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Back to the Bible Podcast
Episode 126: Speaking in Tongues
00:30:05
In this episode, we consider the practice of speaking in tongues and how that connects to today.
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Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea. God's Word alone, our authority, every word, every step, in the name of Christ. Back to the Bible for the way of life. Welcome to this period of Bible study. We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to discuss God's Word with you. And as always, we hope that our time together is well spent and that you find value in listening in and to considering God's Word with us. Of course God's Word is valuable. It is the most precious thing that we could be reading, studying, thinking about, meditating on. And so the value is there. It is just a matter of whether or not we are able to communicate that effectively, and we hope that we can. And if there's anything that we say that's not clear or not helpful or not true, we want you to reach out to us because we want to be as faithful and as helpful as we can be as we consider God's Word together. It may be that you are looking for more opportunities to study God's Word. Let me say that we will make ourselves available for that. And it may be that you're in a place where there's some brother or sister who's close by to you who could consider God's Word with you. And that would be wonderful, to be able to sit down with them and talk about God's Word. And perhaps you're close enough to us for us to do the same thing. Sit across the table with an open Bible and consider what God's will is for all of creation and what his will is for you and what he has promised to do. And also how we can grow to be more like Jesus in all of that. You can reach out to us. The best way would be through our website@backtothebiblepodcast.com backtothebiblepodcast.com now, what I want to do today is I'm calling a little bit of an audible as I record this program. And I record early in the mornings. And last night someone called me and was having a conversation about this subject. And twice this week I saw a video. And I'm sure you could find it if you looked it up. But it struck me as something that I needed to talk about. And what it is, is there is a video of an older preacher standing in what looks to be a pretty crowded situation. And he is preaching about the baptism into the name of Jesus Christ. And he says, and these are his words. If you are not speaking in tongues, then you are not going to heaven. If you are not Speaking in tongues, you are not going to heaven. Now, obviously, he was a member of some Pentecostal group, and it may be that you're listening in and you are a member of one of those kinds of churches. And what I want to do is I want to consider whether or not this person is telling the truth when he says, if you're not speaking in tongues, you are not going to heaven. He is putting salvation on the line with regards to the speaking in tongues. And I think he was associated, I know that is the case with a Pentecostal type church. And so that perhaps raises questions for some about whether or not they are supposed to be speaking in tongues. So what I want to do is I first want to walk through the Book of Acts and see the actual use of speaking in tongues. And then we'll go to some other letters. Particularly we're going to go to First Corinthians and we're going to see what the Apostle Paul has to say about speaking in tongues. And I think we can fairly well shut down the idea that speaking in tongues is necessary in order to be going to heaven. Now, I say we can shut it down. I think if you and I will honestly look at the Scriptures, I think we can shut it down. Will we shut down the Pentecostal movement with regards to that? I doubt it. But we want to be very clear and effective in our discussion today. And if these questions come up again, I hope that you can use this as a way to address those things clearly, faithfully, and thoughtfully. So what do we see about the use of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues? And let's say a few things about that as we make our way through the lesson. So the first place that I think we need to consider is Acts, Chapter two, Acts two. This is where we see the speaking of tongues being practiced the first time. Now, the reason that Pentecostals refer to themselves as such is because they are looking at the day of Pentecost that's discussed in Acts Chapter two. And let me tell you, there is a sense in which I want to be a Pentecostal, right? I want to preach the gospel message just like they did on the day of Pentecost. There are lots of Pentecostal groups that emphasize basically what we would say about restoration. Now, I don't know that they always apply it in the right ways, even without regard to spiritual gifts. But I would say the idea. There was a congregation near where I used to live in Mississippi, and it was called the Church of Jesus Christ. And at the bottom of the sign, it said, rooted in apostolic doctrine. Now that's not bad, is it? That is a good description of a congregation belonging to Christ. That is a good goal to be rooted in apostolic doctrine. But I think if you looked at the facilities that they built, the worship that they offered, that you would say, well, how rooted are we in apostolic doctrine? Maybe there were some questions about that. But in addition to that, they were Pentecostal. In that county where I lived in Mississippi, there were several Pentecostal groups. And what they said was that when you were baptized, you basically were to come up out of the water speaking