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Charisms and Baptism in the Spirit
Gift and gifts
I argued above that the gift of the Spirit is quite different from the gifts of the Spirit. I promised to continue discussion of the gifts, the “charisms” as they are routinely called.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. (I Cor. 12: 7–11)
I do not accept the “cessationist” thesis that these charisms disappeared when the Scriptures were complete. For one thing, the rediscovery of them is a fact of history and testified by millions of Pentecostal Christians — there can be no question that they are, but there is considerable debate as to what they are. Specifically, are the charisms permanent in the recipient; are they given at baptism; and does their exercise depend upon the moral character or faith of those using them?
