-----------------
We have yet to find a cogent, persuasive explanation of the supposed cessation of the gifts. Mr. Finnell takes another shot at it, but fails miserably. You can review what we've already written about the subject here.
--------------------------------
We have God's complete revelation to all mankind, it is called the Bible. There are sixty six books. There are no more books. God's direct revelation to mankind was finished, completed with the death of the last apostle. The church of Christ had all the information it needed to preach the gospel, teach the church about faith in Jesus Christ, and to instruct men to obey God's commands. (Mr. Finnell confuses revelation with Scripture. All Scripture is revelation, but not all revelation is contained in Scripture. We do not have "God's complete revelation."
For example, what happened to the annals of Solomon, or the annals of Jehu?
However, if there is no more revelation, then the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit doesn't happen either.
Indeed, what do we make of the thousands of sermons preached every Sunday? The Bible is complete, yet pastors still expound upon Scripture when apparently they should be only quoting it. These extra-biblical revelations must stop, unless Mr. Finnell is comfortable with the idea of including sermon texts in the holy writ?)
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Jude wrote in his letter, in about 65 A.D., that Christians already had a common salvation. He said contend for the faith which had been handed down once for all. The faith was not being added to nor were parts of the faith being deleted by new revelation. Jude knew nothing of so-called new revelations being written in books of catechisms nor were there any other extra-Biblical books of so-called new revelations from God. (Mr. Finnell conflates "faith," "the truth," and "Scripture," but the three don't mean the same thing. The faith is how men can be saved, sanctified, and live a godly life. The truth is the revelation of God's spoken words, some of which have been written down - that is, Scripture.
God is not silent. There is no Scripture that says the God has stopped speaking. There is is quite a lot of Scripture, however, that tells us how to discern the voice of God and weigh the prophetic word.
For the prophetic to genuine, it must conform to the things God has already said. So in that sense there is no "new" revelation. Everything God says today is consistent with and in harmony with and not in contradiction to what He said yesterday or 2000 years ago.
Beyond that, why would Jude suggest there is no more revelation [if we are to believe Mr. Finnell], when Ephesians was written decades after Jude, as was Peter. Mr. Finnell cites both books below. Indeed, all the Gospels were written after Jude. If Jude, Paul, and Peter were all saying there is no more truth, why did they keep writing more truth?)
There is no 21st century new revelation, new prophecy, nor new knowledge. We already have the completed Scriptures, the BIBLE. (The two statements are a non sequitur. Possessing the completed Scripture does not exclude prophecy.)
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Direct prophecy and special knowledge from God have ceased. There is no more prophecy or knowledge that is equal to Scripture. The Bible was completed long ago.
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when what is complete comes , then what is incomplete will no longer be used. (God's Word Translation (1995). (Our discussion of "complete" [telios] is here.)
We have a completed Bible. We do not need new revelation. We do not need modern-day apostles nor prophets. (So who was Paul talking to no one when he said to ...eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy? 1Co. 14:1
What about when he wrote, I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. 1Co. 14:5
Why did Paul take all that time to explain the need for prophecy if it would be gone in a few years?
Why did he keep writing Scripture, if he already told them all truth? How could he refer to himself as only possessing partial truth in 1Cor. 13?)
2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
The apostle Peter said, in about 66 A.D., that Christians already had true knowledge. What kind of knowledge are the modern writers of catechisms, or other of the so-called modern-day apostles, and prophets disseminating? A question that is worth pondering. (We didn't have to ponder very long. If we already have all the "true knowledge" we need, then why is Mr. Finnell writing his blog? Why do preachers stand in pulpits and expound on the Bible? Why do Christians exhort and admonish one another? We apparently don't need these things, because we have the Bible. Anything beyond that is "new revelation."
And Mr. Finnell continues to conflate "true knowledge" with "revelation" with "faith" with "prophecy" with "common salvation" with "whole purpose" with "all truth." none of these are synonymous.
Further, what about "modern-day prophets?" If there wasn't prophecy in modern times, why would we need to test prophecies?
