When that which is perfect is come

When that which is perfect is come

1Cor.13:8-12  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The Corinthian church was established during the transitional period, where Israel, as a nation, and their prophetic program, was diminishing. God was turning His attention to the grace program, under commission of Paul, where both Jews and Gentiles were being saved by grace alone through the cross of Christ, and not by means of Israel.

This period not only involved a transition from a nation to a body, from Israel to the Body of Christ, but it also marked a transition from a temporary need for spiritual giftings to the fully perfect and completed state of the Word of God in written form.

The written Word of God is the greatest gift of God, and spiritual resource, on this planet today. The written Word provides readers with the fully known will of God, the fully expounded plan of God for the redemption of all of creation, and the full revelation of the knowledge and glory of Jesus Christ. All we need to do is open the Bible (KJV1611) and we have access to everything we ever need to see God, to know Him and to serve Him. Paul tells us in the above passage that there is no longer a need for prophecy, for the gift of tongues, and for the spiritual utterance of the words of knowledge. These spiritual gifts are no longer needed as we have access to the full revelation of God’s will and purpose for us. The written Word, which, as Paul says is, “that which is perfect is come”, has done away with, “that which is in part”. In other words, that which was a temporary state in the transitioning church to fill in for the lack of having the full revelation of the written Word of God.

It is interesting to note how Paul compares these giftings to “childish things”. These gifts of utterance were to serve a transitioning church that was growing. They were to provide knowledge of God’s will and purpose for the church during the time where the full revelation of God’s doings was not yet known. Today however, we have the privilege of being able to delve into the fully revealed wisdom of God for us. Each individual member of the Body of Christ can study the written Word (rightly divided) for themselves and find in it all that they can and want to know about God. Today, we can open up the scriptures and see the manifestation of the face of God within it. Though we still have a dimmed knowledge of the fulness of all His Word, the more we study it, the more His light shines in our hearts and the more knowledge we gain of God’s fulness and glory.

The written Word is God’s greatest tangible gift that we can hold in our hands, page through, and interact with. The value of this book, or rather, the words on its pages, is beyond measure. Growing up and maturing in this book is of far greater worth than the ‘childish’ practices that many uninformed Christians still try to maintain in the church and in their ministry. These giftings are not in operation today. There is no need to function in prophecy, tongues, or words of knowledge, in a personal or corporate means, as we already have that which is perfect. Anything more than what we already have in the written Word, has its source in man’s vain imaginations, and is not from God. There is no need for ‘voices’ as God has given us a sure and truthful Word that is able to guide us, correct us, and instruct us, in all matters of life and faith, equipping us for every good work unto His glory.

2Tim.3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.