This is part of the book: "The Warnings of the New Testament".

Speaking in tongues (for those of you that do)

This argument goes like this: "I have spoken in tongues. This proves that I have holy spirit and proves that I am saved. If I live in sin and yet speak in tongues, then this proves that despite the life that I live and what I practice I will make it into the Kingdom!"

My comment:

The Bible does not say anywhere that whoever spoke in tongues or even did miracles will automatically enter into the Kingdom. In contrast, it says that those who do the will of God, those who keep the faith to the end, will enter. As the Lord said:

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

The Lord does not mention speaking in tongues in his list. It was not available when He was speaking. It became available after Pentecost. He mentions however prophesying, casting out demons and doing mighty works in His name. All these are manifestations of the Spirit, exactly as speaking in tongues is (1 Corinthians 12:1-12). As He said: those who gloried in their prophesying in His name, or in the mighty works they did or in the casting out of demons they performed, yet were practicing, working, lawlessness would not enter into the Kingdom. Therefore if somebody lives in sin he should not glory in speaking in tongues. The Lord warned us that arguments of this type will not stand before Him that day. In contrast, he should repent and instead of lawlessness strive with patience to practice the will of God.

There are perhaps other passages used for support by those who believe the view that one is once and for all saved the moment he believes and regardless of what happens to his faith after that. But the explanation is more or less the same as the ones given above: either it is a promise that is made to people who, now in the present, are believers, or the context of the passage is ignored.

Chapter 8: What shall we do then now? Serve the Lord!

Author: Anastasios Kioulachoglou