1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

170 "THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE"
deceptive operation of the power of Satan the
Devil through his religious organization, "the
man of lawlessness." We read : "But the lawless
one's presence is according to the operation of
Satan with every powerful work and lying signs
and wonders and with every unrighteous deception
for those who are perishing, as a retribution
because they did not accept the love of the truth
that they might be saved. So that is why God lets
an operation of error go to them that they may
get to believing the lie." 2 Thessalonians 2 :3, 9-
11, NW The organization of religious error may
claim to be exercising the miraculous gifts of
the spirit, such as tongues, healings, etc ., but we
know that the operation of God's spirit does not
work in support of error and worldliness . The
spirit sanctifies a person away from this world
and does so by means of Bible truth . It was not
God's purpose that all members of Christ's body
should have the miraculous gifts of the spirit,
for we are told :
10
"Now you are Christ's body, and members individually.
And God has set the respective ones in
the congregation, first, apostles ; second, prophets ;
third, teachers ; then powerful works ; then gifts of
healings ; helpful services, abilities to direct, different
tongues . Not all are apostles, are they?
Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers,
are they? Not all perform powerful works, do
they? Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not
all speak in tongues, do they? Not all are transla-
10 . Why does lack of such gifts not prove us outside
Christ's body?