In previous articles, we have discussed the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, their purpose, how they were distributed, and the fact that they no longer exist. This article will discuss the implications of the end of miraculous gifts.
Remember, there are two reasons why miraculous gifts do not exist: (1) no Apostles are alive to impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and (2) miraculous gifts accomplished their purpose (1 Cor. 13:8-12; Eph. 4:11-14).
No more inspired men.
Because inspiration is a miraculous gift (1 Cor. 12:8), and the era of miraculous gifts has ended, then divine inspiration no longer exists. Thus, there is no one living today who is divinely inspired.
Remember, what purpose did inspiration serve, but to reveal God’s will (1 Cor. 12:7, 13:8-12, 14:12; Eph. 4:11-14; Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:4; Acts 1:8)? Now that we possess the Bible, which was written by divinely inspired men (2 Pet. 1:20-21), we can learn God’s will by reading the Bible. Thus, inspiration is no longer needed.
Paul warns that false teachers (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; Acts 20:29-30) and men claiming to be inspired will come (2 Cor. 11:12-15). He also writes that the Scriptures are inspired and can assist us in dealing with "evil men and imposters" (2 Tim. 3:13, 16). Thus, it is our individual responsibility to search the Scriptures and determine whether what is being taught or preached is true (Acts 17:11). If we must do this for ourselves, of what value is modern day inspiration if it cannot alter what is written (Gal. 1:8-10; Rev. 22:18-19)?
Some faiths believe that their church is lead by someone living today who is divinely inspired. Others believe that their church was either started or restored centuries after Christ by someone who was divinely inspired. If inspiration ended shortly after the death of the last Apostle, then these faiths are based on a lie.
No more revelation.
No inspired men means no inspired writers. How can a book be divinely inspired if the person writing it was not divinely inspired?
Although this principle seems simple enough, consider all the faiths that claim to have "new," "further," or "additional revelations." Consider also the catechisms, disciplines, and creed books that churches study. None of these books are inspired because none were written by inspired men. At best, these books represent uninspired commentary and opinion; at their worst, they are fiction disguised as truth.
If we have God’s inspired word in the Bible, and it is complete, then we do not need catechisms, disciplines, creed books, or further revelations. If these books say more than the Bible, then the say too much (Gal. 1:8-10). If they say less than the Bible, then they say too little (Rev. 22:18-19). If they say what the Bible says, then we do not need them because we have the Bible.
Since the New Testament was written, there have been no more revelations (Jude 3). If peoples’ beliefs in what the Scriptures say are based on books not found in the Scriptures, and these books contain error, then they jeopardize their own souls (Matt. 15:13,14; Acts 20:29-30).
No More Tongues, Miraculous Healings, or Miracles
We have discussed tongues in previous articles. Tongues were not gibberish, but languages understood by others speaking the same language (Acts 2:4-11, 10:46; 1 Cor. 14:7-33). People received this gift not for the edification of a local congregation filled with everyone speaking the same language, but to assist someone in evangelism in areas where he did not speak the native tongue (Acts 2:6-11; 1 Cor. 14:22). Thus tongues, like inspiration and revelation, had their purpose in the initial dissemination of God’s word. That purpose having been accomplished, there no longer remains a reason for the gift to exist (and no one is alive today to impart it through the laying on of hands).
The same is true of miraculous healing and miracles. Their purpose was found in assisting in the spread of the Gospel. They accomplished this by proving that the person speaking was speaking on God’s authority (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:4). For if the preacher could miraculously heal the lame, then what he was preaching must be true because miraculous abilities come only from God and He would not give that ability to someone who was preaching a lie (Acts 3-4:22).
Although miracles no longer exist, this does not mean that God no longer cares or provides for us; He does, even in ways we may not understand or be able to explain. There is, however, a difference between miracles and providence. (There will be a future article discussing the difference between miracles and providence.)
Implications
If the era of inspiration, revelation, tongues, healings, and other miraculous abilities has ended, then belief that these things exist today is not based on truth. People who have their faith in these things do not believe the truth and churches that preach these things do not preach the truth. Although miraculous abilities existed in the First Century, their purpose in revealing God’s will has been accomplished. God’s inspired word is now recorded in the Bible. God’s word is truth. If we want to believe in something, and have our faith centered on something we can preach and teach, then let it be the truth, and not a desire for something that no longer exists.
