Cessationism

I. Introduction

As we prepare for 1 Cor. 12–14 it’s important that we have a grasp on the nature and purpose of the miraculous gifts that are presented in the NT.

Two Major Views—Cessationism and Continuationism

Continationist says —NT miraculous gifts were established in the beginning

Cessationist says . . .

As elders, we firmly hold the view that the Scriptures clearly attest to a cessationist understanding of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.

Understanding the nature and purpose of the miraculous gifts is essential for rightly interpreting and applying several passages within the NT.

Not a new conversation

Reformation and Roman Catholicism

Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement

A Different Conversation because of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement

A little Background of the history

Pervasive Influence of the Charismatic Movement and how it in many ways dominates the conversation.

Why?

Historically, we emphasize the experiential above the objective

The P/C Mvt. gives expression to this

It’s a product of the time we live in

Doesn’t exist in a vacuum

Pervasive Influence

So, we must understand this broader conversation as we discuss these very important matters.

Also, different expressions—Pentecostal, Charismatic, Third Wave

The cessationist position is the majority historic Christian position.

The conversations looks and sounds different today because of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Mvt.

Early Pentecostals claimed they had recovered the gifts

Careful—Don’t try to read anachronistically into previous theologians

Continuationist actually minimizes the work of the Spirit as they seek for the supernatural in everything, rather than God’s ordinary means of grace given through his Word.

As elders we are committed to a Cessationist position because.. the absolute authority and sufficiency of Scripture. We believe this is the clear Biblical teaching.

II. Understanding the Nature and Purpose of the Miraculous Gifts

Definitions

Understanding Miracles (biblically)

The greatest miracle—when a sinner is reborn by God’s grace

The “miracle” of revival

Miraculous Healings

We have to be careful about what we call a miracle

Work of God’s providence vs. miracle, Phil Johnson:

Providence--God's faithful moment-by-moment control over everything he made to ensure everything achieves the end he chose

Miracle--in the biblical sense is a miracle is an extraordinary work of God that involves his immediate and unmistakable intervention in the physical realm in a way that contravenes natural processes. 

To say that something is not a miracle is not to deny that God did it!

It's the opposite--God is active in every aspect of our lives!

Cessationist—problem w/ terminology—we start with negative

However, the cessationist doesn’t say that miracles do not happen today

Clarify-- Cessationism means that we no longer believe that Spirit gives the miraculous spiritual gifts that were present in the establishment of the NT church.

In other words, we don’t believe that God gifts men and women with these gifts in the way that he did during the establishment of the NT church

This does not mean that miraculous things don’t still happen!

Charismata

What are the miraculous gifts?

When we talk about spiritual gifts we mean “gifts of the Spirit that are given to equip the people of God and to enable them to set on display the glory of God, the fullness of Christ, in the temple of God.” (Ferguson)

“Central to the exercise of any gift of the Spirit is the ministry of the word given to God’s people.” (Ferguson)

No comprehensive list of the gifts in one place in the NT.

Distinguish between gifts of the Spirit and fruit of the Spirit.

How do we then distinguish between those gifts that have ceased and those that continue?

Many critics would say that there is no text of Scripture that says that the miraculous gifts ceased

Conversely, there is no text of Scripture—countinuationism

Yet, it is possible to make a legitimate case—1 Cor. 13:8-12

But, we don’t need this

The Doctrine is clear from Scripture

Compare to the doctrine of the Trinity

This is the work of systematic theology

The KEY: The establishment of the entire canon of Scripture.

The miraculous gifts of the NT (apostleship, prophecy, tongues, miraculous healings) all served as signs to accompany the reality of the new covenant that was taking place.

This was also true of times in the OT—come back to

Miracles are less prevalent in the NT toward the end of the apostolic ministry.

We must also realize that every continuationist does hold to some form of cessationism—Apostles

III. The Biblical Case for Cessationism (Seven Reasons)

A. Miracles throughout Scripture Served a Unique Role

Although there have been occasions of miracles throughout church history

Three Primary Periods:

The Exodus to Joshua (about 65 years)

The Ministries of Elijah and Elisha (about 65 years)

Christ and his Apostles (about 70 years)

Through church history God occasionally intervenes through miracles

Primary Purpose: always, to confirm the credentials of a divinely appointed messenger

to establish the credibility of one who speaks on behalf of God (i.e. prophets in the OT and NT)

If one is truly a prophet of God he must have the very words of God in his mouth —God puts those words there

Discern a true prophet from false:

their prediction must always come true

authenticated by the power to work miracles

complete doctrinal agreement with previous revelation

Jesus as ultimate prophet

John 5:36; John 6:14; 7:31; 10:24; 10:37

The primary reason—not evangelism, to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah, the true prophet of God—Acts 2:22 reiterates this

