1 Corinthians 12:12-18

There are two issues we would like to consider that arise from 1 Cor. 12:12-27.    

Ø Is speaking in tongues evidence of the baptism of the Spirit? (12:12-18)

The traditional Pentecostal answer to this question is “yes.”  Their view comes from the book of Acts where the baptism of the Holy Spirit was evidenced by speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) as well as in the home of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18) and among the disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:6).  We are willing to say that probably the same thing happened with the first Samaritan believers in Acts 8:14-18 (there was some visible evidence that they also received the Holy Spirit, v18).

This line of argument, to begin with, is quite unreliable.  First, Acts is not teaching on the subject but is the record of events given by Dr. Luke.  There can be, and are, other interpretations as to what was happening in Acts.  We hold that these events were exceptional and not normal.  The Apostles, who were involved in each incident, were using the keys given to them by Christ (Matt. 16:18-19) in opening up the Church to all men: first the Jews and then the rest of humanity.  The miraculous evidence makes it clear that Samaritans and Gentiles and the disciples of John are all part of the one Body and on equal footing.

Second, there is no command or expectation in any teaching passage that speaking in tongues is normal.  There is a command to be filled (Eph. 5:18) but no command to be baptized in the Spirit.  Today’s passage assumes that every believer has, in fact, been baptized in the Spirit (12:13).  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.  There is no distinction in this: Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, ALL have been made to drink into one Spirit!  Remember 1 Cor. 1:2: Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, to the believers.  The teaching is that all believers have received the Holy Spirit.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His (Rom. 8:9).

Having received the Spirit at the point of conversion is a fulfillment of the New Covenant.  Being filled day by day is the command and the need for the believer so that he might walk in the Spirit.  This is what Jesus taught in John 7:37-39.  The Holy Spirit would be given to those who believe in Him.  The daily need is then to drink from Him, to walk in faith: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Col. 2:6).  In this way the Holy Spirit fills or controls the believer, even as wine controls the drunk person (Eph. 5:18).

The application in our passage is that no believer is excluded from the body because of his spiritual gift or lack.  God has set the members in the body as HE pleases!  It is today as it was in Corinth: God’s workings are diverse (12:7-11).  The intended answer to the question in 12:30 (do all speak with tongues) is “no”.  As a believer in Christ you have received the Holy Spirit.  Believe this, and then be filled with the Spirit!  Drink daily from Christ.  Walk in faith!