Testimony on tongues -- Biblical evidence of true disciples

The testimony of the Scriptures as to the evidence of true disciples without the evidence of speaking in tongues. Though some teach that speaking in tongues is the biblical evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost, when the Scriptures actually speak of evidence of true disciples, they do not mention tongues.

1. John 13:35 -- "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Jesus identifies love for one another as universal evidence of His true disciples.

2. Romans 5:1 -- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" The believer, justified by faith, has peace with God.

3. Romans 8:14 -- "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The leadership of the Spirit is present in all the sons of God.

4. Galatians 5:22,23 -- "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Paul identifies the fruit of the Spirit and does not list tongues. Matthew 7:16 - "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

5. I John 2:3 -- "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." John identifies obedience as personal evidence of knowing God. A review of the tongues passages (Mark 16, Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19, and I Cor. 12-14) reveals that we are never commanded to speak in tongues.

6. I John 3:14 -- "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." John identifies love for the brethren as personal evidence of regeneration.

7. Note also in light of the above:
A. I Thessalonians 4:9 -- "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another."
B. I Corinthians 13:1 -"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

When inspired writers speak of things that identify us to others as born again children of God, or things that are a personal witness, they do not include tongues among that evidence. Numerous persons in the Bible are understood to be believers -- yea, even spoken of as having received the Spirit -- WITHOUT the evidence of tongues. Couple these facts together with the previous facts posted concerning tongues -- filling of the Spirit, baptism of the Holy Ghost, etc., and we have quite a record that shows tongues never was the evidence of a person receiving the Holy Spirit.