Like another poster said earlier, this subject of "sign gifts" is NOT a matter of salvation but, the personality of the thread, Kenneth Copeland, DOES make it a matter of salvation. He goes so far as to tell people that "speaking in tongues" is a sign of being saved AND that being baptized in the Holy Spirit - which IS an essential part - ALWAYS means speaking in tongues. What he has said is, for all of those who did NOT get the gift of tongues in the first century up until now, they/we are NOT saved. Why some here refuse to rebuke that accursed gospel is beyond me. I guess it's too hard to praise a man's ministry with one breath and then condemn part of it with another. It is NOT a teachable spirit, that's for sure.
There are extremes on both sides, and Copeland and company are one side.
Requiring that speaking in tongues is necessary to be saved is as wrong as dogmatically holding that any who do speak in tongues are not saved.
As regards the latter, the characteristics which Paul taught would accompany the coming of that which is perfect (1Cor. 13:10-13) are not now yet fully realized, as despite a having wholly inspired revelation we still do not see face to face, but when the perfect revelation of Christ comes, then we shall know even as we are known.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. “ (1 John 3:2)
But gifts are gifts = chrisms- and chrisms do not equal character, which is the more primary issue, and like any tool, character determines whether it will used or abused, the latter being predominate with tongues me thinks, besides other buses of so many so-called “faith teachers.”
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. “ (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Have a God night.
You can and do challenge ones beliefs and or clarify ones understanding...especially when the topics are controversial and there's a true debate occurring. More than once when you might be debating with another and I'm not certain what the truth is.....the very fact the debate is happening even has shown me there are things which I need to know that I don't!
As for Kenneth Copelands teachings on tongues proving one is saved...well that's nonsense...and further it certainly isn't a requirement as the “tongue movement” occurring in the churches today is a counterfeit. And yes I make that as a matter of fact statement if for no other reason then the great divisions it's created within the body of Christ is sufficient to determine so...however there are vastly more reasons in which one can make that determination as well.
I noticed somewhere someone referencing another destructive teacher...Bill Keller maybe if I recall correctly....but another who lives an elaborate lifestyle and makes all sorts of claims. Honestly these false teachers are multiplying rapidly because there's big money to be made in doing so as our nations people become more and more open to deception....and the desire by those who covet power, money and wealth, as well as the “glory” of having followers, becomes the way to succeed......interesting how many of these are former convicts. Should we be surprised?
I pray you never stop posting...same with metmom and cynical bear and smvoice and others who we all learn from. I wish I could remember all their names....and we know even those who post only on occasion can leave us with some pretty deep things to think about.