"Seven Reasons Why I Believe the Gifts of the Spirit Still Exist Today"

Any one who knows me or reads this blog knows that I believe in the continuance today of all the spiritual gifts described in the New Testament, but also believe that many of the present day models for expressing said gifts are faulty and in need of scriptural correction.  That is why I prefer the descriptive term "continualist" to the more common "charismatic," which carries a lot of connotative baggage in many circles.

On the subject of the continuance of the gifts, there was a great post this week by Scott at the "To Be Continued..."  blog entitled Seven Reasons Why I Believe the Gifts of the Spirit Still Exist Today.

If it came down to why I believe all gifts of God, including those in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11, still exist today, I think I could summarise it in seven specific points. So here they are:

1) God is an actual living, personal being
2) Christ is a charismatic prophet and so is his body
3) The Spirit continues the same work of Christ
4) The positive affirmation in Scripture that such gifts would continue
5) Faulty exegesis of the normal passages brought up by cessationists
6) The amount of times God actually spoke through and used those who were not prophets or apostles
7) The great testimony of the charismata in church history

I have not quoted all his exposition for each of these seven points, you can read it at the link. But I can say it is well spoken and I agree with him. In conclusion, he says:

So, suffice it to say, I find it extremely hard to argue for the cessation, or ceasing, of the gifts of the Spirit. For me, there is an overwhelming biblical, theological and historical positive case for the continuation of such.