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
The apostle Paul said their word was God's word. For men today to claim that the catechisms they write, and, or, the so-called new books of revelation, are directly from God; is at best, a case of self-delusion. The worst case scenario is willful deception or purposeful ignorance. (There is nothing in this Scripture that speaks to Mr. Finnell's point. It does not say that this is the sole revelation and there is no other.)
Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
The apostle Paul declared the whole purpose of God to the Ephesians. How could Paul have declared the whole purpose of God in the first century if modern day prophets and apostles are still being given new purposes from God today? There are no new, direct revelations, from God that are equal to Scripture. (Mr. Finnell is reaching. He's desperate for something, anything, that will bolster his point. He rips this Scripture from its context.
Paul is giving his final message to the church before he departs for Rome. He is telling them that he courageously taught them everything he knows. This has nothing at all to do with Scripture, the canon, or prophecy.
It's this despicable Scripture-shredding the precipitates our writing.)
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative , but whatever He hears, He will speak; and will disclose to you what is to come.
Jesus said, to the twelve apostles, that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. The apostle heard all the truth. THERE IS NO NEW TRUTH TO BE ADDED! The Bible is completed, it is finished. (Another despicable shredding of Scripture. "Truth" and "Scripture" are not the same thing.)
Ephesians 3:3-5 that by revelation there was made know to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not know to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
The mystery of Christ was revealed to the apostle Paul as well as the other apostles and prophets. It is not continually being revealed, it was revealed. We have that revelation, it is in the Bible. (And that Bible, illumined by the Holy Spirit, is continually being revealed. However, this has nothing to do with the prophetic gift.)
We have God's completed word. We have the BIBLE!
HOW MUCH PRIDE WOULD IT TAKE FOR MEN, TODAY, TO CLAIM THAT THEIR WORDS ARE, IN FACT, EQUAL TO SCRIPTURE? (Which no Christian does.)
We have yet to find a cogent, persuasive explanation of the supposed cessation of the gifts. Mr. Finnell takes another shot at it, but fails miserably. You can review what we've already written about the subject here.
--------------------------------
We have God's complete revelation to all mankind, it is called the Bible. There are sixty six books. There are no more books. God's direct revelation to mankind was finished, completed with the death of the last apostle. The church of Christ had all the information it needed to preach the gospel, teach the church about faith in Jesus Christ, and to instruct men to obey God's commands. (Mr. Finnell confuses revelation with Scripture. All Scripture is revelation, but not all revelation is contained in Scripture. We do not have "God's complete revelation."
For example, what happened to the annals of Solomon, or the annals of Jehu?
1Kg. 11:41 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign — all he did and the wisdom he displayed — are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon?
2Ch. 20:34 The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.And what about the many miracles Jesus did that didn't make it into the gospels?
Jn. 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.And what about the other letter written to the Corinthians?
1 Cor 5:9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.The point is, not all revelation is contained in Scripture. There is no more Scripture, but there is more revelation. Scripture is a snapshot of revelation. It's a crucial distinction. Even cessationists admit the revelatory nature of God when they say the Holy Spirit reveals truth via the enlightened study of Scripture.
However, if there is no more revelation, then the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit doesn't happen either.
Indeed, what do we make of the thousands of sermons preached every Sunday? The Bible is complete, yet pastors still expound upon Scripture when apparently they should be only quoting it. These extra-biblical revelations must stop, unless Mr. Finnell is comfortable with the idea of including sermon texts in the holy writ?)
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Jude wrote in his letter, in about 65 A.D., that Christians already had a common salvation. He said contend for the faith which had been handed down once for all. The faith was not being added to nor were parts of the faith being deleted by new revelation. Jude knew nothing of so-called new revelations being written in books of catechisms nor were there any other extra-Biblical books of so-called new revelations from God. (Mr. Finnell conflates "faith," "the truth," and "Scripture," but the three don't mean the same thing. The faith is how men can be saved, sanctified, and live a godly life. The truth is the revelation of God's spoken words, some of which have been written down - that is, Scripture.
God is not silent. There is no Scripture that says the God has stopped speaking. There is is quite a lot of Scripture, however, that tells us how to discern the voice of God and weigh the prophetic word.
For the prophetic to genuine, it must conform to the things God has already said. So in that sense there is no "new" revelation. Everything God says today is consistent with and in harmony with and not in contradiction to what He said yesterday or 2000 years ago.
