In What Sense Does Prophecy Continue Today? – Part Three

The prophetic office has ceased while the gift continues as prophetic preaching. In the previous posts I demonstrated from Scripture the temporary nature of the prophetic office by recourse to three categories of biblical data.

• Prophets appeared at periodic intervals in history—never continuously.
• The inspired revelations God gave them were rarely predictive. God used them to speak his message to people in specific historical situations.
• Prophecies were authenticated both by their perfect accuracy and by signs, wonders and miracles. Any predictions they brought had to be 100% accurate or be declared false.

The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). The inspired prophetic office has ceased just as the apostolic office has ceased. Revelation in complete. There is no further need for inspired prophets but as a non-inspired ministry gift it continues. Why do I say that? Four categories of evidence lead me to this conclusion.

1. PROPHETS AS PREACHERS 

God chose Moses, Isaiah, and John the Baptizer to not only communicate inspired revelation,-he also gifted them to preach the Word with power. The Greek word for prophecy means simply to make public utterance or to speak out.

Moses spoke to Israelites groaning under Egyptian bondage. Isaiah preached to a nation in declension. Paul appealed to a Corinthian church in disarray due to scandals. The relevance of their messages to particular situations, rendered their preaching memorable to their audiences. Besides these through whom God gave us inspired Scripture, the New Testament mentions other prophets.

The five men, including Barnabas and Saul, who gathered to worship God in Acts thirteen, are called, “prophets and teachers.” The text denotes either that there were at least two prophets, or that all five had both the gift of teaching and that of prophecy. I prefer this latter view. (Acts 13:1) 

In Antioch we read, “Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.” (Acts 15:32) Of Paul and Barnabas we read, “But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.” (verse 35) We conclude that a prophetic ministry involves preaching and teaching. These references multiply the number of prophets far beyond those few who gave us our inspired Scriptures. Other references abound. At least one prophet attended Timothy’s commissioning. (1 Tim. 4:14) Several must have been present in Ephesus. (Eph. 4)

First Corinthians contains an extended description of the gift and how it contrasts with tongues. (Chapter 14)  “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.” (1 Cor. 14:29) If we count both participating prophets and evaluating prophets there must have been between five and ten in Corinth. Paul indicates that a considerable number of men with the gift of prophecy took turns speaking to the Corinthian church. “You can all prophecy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (vs. 31) New Testament texts, then, specifically mention prophets in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth and Ephesus. One quickly gains the impression that prophets commonly ministered in the early churches, functioning as preacher/teachers.

B. EXHORTATIONS TO SEEK THE GIFT OF PROPHECY   

If God had reserved the gift of prophecy exclusively for those he chose to lay the foundation of the church, we would not find a general exhortation to seek the gift. We read, however, “Eagerly desire the greater gifts.” One of the greatest is prophecy. Paul specifically states, “Desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, . . . . I would rather have you prophesy . . . . Be eager to prophesy.” (12:31; 14:1,5,39)

These exhortations would be meaningless unless meant to encourage, not only the Corinthians, but believers today to seek the gift. To deny this is to empty the epistles of their relevance.

Each of the three main New Testament gift lists mentions the gift of prophecy. (See Romans 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:7-11, Eph. 4:11-13) Only the gift of teaching is mentioned as consistently. This frequency of mention, in epistles of both early and late origin, shows that its use is crucial. Prophecy is one of the five key equipping gifts in Ephesians chapter four. Prophets join apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers as men given to “prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up” (vs. 12).  Since equipping for service is a continuing need in all churches, the mention of these five gifts, including prophecy,  indicates that in some sense these gifts continue. (In other material I explain my view that while the office of inspired apostles ceased—there were only 12—the gift as missionary church planting continues. Church— No Spectator Sport, Chapter 9.)

C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPHETIC GIFT   

First Corinthians, chapters twelve through fourteen gives a detailed description of the gift of prophecy. In the course of pointing out the necessity of love in gift exercise Paul writes, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, . . . but have not love I am nothing.” (13:2) This text shows that prophecy deals with fathoming mysteries and knowledge.

In the fourteenth chapter Paul establishes the superiority of prophecy over tongues. In verse three and four we read, “Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort . . . . He who prophesies edifies the church.” The gift builds up the church by applying God’s Word to people’s specific needs. They strengthen those who are weak. They encourage the discouraged. They comfort the sorrowing. Non-inspired modern prophets mirror the ministry of the inspired prophets of old. God specifically gifts them to apply the Word to particular situations in their churches.

Further we read, “Prophecy, however, is for believers.” Prophecy is exercised so that, “Everyone may be instructed and encouraged” (vs 32).  Of course, prophecy also profoundly affects unbelievers, in a way tongues cannot. The unbeliever, hearing tongues speaking, thinks “that you are out your mind.” (vs. 23) But when an unbeliever hears prophesying, “He will be convinced by all that he is a sinner . . . secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God exclaiming, ‘God is really among you.'” (vs. 24,25) While the gift of prophecy is mainly directed towards believers, God also uses it to bring unbelievers under deep conviction.

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We can define prophecy, in its continuing form, as follows.

The gift of prophecy is that spiritual ability to communicate biblical truth in powerful and relevant ways so that people sense a word from God directed to them in their situation. It is Spirit-filled preaching that may include instruction, encouragement, exhortation, or comfort.

Note the difference between inspired prophecy and edifying prophecy. Inspired prophecies have an unbidden, Spirit-produced element to them as if the Spirit overrides the will of the prophet. “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). But Paul describes the gift of prophecy in the church as orderly and controlled. “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32) Prophecy, in this form, involves orderly presentations of truth which flow from the speaker’s mind and will. This text seems to demonstrate a discontinuity between inspired prophecy and, what I am calling edifying prophecy, which owes its origin (under the Spirit’s general guidance) to the speakers’ own personality and preparation.

