In session 3, Dr. Storms opened up the can of worms. He preached from 1 Cor. 14:1 about earnestly desiring spiritual gifts. He had 4 observations:
1. It is not enough to simply be open to spiritual gifts. Paul says to earnestly desire them. Dr. Storms described the various views on the gifts of the Spirit. He said it is sin to belive the miraculous gifts are still available and yet not pursue their practice. Paul commands us to pursue them.
2. All spiritual gifts (even the miraculous) are intended by God for the common good and mutual edification of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 14:26; 14:3; 12:7). The miraculous gifts are not designed primarily for the attestation of the gospel (the cessationist argument). They are given for the building up of the church.
3. There is no necessary inconsistency between exercising gifts for edification of others and being edified oneself. Self-edification is not wrong unless it is an end in itself.
4. There is no necessary inconsistency between the final authority of the Bible and the spontanious revelations of prophecy. Teaching the Word is more authoritative than prophecy.
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