My problem is the intertwined nature of healing and salvation under the banner of the Greek Word Sozo.  It seems that we divide healing and salvation as meaning two separate things, but are they not many times the same thing if we go back to the original text?

Secondly, how can we say that sign gifts ceased when the New Testament was completed when there were those other than the apostles operating in the sign gifts? Is it possible that 1 Corinthians 12 is addressed only to that church for that time period? How can a cessation of the gifts be extrapolated from that text anywhere? 1 Corinthians 12:28 lumps teachers in with apostles and prophets. No one would argue that the “office” of teaching has ceased.

If there is any time frame given to the cessation of the gifts it is provided for us in Ephesians 4:11-13 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

To be sure we have not all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…..therefore saints still need to be equipped for this work.  Equipped by whom? The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Again, no one would argue that evangelists, pastors and teachers have ceased. If they are necessary for the equipping of the saints both then and now are not apostles and prophets likewise much needed in the church today?

Third, I have heard some Baptists say that we are filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of Salvation.  Since water baptism is clearly a post-Salvation occurrence isn’t it also possible that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a post-Salvation experience as well?  Acts 19:2 Paul says, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” and 19:6 “when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”