Rays of Living Light on the One Way of Salvation — John Shaqi
Rays of Living Light on the One Way of SalvationPenrose, Charles W. (Charles William)
Religion
Rays of Living Light on the One Way of Salvation
Penrose, Charles W. (Charles William)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
The Holy Ghost is the same in all ages and among all people. Its
effects are also the same. In the days of the early Christian Church
the fruits of that Spirit were enjoyed by the members. They are thus
described by the Apostle Paul: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 23). "But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to
another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith
by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same
Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophesy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will" (I Corinthians 12:7-11). Paul exhorted the saints to "Follow
after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
prophesy," and after explaining his reasons for this instruction he
concluded, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not
to speak with tongues" (I Corinthians 14:39).
The absence of these gifts and manifestations of the Spirit in the
various religious sects at the present day is attempted to be
accounted for by the airy excuse, "They are all done away, and are
no longer needed." Yet they were part and parcel of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and incorporated in the Church--the body of Christ--as
some of its members. "Every tree is known by its fruits." If the
Spirit that animated the Church of Christ in the apostolic age
inspired the churches of the 20th century, would not the same fruits
be brought forth by it, and enjoyed today? Has the Spirit of God
changed? Or have not men changed the ordinances and institutions of
heaven, and built up churches and promulgated doctrines of their
own? But the advocates and apologists of sectarian theology will
quote. "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" (I Corinthians 13:8). Why
do they not continue the quotation and give the succeeding verses
which form an integral part of the scriptural argument? Is it
because that would sweep away the crutches of their lame and halting
pretense and cast their false theory prone in the dust? This is what
follows. "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when
that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away." Will it be claimed that this promised perfection has
come? Do latter-day sectaries know more, understand better, and see
clearer in divine things than did the Apostle Paul? Has anything
"perfect" come upon modern Christendom except "perfect" confusion?
That Paul had reference to a condition yet in the future in making
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