Remember, there are two reasons why miraculous gifts do not exist: (1) no Apostles are alive to impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and (2) miraculous gifts accomplished their purpose (1 Cor. 13:8-12; Eph. 4:11-14).
No more inspired men.
Because inspiration is a miraculous gift (1 Cor. 12:8), and the era of miraculous gifts has ended, then divine inspiration no longer exists. Thus, there is no one living today who is divinely inspired.
Remember, what purpose did inspiration serve, but to reveal God’s will (1 Cor. 12:7, 13:8-12, 14:12; Eph. 4:11-14; Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:4; Acts 1:8)? Now that we possess the Bible, which was written by divinely inspired men (2 Pet. 1:20-21), we can learn God’s will by reading the Bible. Thus, inspiration is no longer needed.
Paul warns that false teachers (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; Acts 20:29-30) and men claiming to be inspired will come (2 Cor. 11:12-15). He also writes that the Scriptures are inspired and can assist us in dealing with "evil men and imposters" (2 Tim. 3:13, 16). Thus, it is our individual responsibility to search the Scriptures and determine whether what is being taught or preached is true (Acts 17:11). If we must do this for ourselves, of what value is modern day inspiration if it cannot alter what is written (Gal. 1:8-10; Rev. 22:18-19)?
Some faiths believe that their church is lead by someone living today who is divinely inspired. Others believe that their church was either started or restored centuries after Christ by someone who was divinely inspired. If inspiration ended shortly after the death of the last Apostle, then these faiths are based on a lie.
No more revelation.
No inspired men means no inspired writers. How can a book be divinely inspired if the person writing it was not divinely inspired?
Although this principle seems simple enough, consider all the faiths that claim to have "new," "further," or "additional revelations." Consider also the catechisms, disciplines, and creed books that churches study. None of these books are inspired because none were written by inspired men. At best, these books represent uninspired commentary and opinion; at their worst, they are fiction disguised as truth.
If we have God’s inspired word in the Bible, and it is complete, then we do not need catechisms, disciplines, creed books, or further revelations. If these books say more than the Bible, then the say too much (Gal. 1:8-10). If they say less than the Bible, then they say too little (Rev. 22:18-19). If they say what the Bible says, then we do not need them because we have the Bible.
Since the New Testament was written, there have been no more revelations (Jude 3). If peoples’ beliefs in what the Scriptures say are based on books not found in the Scriptures, and these books contain error, then they jeopardize their own souls (Matt. 15:13,14; Acts 20:29-30).
No More Tongues, Miraculous Healings, or Miracles
We have discussed tongues in previous articles. Tongues were not gibberish, but languages understood by others speaking the same language (Acts 2:4-11, 10:46; 1 Cor. 14:7-33). People received this gift not for the edification of a local congregation filled with everyone speaking the same language, but to assist someone in evangelism in areas where he did not speak the native tongue (Acts 2:6-11; 1 Cor. 14:22). Thus tongues, like inspiration and revelation, had their purpose in the initial dissemination of God’s word. That purpose having been accomplished, there no longer remains a reason for the gift to exist (and no one is alive today to impart it through the laying on of hands).
The same is true of miraculous healing and miracles. Their purpose was found in assisting in the spread of the Gospel. They accomplished this by proving that the person speaking was speaking on God’s authority (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:4). For if the preacher could miraculously heal the lame, then what he was preaching must be true because miraculous abilities come only from God and He would not give that ability to someone who was preaching a lie (Acts 3-4:22).
Although miracles no longer exist, this does not mean that God no longer cares or provides for us; He does, even in ways we may not understand or be able to explain. There is, however, a difference between miracles and providence. (There will be a future article discussing the difference between miracles and providence.)
Implications
If the era of inspiration, revelation, tongues, healings, and other miraculous abilities has ended, then belief that these things exist today is not based on truth. People who have their faith in these things do not believe the truth and churches that preach these things do not preach the truth. Although miraculous abilities existed in the First Century, their purpose in revealing God’s will has been accomplished. God’s inspired word is now recorded in the Bible. God’s word is truth. If we want to believe in something, and have our faith centered on something we can preach and teach, then let it be the truth, and not a desire for something that no longer exists.
No comments:
Post a Comment