hearers. "When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2:6 & 11) The "tongues" of Pentecost were different than the "tongues" of Corinth.
You present an interesting theory.
"Since the apostles' audience was composed of Jews from all over the world, the fact that they heard the gospel in the language of the Gentile nations where they lived demonstrated that the gospel was no longer for the Jews only, but also for the Gentiles."
A demonstration will have results. Did the demonstration of tongues at Pentecost result in the apostles preaching that the gospel was no longer for the Jews only, but also for the Gentiles? No. The apostles preached only to the Jews for years. It was only after a heavenly vision that Peter reluctantly went to a God-fearing Roman centurion named Cornelius. Peter was shocked that God would have anything to do with a Gentile who hadn't converted to Judaism (Acts 10). The other apostles were shocked to hear that Peter had gone into the house of uncircumcised men and eaten with them. Peter had to explain it was God's choice before the apostles believed what he had done was alright (Acts 11). Some of the Jewish believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees told the apostles and elders "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the question. After much discussion, Peter reminded them how God had included Gentiles as believers in Christ. Paul and Barnabas told the whole assembly about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them (Acts 15). Paul told Gentile believers that the Jewish assembly that day saw that God had entrusted him with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as God had entrusted Peter with the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews. Paul called Peter "an apostle to the Jews." Paul called himself "an apostle to the Gentiles." Paul said that James, Peter and John gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to him. They agreed that Paul should go to the Gentiles and they should go to the Jews (Galatians 2).
This brief study is clear evidence that the tongues the Jews heard on the Day of Pentecost was not a "sign" to them that the Gospel was also for Gentiles. They didn't understand that until years later, after God called Paul to a special ministry to the Gentiles and demonstrated His intentions to do something new through Peter and Cornelius.
The Greek word is soteria . It means "deliverance, preservation from danger or destruction, safety. God has been delivering and preserving people from danger and destruction since the second Adam and Eve sinned against Him. God never saved anyone because they were good enough for it, earned it or deserved it. God has always saved people on the basis that they did not deserve it and could not earn it. Did Adam and Eve deserve salvation? No. They disobeyed God. God warned them what would happen if they disobeyed God and they did it anyway. God could have let them die in their sins with no hope for reunion with God and God would have been just to do that. People are helpless. Everyone has sinned and gone their own way. Everyone is born into sin. Everyone is dead and without hope in their sin. God saves people because He loves them.
God does not save everyone. Read through the Bible one time and you should come away with that knowledge. God does not save everyone. He saves people based on His Grace and His Will. He has mercy on whoever He wants to have mercy. He has compassion on whoever He wants to have compassion. He's God. He can do whatever He wants. Anything He does is perfect and right because He is Perfect and Right.
God loves people. That causes Him to be Gracious towards them and have Mercy on them.
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy...Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."Romans 9:15-18
Salvation does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's Mercy.
"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved."Ephesians 2:3-5
The human race has no hope of escaping God's wrath, outside of God's Love, Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness. We are saved by grace. Paul goes on to write "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Paul makes it clear that salvation is nothing we can earn. We cannot work for it. God gives salvation to people freely, as a Gift of His Grace.
So, what does that do to salvation during the Dispensation of Law? Keep in mind that a Dispensation (oikonomia ) was how God managed His households of faith. The word means "law of the house." God determines what the laws of His households will be. He then selects "stewards" to administer the laws of the Household. Paul was a "steward" of the Household of Grace. Peter was a "steward" of the Household of the Kingdom. Moses was a "steward" of the Household of Law. We learn about what God wanted in each household by seeing what He told His "stewards" and what they told the people of the household. Moses led the people of Israel to obey the Laws of the Household of Law. Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and other "stewards" of the Household of Law continued to lead Israel toward obedience to God's Laws for centuries after Moses. Jesus Christ came to earth to provide the means for everyone's salvation. He was Israel's long-promised Messiah (Savior). He was a "steward" of God's Household of Law and the Messianic Kingdom. Jesus reminded Israel of God's Laws and demanded they obey Him. Peter, James, John and the other Hebrew Apostles were "stewards" of God's Law and the Kingdom. They required the people of Israel to obey the Laws of the Household so God would restore the Kingdom to Israel. Paul led Gentiles and Jews to obey the Laws of the Household of the Gospel of Grace. Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and Titus were "stewards" of the Household of Grace. Their message was different than Peter, James and John's. Paul had a different audience and a different purpose. So, was the method of salvation different?
Yes, the method was different. The means was the same. It is because of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross that people of all Dispensations have salvation. Here's what Hebrews says about the power of the Law.
"Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made)."Hebrews 10:8
That is a fascinating statement! God required Israel to make sacrifices and offerings to the Lord, but God was not pleased with them. Why?
"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifices and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God.'"Hebrews 10:1-7
Why did God design a system of Laws that included sacrifices and offerings that could not please Him? Why was that part of an entire nation's salvation? Why did God manage His household with Laws?
"What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of the transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one part; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."Galatians 3:19-25
God never intended the Law to be anyone's salvation. It was a method He used to lead people to Christ. We know that we need God's salvation because of the Law. The Law shows us we are in need and cannot do anything worthy of receiving it.
"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, 'The man who does these things will live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we receive the promise of the Spirit."Galatians 3:10-14
You asked about the rich young ruler. He had a real problem. He wanted to get to heaven, but he didn't understand how. He wanted to know what "good thing" he had to do to get eternal life. He missed the entire point of Christ's Gospel.
"Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."Matthew 19:17-22
Fact is, the rich young ruler had not obeyed all God's commandments. He did not love his neighbor as himself. He did not want to part with his riches. Money was more important to him than others and the Kingdom of God. It was more important than following Christ. He did not have the faith to do it.
So, what's the answer to your question: what was the basis for salvation in the Dispensation of Law? The basis was the Love and Grace of God poured out through the blood of Jesus Christ. Tell that to anyone who teaches salvation by faith and works. Salvation is "by grace...through faith--and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."
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"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999