in tongues. Now, the reason they call themselves Pentecostals is because on the day of Pentecost, you have speaking in tongues being given. And what they say is, if we want to be like the New Testament Church, if we want to be like the first century Church, then our baptism needs to be producing speaking in tongues. Well, that misses several things, and I want to note them here. The first thing is when we come to Acts chapter two, it says, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. Now, who is the they referring to? Now, many Pentecostals will say that the they is referring to the 120 that we read about in verse 15 of chapter one. In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers. A crowd of about 120 persons were there together and said, men and brothers. So they say, that's the they of chapter two. But here's the issue. By the time we get to chapter two, the last people that are referenced are the 11 apostles with Matthias added. Look at verse 26. And they cast lots for them. And the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the 11 apostles. And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. You see, the last group that is being referenced in chapter one is the they of the apostles. The apostles. And so we do not see the 120 being referred to there. Rather we see the apostles. Now, somebody might say, yes, but in the context, couldn't we say the they could have been pointing to the hundred and twenty? Okay, let me grant you that that possibly English wise, or grammatically maybe we'd have to say Greek wise, the they could be pointing back up to that 120 that we began with in verse 15. Well, the challenge to that is that only the apostles were the ones who had received the promise from Jesus about baptism in the Holy Spirit. If you go back up to chapter one and this is in verse two. Well, just begin. In verse one, the first account, O Theophilus I composed about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up to heaven after he had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many convincing proofs appearing to them over 40 days and speaking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God and gathering them together. Who Them? Who? The apostles. He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Not many days from now. Alright. Now he s talking to the apostles about the promise of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Now they are going to ask about the kingdom coming. And in verse 8 he says, but you who will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, even to the end of the earth. Now here's the essential thing that we need to see. Somebody says, yes, but couldn't that promise have been applicable to everyone? Let me tell you why I don't think that's the case. Because in chapter one and verse eight he says, you are going to be my witnesses. These are going to be people who can give firsthand testimony. Sometimes in religious circles we use the word witness to talk about our experience of salvation. But that is not the way the word is being used here in the New Testament. The word here is being used to talk about one who is a firsthand ear and eyewitness. They heard him and they saw him. And these apostles are going to be the ones who can serve as witnesses. I want you to look at verse eight again. You will receive power and you shall be my witnesses. Now when we come to the apostles, I want you to note that at the end of chapter one there were only two men qualified to meet that role of apostle. And part of the qualification was that they had to be. From the baptism of John until the resurrection, they had to be a witness. One of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. Can I tell you that not all of them, not all the one hundred and twenty, were qualified in that way to be a witness? And in fact, of the hundred and 20, about 120, there were only two men that were qualified. And of the two men that were qualified, only one man was chosen to serve. Now who was the promise Made that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit. It was not the whole hundred and twenty. It was the apostles. What did it take to be apostles? They had to be a particular kind of witness. Who were the witnesses? Only the apostles. And why does that matter? Because they were the ones promised to receive power from the Holy Spirit. Now let me go one step further here. Somebody says, okay, but just because he made the promise specifically to them in chapter one, and just because they're the last people referenced in chapter one doesn't mean that all 120 aren't together. Alright, so verse four. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Who is it that is speaking? And who is it that is being given utterance to speak in other tongues? So we see that all these nations are gathered together and we're going to make a point about them in just a second. But they ask what does this mean? And others are saying they are full of new wine, which obviously is a terrible accusation because who full of new wine is able to speak into other languages. On the other hand, let me make a case about the speaking in tongues today that it is not another language. And so maybe we should consider whether or not that is the kind of thing that they are addressing in verse 14. But Peter taking his stand with the 11 raised his voice and declared to them, men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words, for these men are not drunk as you suppose. Now I want you to notice as we go that the apostles are the ones who are speaking on all the way through. Peter is speaking with the apostles when he speaks about them throughout the text. When they heard