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Are you saved if you don't speak in tongues?
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"
Some say this verse proves the apostles would be speaking in new tongues that never existed before but it could just as easily mean to speak in tongues that were new to them. Speaking in new tongues was fulfilled at Pentecost as the apostles spoke in new tongues as they spread the Gospel to all the nations and commenced God's Church. This is the purpose for all the gifts as Paul said "to the profit of all." Further research found that there are in fact two Greek words for "new." One means brand new never existed before and the other means to renew. Guess which one is used here? It is not brand new but the renew. Jesus is saying they would speak in tongues which were new to them but already known, that is, recognizable languages which is exactly what happened at Pentecost.
Mark 16:17 says "them that believe." Nothing is said of salvation or the Holy Spirit. The question is whether Jesus meant that all these signs will follow every single person or whether Jesus was having a private conversation with His Apostles and was only telling them that these are various signs and miracles that you will see follow those who believe as you take the Gospel to the world. Remember this statement by Jesus was made to His Apostles as He instructed them in regards to the
Great Commission. What Jesus was saying did not stop at verse 17 as He continues to say in verse 18. Mark 16:18 says,
"They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
If we choose to take Jesus words as meaning all these things will be done by he who believes and that the person is not saved unless he does, then in order to be saved we must be able to demonstrate the following; We must be able to demonstrate speaking in tongues, casting out more than one demon, being bitten by a snake and drink poison and not get sick or die, and we must be able to lay hands on any sick person at any time and always have them recover. Hands up those who have met these requirements! My hand is definitely down. There have been various cults over the years that decided foolishly to take every word Jesus said literally and tried to perform the deadly acts and many have died as a result.
If Jesus was referring to the things that the Apostles would see and do, did these things happen? Did they all receive the gift of speaking in tongues? A common and very much needed gift in taking the Gospel to the world back in the first century but Paul still tells us NO. But obviously most did due to the need. Did they cast out demons? Yes, the Apostles cast out many demons. Did any get bitten by snakes and not get sick or die? Yes, Paul did.
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