Are the Gifts of the Spirit Proof of Salvation?
The manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit in a person’s life are not proof of his salvation. Here are some Bible examples:
In the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, we read about King Saul. When he was first chosen, Saul was a good candidate to lead Israel. But later because of his pride and disobedience to God’s commands, he was rejected by God. In 1 Samuel 16:14, it says, “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.”
Due to Saul’s evil heart, he sought to kill David. On one occasion, as he was chasing David, he heard that David was with Samuel in the city of Ramah. Saul sent messengers to capture David, but when they arrived, “the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they prophesied. And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers a third time, and they prophesied also” (1 Samuel 19:20-21).
Notice the fact that the Holy Spirit came upon the messengers was not an indication of their being saved, but instead was a miraculous intervention on God’s behalf to save David. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah in an attempt to kill David. When he got there, “the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah” (1 Samuel 19:22-24). Thus, we see that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were signs from God, but did not indicate Saul’s salvation.
In the New Testament, we read in John 11:46-57, about the Pharisees and chief priests who were planning to stop the ministry of Jesus. Some of them were angry because many people were following Jesus. So, they said: “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” Caiaphas, who was the High Priest that year said: “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50).
Who gave Caiaphas this knowledge? The Bible explains: “this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation.” Only the Holy Spirit could have given Caiaphas this accurate prophetic statement but that was not a proof that Caiaphas was saved.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