this in verse 37, they were pierced of the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. And what I want you to notice that it's the apostles who are doing the tongue speaking here, not all 120, because it's not Peter taking his stand with the 120 or the 119 if you want to be mathematical about it. It's not Peter taking his stand with all of them. It is Peter taking his stand with the 11 that they are hearing. Because he says in verse 32 this Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Witnesses. Not all the 120 were witnesses in the same way that that the apostles were. Were they witnesses? Had they seen Jesus raised from the dead? I take that to be so. But the Apostles were in a special position to be special witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the rest of the earth. So all that is to say is before and after the pouring out of the gift of the Holy Spirit, or the being filled with the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in other tongues before and after. It is the focus of the apostles that's being focused on here. Now let me also notice this. In verses 5 through 13 we have reference to the speaking in tongues. And what I want you to hear is that the crowd comes together. This is verse six. And in verse seven, they were astounded and marveling, saying, behold, are not these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear each of them in our own language in which we were born? Are you hearing that when they spoke in tongues, they were not speaking some unintelligible language? The Pentecostals, when you listen to them speak in tongues, it is not a language that exists on the planet. It is not communicating to someone who speaks a foreign language the language that the apostles were speaking, the tongue. When we talk about speaking in tongues, let's just understand we're talking about speaking in his own language, right? We're talking about speaking in a language. When we talk about that this was something that was used to communicate to other human beings. Now sometimes the Pentecostals will say, well, that is not the point of speaking in tongues. It is an indication that we are saved. And I want you to know that that was not the point of the speaking in tongues on this day. The point of speaking in tongues on this day was one to communicate. And you say, well, maybe they all spoke Greek. Well, that's very possible because they're having a conversation with each other about hearing them in their own language. But what you see here is not only is it communicating, it is a sign that the Holy Spirit has been poured so that they will respond to the gospel. Now let me tell you something. If somebody who had never studied it before starts speaking to a group and they're able to speak in French and in Russian and Chinese and Japanese and Spanish, if they're able to do all of that without ever having studied it, going to pay attention to what they're saying. But if they are just jibber jabbering in a language that is not communicating anything, I am not listening. I'm not paying attention. Now somebody says, but what if they are speaking the language of angels? How would I know that these people knew that these men were speaking a foreign language? Because it was a foreign language. They spoke naturally, they spoke from birth. And so I think it's very important that when somebody says I want to be a Pentecostal, great. If you think that includes speaking in tongues, then it must be a language that people from some of these 17 nations could have understood their native tongues. But the indications are all inclusive that the tongues that they are speaking in are not foreign languages that are communicating to other people. They are languages that are made up. And they are not actually divinely inspired, despite the fact that they may feel as though that is the case. So let's say a couple of things. One, the gift of speaking in tongues was directly given to the apostles in Acts chapter 20. And then the speaking of tongues in Acts chapter 20 was intended to communicate in different languages, not to be something that was one non understandable and two, not something that was supposed to just be communication between the speaker and God. Alright, let's flip over to Acts chapter 8. Perhaps there are other references we could look at in between, and I am happy to consider those if you have questions or would like to raise them. But this is where the particular question was that I got yesterday with regards to that. In Acts 8, Philip goes and he's preaching to Samaria. He's preaching to Samaria. Now Philip is not one of the apostles, but he is one of the men who had been chosen to serve for the care for the widows. Now whether it was at that moment or before, I take it to be before, he had had the apostles hands laid on him and he was able to do incredible miracles. So in chapter 8 and verse 12, when they believed Philip proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. And after being baptized he continued on with Philip. And as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly astounded. Now were the people in Samaria saved in Acts 8, 12 and 13? If not, then I don't know how to read the Bible. Because these people responded to the gospel message, believing and being baptized, which was precisely what it took for someone to be saved according to Jesus. They believe they are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. So in that video with the Pentecostal preacher, he will say that the name baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is not just a way to be saved, it is the way. And I think that is right. I think we must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. The problem is the way he defines Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ demands that you're speaking in tongues. But just hold on, put a pin in that. I just want to ask in 8, 12 and 13, if that man is right that being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is the way that we have our sins washed away, then are they saved in Acts 8, 12, 13? And the answer is, I should be able to hear a resounding yes. Now verse 14. