In Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each separate but also one in the same. Just like Christians are each individual people but are all part of one body, the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers in Jesus Christ, and though the Holy Spirit comes to live within us the moment we are saved, we don’t all receive every gift.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (1 Corinthians 12:4,7)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
These are the gifts of the Holy Spirit: (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
- The word of wisdom
- The word of knowledge
- Faith
- The gift of healing
- Working of miracles
- The gift of prophecy
- Discerning of spirits
- Diverse kinds of tongues
- The interpretation of tongues
You may have noticed that you have one or two of these gifts, maybe even more, but probably not all. So, why don’t all Christians speak in tongues? Why can’t we all perform miracles? Why can’t we raise our loved ones from the dead or end all the pain in this world? One reason is that many Christians don’t understand the gifts they have been given, but beyond that, according to 1 Corinthians 13:9-10,12, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are now only given in part, not in full.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears… 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10,12)
Though we do receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, these gifts are not yet a complete fulfillment. Only a partial one. Until Jesus returns, anyway. So, when Jesus comes back (when completeness comes), the partial will be done away with, and we shall know in full.
We each have our own unique gifts we bring to the table. The Holy Spirit determines which gifts we receive. Each gift and each member of the body of Christ is essential, and we all work together toward one important goal—saving souls.