Spiritual Gifts No Assurance of Salvation

He was a man’s man. Head and shoulders he stood above his countrymen. No self-seeking politician or glory-seeking entertainer was he. With his good looks and manly stature he could have, in today’s world, been either one.

This young man was, as one writer put it, “one in a thousand.” By outward appearance he was “the man.”

One day God sent an emissary to him in the person of the prophet Samuel. From this day forward his life would be changed. The farm boy was to be the inaugural king of his nation, the nation of Israel.

It came about that his dad sent the young man and a servant off to look for some missing donkeys. They searched high and low for the donkeys and were gone so long that Saul, for that was his name, began to worry that his father would worry about his welfare. Just before they headed back the servant told Saul that there was a seer in the city where they were. It was not long before Saul stood before Samuel and enquired of the lost donkeys. Samuel invited Saul to be the guest of honor at a feast and then put him up for the night.

The next morning as Saul was leaving the city accompanied by Samuel, Samuel revealed to him that God had anointed him to be king over Israel. This incident is related in 1 Samuel 9 and 10.

On his way home, in accord with Samuel’s prophecy three things happened: the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, God gave him another heart, and he prophesied.

On another occasion (1 Samuel 19) Saul prophesied again after the Spirit came upon him.

On the first occasion, Saul was an unknown. He was not a leader, not famous, and not tried. On the latter occasion he was king, had turned against God and was in pursuit of David.

There is a tendency to characterize gifted people as spiritual. Some may be. All are not. In both cases Saul’s behavior as a prophet was out of character and so amazed those that knew him that they questioned, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 10:12)

In the New Testament Jesus calls twelve men to be his apostles. “Jesus answered them, ‘Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?’” (John 6:70). That devil apparently was as gifted as the other eleven apostles. Matthew relates in his Gospel (chapter 10, verses 1-8) how Jesus chose them and commissioned, or ordained, them to not only go and preach but to heal, raise the dead, and cast out demons.

Some look to their gifts, talents, and exploits as confirming proof that they are Christians. This is most dangerous. How terrible are those words which our Savior shall speak to some who will cry out to him, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?” And what was that response from the Master? “I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity,” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Workers of iniquity? Jesus called these miracle workers, these spiritually gifted individuals workers of iniquity.

The problem here is that all of the outward manifestations of Christianity can be and are duplicated by peoples of other religions. And, as we have seen, it is possible for an unbeliever to have been gifted by God himself.

Saul was gifted, but was no friend of God. Judas Iscariot was gifted, but was no friend of God. They sometimes looked good on the outside, but there was no heart change. How sad.

A fuller treatment of this subject may be found in Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards.