Narcissism and Nobility

Meditations on 1Corinthians

No. 21b

The “Tongues Passage” — Getting Our Bearings

1Cor 12.1-3; 14.20-22

(Continued.)

Redemptive history — “once for all” in Christ.

All the component events of redemption are once for all in Christ, and they are made effectual once for all to each believer upon conversion.  The incarnation of Christ does not become effectual to the believer at one point and then the death of Christ at another point, and the resurrection at still another.  All those events are effectual at once or none of them are effectual at all.  They stand or fall together.

What we need to see is that Pentecost belongs in that same list, and so does another event closely associated with Pentecost — the glorification of Jesus.  In John 7.38 – 39, Jesus says, “He who believes in me, as the Scripture said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” and then John explains that Jesus spoke this “concerning the Spirit whom those believing in him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.”  We should note two things here.

First, there is a connection between Christ’s glorification and Pentecost (Jn 7.39).  Pentecost was the outcome, and therefore the proof, of Jesus’ glorification (Acts 2.33).  Similarly, Jesus’ glorification was the outcome and proof of his resurrection (Acts 2.32; Phil 2.9), which in turn was the outcome and proof of his atoning death (Acts 2.23-24; Phil 2.8), which was the outcome and proof of his incarnation to save the world (Phil 2.6-7).  It is the once for all completion of these events that enables even one Christian to be saved.

Second, the promise of the indwelling Spirit, which Jesus describes as “rivers of living water,” is to all who believe in Jesus (Jn 7.38).  In other words, Christ’s once-for-all work of redemption in all its component events applies to all believers at conversion.  The events of redemption are not repeated in the life and experience of the believer — they are applied, but they are not repeated. A person is not saved because Christ has been incarnated again, crucified again, raised again, glorified again, or has given the Spirit again.  A person is saved because Christ did these things once for all, and they have now been applied to that person through faith.

(To be continued.)