Jesus gave this same power to his Apostles to perform miracles—Acts 14:3

Hebrews 2:3-4

Miraculous of the NT prophets (Apostles)—to confirm they were instruments of God’s revelation, just like OT

The Apostles and prophets were gifts to the church in the establishing of the NT canon of Scripture

As the canon was complete, so there was no longer a need for these gifts

BB Warfield--miracles in Scripture are not scattered about randomly, but intentionally accompany God's periods of revelation

The Holy Spirit A Case for Cessation?

extraordinary gifts appear to be limited to a few brief periods in biblical history, in which they serve as confirmatory signs of new revelation and its ambassadors, and as a means of establishing and defending the kingdom of God in epochally significant ways.

B. The Gift of Apostleship Has Ended

Christ gave the church the Apostles as a temporary gift 

Apostle qualifications:

Witness to the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22)

Personally appointed by Christ (Acts 1:2, 1:24)

Able to work miracles (Matthew 10:1-2; 2 Cor. 12:12)

No one alive today qualifies as an Apostle, so there is at least one NT that has ceased today

This means—significant difference between the time of Apostles and the church today

No clear NT statement that Apostles would end

C. The Nature of the NT Apostles and Prophets Was Foundational to the Church

They are the foundation on which the church was built (Eph. 2:20)

It is clear form the context that Paul is referring to NT prophets--Eph. 3:5

The Apostles and prophets are two separate groups--Eph. 4:11

Once this foundation was completed, so was their work

The Apostles' foundational work has ceased, so too as we can see from Ephesians 2:20 the prophets foundational work is complete

Because the foundation and the revelation is complete we should not expect anymore prophets or revelation

D. The NT Miraculous Gifts Had a Specific Nature and Purpose

Tongues:

These were known languages (Acts 2:7-8, 11:15, 19) 

Meant for the edification of others (1 Cor. 14)--most often today--a private prayer language

Prophecy:

The NT sees no difference between OT prophets and NT prophets

Spoke direct, infallible revelation from God 

Their words were to be evaluated against previous revelation 

When approved, their words were added to the foundation of the church 

Agabus (Acts 21)--"this is what the Spirit says" 

Grudem--"I think this is what the Spirit might be saying"

Today's “gift” of prophecy is not the NT gift

Healing:

In the NT the results were: complete, immediate, permanent, undeniable

all kinds of sickness and illness

Compare to today’s “faith-healers”

Not the same gifts as today

Prophets in the OT given same kinds of concessions—death!

E. The Testimony of Church History

the practice of miraculous gifts declines very early in the Apostolic period

Even before the completion of the NT canon—decline in miraculous gifts

1 Cor. is the only book outside of Acts that mention tongues (55 to 56 AD)

Hebrews 1:1-2

It is instructive that the pastoral epistles (some of the latest written with instructions for the fucntion of the church) don’t mention the miraculous gifts.

Chrysostom, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards (to name a few) all spoke of this same purpose of miracles in the NT

F. The NT Laid Down Specific Rules for the Practice of the Miraculous Gifts

1 Cor. 14 give instructions for the practice of these gifts in worship

orderly

This is the opposite of what we find in many or most Char. churches today

G. Scripture Is Sufficient

"The Spirit speaks only and in and through the inspired Word."

The Spirit and the Word are inseparable 

2 Peter 1:3-4

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Revelation vs. Illumination

IV. Why It Matters (How a Right Understanding of the Miraculous Gifts Affects the Way We Live)

A. This Affects the Way We Live Our Lives Everyday

Don't overreact and downplay the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in your life 

Hold to your confidence in the all-sufficient Word 

Know what you believe and why

B. It Affects the Way We Practice Corporate Worship

What are our expectations of how the Spirit works?

Spontaneity?

Emotionally driven?

Word-Centered from beginning to end, inside and out

How do we determine whether or not we have “truly” worshipped?

C. It Affects How We Understand the Sufficiency of Scripture

How does God lead us?

Speak to us?

D. We Must Be Careful How We Talk About God and How He Communicates to Us Today

Never say, “God told me”

We shouldn’t talk about “feeling” something from God… these kinds of things are more akin to New Age mysticism than Biblical Christianity

Beware of the all the “Christian” things out there… books, music, movies

E. We Must Rightly Interpret Our Experiences and the Experiences that are Related to Us By Others through the Authority of Scripture

Final Word: "To demand signs and wonders is to walk by sight rather than by faith." (Phil Johnson)