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God. You hear that? Receiving the word of God, that is a positive thing, that is indicating salvation. They sent them Peter and John, who came down and and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed through the laying on the apostles hands and he offered them money saying give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you. Because you suppose that you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours and pray earnestly to the Lord, that if possible the intention of of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness. But Simon answered and said, pray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me. Now I want you to see this. Look at verse 16. The Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The man on the video said that being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus was identical with the baptism that would make it where you receive the speaking of tongues. And if you weren't speaking in tongues, you weren't going to heaven. Can I ask you in 8, verse 17 or 8, verse 16, that when they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but they had not begun speaking in tongues, were they going to heaven? Yes they were. But in verse 17 then they, the apostles began laying their hands on them and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. I want you to see here, there's two things I think that are key here. One is that the Holy Spirit did not automatically come on somebody when they were raised up out of the waters of baptism, even baptism in the name of Jesus. That is not how it happened. Even in the first century and second, the only way that the gift of the Holy Spirit in this sense, the gifting, the spiritual gifting that came by the Holy Spirit, the only way that was passed on to an ordinary disciple was through the laying on of the apostles hands. Do you see that? And so what you have here, Philip goes, works miracles, preaches to them, baptizes them, they're saved, but they don't have the Holy Spirit yet. Now somebody, the one who called me asked and said, well, how did they know that they hadn't received the Holy Spirit? That's a great question. Because we read the rest of the New Testament and we say, well, doesn't the Holy Spirit dwell in those who are faithful Christians? Absolutely right. I think you could point to Romans 8, I think you could point to 1 Corinthians 6 6. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling in Christians. Well how do they know that the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in these Christians? Because that's not what's being referred to here. What's being referred to here is the miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit through the spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues. They know they haven't received it because they don't hear it. Now when we come to Acts 10, I think this is an example that the Pentecostals were referred to often. This is in the case of Cornelius and he is going to be the first Gentile who is going to obey the Gospel, he and his family. What I want you to see, and we are running out of time, so I want to make sure I get this in, is that while Peter is preaching to Cornelius and his family, the Holy Spirit is poured out on them and they begin speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Verse 46. Now I want you to notice how Peter responds to that verse 47. He says, can any man forbid water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did? And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. And then they asked him to remain for a few days. I want you to hear that the Pentecostal idea is that you are baptized in the name of Jesus and as you come up out of the water, you should be able to speak in tongues. But that is not what's happening in Acts 10. In Acts 10 they are given the ability to speak in tongues before they are baptized. Before they are baptized. I would say that in Acts 10 they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts that have been poured out and they have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. I think the timeline is very clear there. 46, 47, 48. Just read the passages and you'll see that now somebody would say, well, why then are they given the gift to be able to speak in tongues if they're not saved? Look at 15:8. This is Acts 15:8. Here Peter is giving a defense of the rights of Gentiles to come into Christ just the way the Jews do, but without any extra expectations of circumcision or anything like that. And in Acts 15:7, after there had been much debate, Peter stood and said to them, brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now, what was the purpose of that baptism in the Holy Spirit? It was to be God's testimony, his evidence in the case that they could be saved just like the Gentiles. That is why Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus so that their sins can be washed away. We'll have to say more. But until next time, we bid you a pleasant good day. Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea. God's word alone, our authority, every word, every step in the name of Christ. Back to the Bible for the way of life.