4 – The Foundation to the Study of the Sign Gift of Tongues is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself

4 – The Foundation to the Study of the Sign Gift of Tongues is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself

I. THE FOUNDATION TO THE STUDY OF THE SIGN GIFT OF TONGUES IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

In any good study, a foundation must be established, whereby the student has a basis to proceed and grasp the material. College courses often have prerequisites. So too does the study of God’s Word. This prerequisite is Jesus Christ Himself.

I Corinthians 3:11 says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Before fully delving into the doctrine of tongues, has the reader considered the following two questions:

• “Are you sure that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord (Master) and Saviour?”
• “Do you trust in Him alone for salvation today?”

If one’s faith in Christ is mixed with any trust in works for hope of eternal life in Heaven, then that person’s faith is in vain and they possess another gospel. The Scripture reveals very clearly Who Jesus Christ is and yet many deny basic Bible doctrines such as the fact that Jesus Christ is God and that He rose bodily from the grave three days and three nights after giving up His life on the cross at Calvary. If one’s faith is in a Jesus other than Him Who is revealed in the Scripture, then that person trusts in another Jesus who cannot save them from their sins.

The foundation to this study on the sign gift of tongues is the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. So, in all due diligence, it must be asked again, does the reader know Him?

This article does not attempt to put forth arguments to demonstrate lack of sincerity of worship in those who practice tongues speaking. This writer does not doubt whether or not anyone has an appreciation for the Word of God, nor whether or not anyone studies the Bible. However, in all sincerity, all must doubt any experience that does not line up with the Word of God, whether it be seen or heard or felt.

Christ has the preeminence, but experiences and sign gifts do not. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Many, who would not dispute the preeminence of Christ, might fail to see that Christ is the Word, according to the Bible. Therefore, the Living Word (which is Christ) and the Written Word (which is the Bible) have the preeminence over experiences and sign gifts. The Word of God is the mind of Christ!