By Their Fruits: Is Jesus Dismissing Tongues?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

The Abiding Evidence — and the Initial Sign

• The question posed: we teach and believe that the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. So we would say: a person doesn't have the Holy Spirit, if they haven't spoken in tongues. One of the arguments that gets thrown back at us, quite frequently — I saw it used on social media, recently — was the words of Jesus: that you will know them by their fruit. Does that indicate that fruit is the evidence of the Holy Spirit, and that tongues therefore plays no role? What would your response to that be?
• I believe that the abiding evidence of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit — supremely love — and the pursuit of holiness. That doesn't contradict anything that we teach. It's very interesting: you're correct. The Pentecostal movement, broadly — which includes the Trinitarians — speaks of tongues as the initial physical evidence. The UPCI Articles of Faith actually say: initial sign — which I prefer. And all throughout the UPCI manual, we speak of that: tongues is the initial sign. I like that, because I think that a little bit more accurately captures the evidence you see in the New Testament. So, obviously, the book of Acts — which, we have another episode that covers this subject in great detail; I think maybe a couple of episodes. But when you look at Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19: the sign that showed people that they'd received the Holy Spirit was speaking in tongues. But when you talk about evidence — I would argue, and I'm comfortable with saying, tongues is initial evidence, but only initial. But when you speak on evidence, more fully, I would say: the evidence of a Spirit-filled life is being led by the Spirit, which would include bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

Scriptures: Matthew 7:16; Acts 2; Acts 10; Acts 19

Fruit, Holiness, and Being Led

• You find in Galatians 5:22-23 a list of nine aspects of spiritual fruit. There are other passages, that use other terms. Jesus, in John 14, talks about being — bearing fruit. And then, of course, the whole concept of seeking holiness, pursuing holiness. If you're not desiring, and seeking after, holiness, how can you be filled with the Holy Spirit? So, Hebrews 12:14: 'Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.' So I would say, the abiding — and then, let me just give you Romans 8:14: 'As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.' So, in that context, it's talking about the ongoing Christian life: being filled with the Spirit; mortifying the needs of the body, which is the concept of holiness. And so, the context seems to say: it's not simply people who are initially filled with the Spirit, but those who are continually being led by the Spirit. They are the sons of God. So I would absolutely emphasize the abiding evidence of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in our lives — in the sense of not only having initially received the Spirit, as an experience, but having the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, controlling. And when I say controlling, I don't mean contrary to our will, but submitting our will to God. The evidence of the abiding presence of the Spirit is bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and living a holy life.

Scriptures: Galatians 5:22-23; John 14; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 8:14

Tongues Tell You about Then — Not about Today

• And so, if someone speaks in tongues — let's say we're praying, and next to me, someone is speaking in tongues. I think that would indicate: yes, at one time, they yielded their heart, and they were filled with the Spirit. But that doesn't tell me if they're living a godly life today. That doesn't tell me if they're doctrinally correct today. Just because they speak in tongues, that simply says: they have faith to yield, for that experience. And God has given them that gift. He won't take it away. But they're still responsible to grow in grace and knowledge: 'Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' They're still responsible to allow the Spirit to work in them, to guide them, to control them, to lead them — as we see in Romans chapter 8. So, this fits together perfectly.

Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:18; Romans 8

What Jesus Was — and Wasn't — Addressing

• The words of Jesus are absolutely what we believe. That doesn't negate the fact that there's a real experience of having received the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't mention that, in the text you quoted. Of course, it was before the Day of Pentecost. He doesn't say anything about water baptism, in that context. He doesn't say anything about receiving the Holy Spirit, in that context. But he does, in other contexts. In fact, in John 7:37-39, Jesus makes it very clear that, if you believe on him, you'll receive the Holy Spirit. But he doesn't go into detail, in the passage you quoted. But he's just simply making a very true, and important, pertinent observation: if you want to know if a person is in relationship with him; if you want to know if a person is filled with the Spirit, living the Spirit, walking the Spirit — then you look at the fruit of their lives.

Scriptures: John 7:37-39

Scripture index: Matthew 7:16; Acts 2; Acts 10; Acts 19; Galatians 5:22-23; John 14; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 8:14; 2 Peter 3:18; Romans 8; John 7:37-39.