Seal vs Gifts

We believe the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all ages, this being the seal of the Spirit. Yet the supernatural gifts of the Spirit are not eternal. These gifts were administered by the Father as he gave gifts to different individuals in the Church.

Ephesians makes a clear distinction since all were sealed, but only those the Father selected were gifted.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

All were sealed with the Spirit, but others received the Spirit of revelation to bring the church to a fuller understanding of Jesus.

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

These gifts were administered by the Father himself and not by the Bishops of the Church. We know that Paul laid hands on some members in Ephesus previously, giving certain signs, but we know that some gifts themselves received later were administered by the Father

Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve. Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

It is unclear if those receiving the Spirit of prophecy later were restricted to those whom Paul had laid hands earlier. There seems to be a distinction between the signs when Paul laid hands and the administration by the Father later. The Apostles had their own signs powered by the Holy Spirit, but it seems the Father had his own administration.

These gifts were meant to be temporary and God could have them cease at anytime. The laying of hands by the Apostles ceased with their deaths, and the administration of the Spirit by the Father determined an end to those gifts administered by him.

Each town was separately gifted so the Spirit could build a recognizeable doctrine in each city that would match other cities. Those producing contradictory traditions would be easily identified.

Catholics tend to base their entire theology on the continuance of these gifts, all of their doctrines from the power of the Papacy, apostolic succession, and even salvation depends upon these continuing gifts. It is especially true that the building of doctrine after the Apostolic age depended upon belief in these gifts..

We know however that the Ephesians were considered saved before the gifts were given in Ephesians 1:17.

It is important to know that they were saved before the administration of these gifts, Many Catholics taught salvation is passed only through those gifted with the Holy Spirit, but these were saved before the local administration of some of the gifts. In Catholic theology it is the Holy Spirit that remits sins. The Holy Spirit is a part of salvation, but the Holy Spirit does not remit sins apart from the Gospel

A doctrine of Augustine.

He taught some people in Corinth received baptism without believing in the resurrection I Cor.15:12, but Paul never says such were saved if that were the case, as it seems their faith was over thrown later , but at baptism they had believed in the resurrection. Augustine argued without proof that rejecting the resurrection at baptism was a valid sacrament, as they were taught later and perhaps would come to believe.

Augustine's idea that the Holy Spirit remits sins apart from believing the Gospel is invalid in many respects.

In Acts 2:38 remittance preceeds the gift of the Holy Spirit. Also, in I John it is the Father who is faithful and just to forgive all trespasses. Galations 4:6 demonstrates adoption preceeds the gift of the Spirit.

In Acts 2:38 Peter preached the resurrection as an article of faith.

Also belief in the gifts made the working of satan more effective.

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the love of the truth...