Beyond that, why would Jude suggest there is no more revelation [if we are to believe Mr. Finnell], when Ephesians was written decades after Jude, as was Peter. Mr. Finnell cites both books below. Indeed, all the Gospels were written after Jude. If Jude, Paul, and Peter were all saying there is no more truth, why did they keep writing more truth?)
There is no 21st century new revelation, new prophecy, nor new knowledge. We already have the completed Scriptures, the BIBLE. (The two statements are a non sequitur. Possessing the completed Scripture does not exclude prophecy.)
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Direct prophecy and special knowledge from God have ceased. There is no more prophecy or knowledge that is equal to Scripture. The Bible was completed long ago.
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when what is complete comes , then what is incomplete will no longer be used. (God's Word Translation (1995). (Our discussion of "complete" [telios] is here.)
We have a completed Bible. We do not need new revelation. We do not need modern-day apostles nor prophets. (So who was Paul talking to no one when he said to ...eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy? 1Co. 14:1
What about when he wrote, I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. 1Co. 14:5
Why did Paul take all that time to explain the need for prophecy if it would be gone in a few years?
Why did he keep writing Scripture, if he already told them all truth? How could he refer to himself as only possessing partial truth in 1Cor. 13?)
2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
The apostle Peter said, in about 66 A.D., that Christians already had true knowledge. What kind of knowledge are the modern writers of catechisms, or other of the so-called modern-day apostles, and prophets disseminating? A question that is worth pondering. (We didn't have to ponder very long. If we already have all the "true knowledge" we need, then why is Mr. Finnell writing his blog? Why do preachers stand in pulpits and expound on the Bible? Why do Christians exhort and admonish one another? We apparently don't need these things, because we have the Bible. Anything beyond that is "new revelation."
And Mr. Finnell continues to conflate "true knowledge" with "revelation" with "faith" with "prophecy" with "common salvation" with "whole purpose" with "all truth." none of these are synonymous.
Further, what about "modern-day prophets?" If there wasn't prophecy in modern times, why would we need to test prophecies?
1Th. 5:20-21: do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1Jn. 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Re. 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
1Co. 12:10, 7 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits.. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1Co. 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.Why are these Scriptures in the Bible if they're meaningless for today?)
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
The apostle Paul said their word was God's word. For men today to claim that the catechisms they write, and, or, the so-called new books of revelation, are directly from God; is at best, a case of self-delusion. The worst case scenario is willful deception or purposeful ignorance. (There is nothing in this Scripture that speaks to Mr. Finnell's point. It does not say that this is the sole revelation and there is no other.)
Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
The apostle Paul declared the whole purpose of God to the Ephesians. How could Paul have declared the whole purpose of God in the first century if modern day prophets and apostles are still being given new purposes from God today? There are no new, direct revelations, from God that are equal to Scripture. (Mr. Finnell is reaching. He's desperate for something, anything, that will bolster his point. He rips this Scripture from its context.
Paul is giving his final message to the church before he departs for Rome. He is telling them that he courageously taught them everything he knows. This has nothing at all to do with Scripture, the canon, or prophecy.
It's this despicable Scripture-shredding the precipitates our writing.)
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative , but whatever He hears, He will speak; and will disclose to you what is to come.
Jesus said, to the twelve apostles, that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. The apostle heard all the truth. THERE IS NO NEW TRUTH TO BE ADDED! The Bible is completed, it is finished. (Another despicable shredding of Scripture. "Truth" and "Scripture" are not the same thing.)
Ephesians 3:3-5 that by revelation there was made know to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not know to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
The mystery of Christ was revealed to the apostle Paul as well as the other apostles and prophets. It is not continually being revealed, it was revealed. We have that revelation, it is in the Bible. (And that Bible, illumined by the Holy Spirit, is continually being revealed. However, this has nothing to do with the prophetic gift.)
We have God's completed word. We have the BIBLE!
HOW MUCH PRIDE WOULD IT TAKE FOR MEN, TODAY, TO CLAIM THAT THEIR WORDS ARE, IN FACT, EQUAL TO SCRIPTURE? (Which no Christian does.)
No comments:
Post a Comment