There’s a phrase I came across in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth that stuck with me:

“We must bring the message from there and then to here and now.”

 

It’s a simple sentence, but it’s also a framework; one that helps us read the Bible not just as a historical document, but as the living Word of God, active and breathing into every generation.

And that’s where I’d like to gently plant a flag on something: The gifts of the Spirit have not expired. They haven’t been retired. They haven’t been boxed and shelved with the scrolls of ancient Israel.

They are still here. Still needed. Still real.

But what about “when the perfect comes”?

1 Corinthians 13:10 says, “But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” This has often been interpreted by cessationists to mean the completion of the Bible. But let’s ask the Fee & Stuart question:

What would the original hearers in Corinth have understood?

They weren’t thinking about a future canon of Scripture. That concept didn’t exist yet. They would have understood “the perfect” as the fullness of God’s kingdom; the day we see Him face to face, when the broken becomes whole and the dim becomes clear.

Until that day comes, we still need the gifts. Not as spiritual trophies, but as grace-filled tools to build up the body of Christ.

Why These Gifts Still Matter

In a world full of noise, distraction, and confusion, the Spirit’s gifts are not accessories; they’re lifelines:

  • Prophecy offers timely encouragement, correction, and insight aligned with God’s heart (1 Cor. 14:3).

 

  • Discernment of spirits helps guard against deception and keeps us spiritually alert (1 Cor. 12:10).

 

  • Words of knowledge remind us that God sees, knows, and cares for our deepest needs.

These gifts don’t elevate individuals; they serve the body, stir faith, and reveal Jesus in tangible ways.

Prophecy Is Not Scripture

Let’s be clear: New Testament prophecy is not the same as writing Scripture. The Bible is complete , full stop. Prophetic words today are:

  • Submitted to Scripture
  • Tested and weighed (1 Thess. 5:20–21)
  • Intended to edify, encourage, or console (1 Cor. 14:3)

We don’t need to fear prophecy. We need to steward it. It doesn’t add to the Bible; it flows from the Spirit, in alignment with the Word.

So Where Does That Leave Us?

  1. Seek the Giver, not just the gifts. But don’t despise what He gives (1 Thess. 5:20).
  2. Hold love as the highest gift. That’s the core of 1 Corinthians 13.
  3. Walk humbly with those who differ. Unity doesn’t require uniformity.
  4. Stay open to the Spirit’s movement. In decency and order (1 Cor. 14:40).

The early church needed the Spirit’s power and so do we. Not just for signs and wonders, but for wisdom, boldness, and compassion.

We don’t need to manufacture miracles. But we shouldn’t muzzle the Spirit either.

Let’s stay open. Stay anchored. Stay expectant.

Additional Reading: Dig Deeper, Discern Better

If this stirred curiosity or caution that’s okay. God welcomes the search. Here are some thoughtful resources:

  • How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth – Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart
  • Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God – Gordon Fee
  • Surprised by the Power of the Spirit – Jack Deere
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts – Sam Storms
  • Practicing the Power – Sam Storms
  • Convergence – Jon Ruthven et al.
  • The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: Then and Now – Max Turner

Read with your Bible open. Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

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