Inspiration is evidence of the absolute superintendence by the Spirit, while illumination is evidence of the relative control by the Spirit. A picture of two kinds of prophecy emerges; inspired prophecy that produced the inerrant canon of Holy Scripture (and occasionally included prediction) and prophecy as convicting and edifying preaching. Prophetic preaching draws its power from a broadly based acquaintance with Scripture and ongoing dependence on the Spirit. It includes the ability to size up situations and needs and bring a relevant message. Prophetic preaching leads to conviction, consolation, rebuke, or encouragement. Prophecy, as a continuing gift, requires the illumination of the Spirit but not the inspiration of the Spirit.

The gift of prophecy is preaching. Paul exhorts Timothy to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2).

When any Christian group claims divine authority for one of their pronouncements, they invite disaster. History is littered with the heretical wreckage produced by this propensity to claim divine inspiration for human messages or practices. No wonder, traditional Pentecostals react with alarm to the claims of modern “prophets.” The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God wrote, “Arbitrary and absolute direction by a prophetic gift is not in accordance with New Testament teaching . . . . A study of church history indicates that every group of people who have claimed to restore apostolic authority to the Church and its government have been arbitrary and demanding. Those who come under their leadership find themselves under bondage.”[i]

D. PROPHECY AS VIEWED IN CHURCH HISTORY. 

Flynn writes, “The Early Church had many prophets, who usually employed their gift in their own local congregation. Some eminent prophets itinerated. The Didache, an early manual of church practice, commanded that wandering prophets be supported. ‘Every true prophet who shall settle among you is worthy of his support.'”[ii]

What an intriguing tradition! This stipulation of the Didache demonstrates that although the canon was complete, the early church believed in the continuity of a prophetic ministry. It presents these early prophets as resident preachers. Interestingly, this reference points out a fundamental difference between apostles and prophets. The Didache warned that apostles, (since their ministry was pioneer church planting) should not be supported over a long period. Prophets, however, could be supported as resident ministers because they laboured to edify already established churches.

Calvin gives his view. “By prophesying I do not understand the gift of foretelling the future, but the science of interpreting Scriptures, so a prophet is an interpreter of the will of God.”[iii] Interpretation of the will of God underscores a preacher’s need to size up a situation and then bring relevant Scripture to bear on the central issues involved.

Berkhof, Criswell and many others could be quoted in this regard. J.I. Packer sums it up: “Rather than supposing prophecy to be a long-gone first-century charisma now revived and therefore to be dressed up in verbal clothes that will set it apart from all other forms of Christian communication over the past eighteen or nineteen centuries, we should realize that it has actually been exhibited in every sermon or informal ‘message’ that has had a heart-searching, home-coming’ application in its hearers, ever since the church began. Prophecy has been and remains a reality whenever and wherever Bible truth is genuinely preached–that is, spelled out and applied, whether from a pulpit or more informally. Preaching is teaching God’s revealed truth with application.“[iv] (Italics mine.)

The kingdom needs preaching prophets today as never before! “History tells of no significant church growth and expansion that has taken place without preaching (significant, implying virility and staying power is the key word there.) What history points to, rather, is that all movements of revival, reformation, and missionary outreach seem to have had preaching (vigorous, though on occasion very informal) at their center, instructing, energizing, sometime purging and re-directing and often spearheading the whole movement. It would seem, then, that preaching is always necessary for a proper sense of mission to be evoked and sustained anywhere in the church.”[v]

The gift of prophecy, in its continuing form, is heart- searching, applicational preaching deeply rooted in biblical exposition. Paul encourages us to aspire to great gifts such as this one. If you find such a desire burning within take steps to feed the flame by taking appropriate action. I have listed in the footnote the titles of some good books on preaching.[vi]

Let us all pray for a revival of powerful preaching!

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[i] Carlson, pp. 23, 24

[ii] Flynn, p. 53

[iii] Ibid, p. 52

[iv] Packer, Keep in Step with the Spirit, p. 217

[v] J. I. Packer, The Preacher and Preaching, Samuel T. Logan, ed., Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterina and Reformed, 1986, p. 21

[vi] Books on Preaching.

            -W. E. Sangster, The Craft of Sermon Construction and Illustration, Grand Rapids: Baker, reprint 1984

-John A Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, New York: Harper, many editions, my edition 1943

-Haddon Robinson, Biblical Preaching, Grand Rapids: BAker, 1980 (8th printing-May 1983)

-D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Preaching & Preachers, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971

-Samuel Logan Jr., ed., The Preacher and Preaching, Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1986

-Sidney Greidanus, The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Does the Gift of Prophecy Continue Today? – Part Two

Confusion about the continuity or completion of the prophetic office prevails among Christians today. The Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). Since there were only twelve founding apostles, it is reasonable to suppose that the number of inspired prophets was also limited. Let’s look at what the Bible says about prophets.

First, prophets were not present throughout the whole OT period. Certainly, all Old Testament Scripture is prophetic in nature. Christ declared, “All the prophets and the law prophesied until John (the Baptist),” indicating that even the Law was prophetic. (Matt. 11:13) Further, Peter writes, “No prophecy of Scripture . . . was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21).

God revealed Old Testament Scripture at widely spaced intervals; not in a continuous process. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (Heb. 1:1). Periods of revelation were interspersed with long periods of prophetic silence. Moses, recipient of the Law was the first major prophet. “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut. 34:10).

Prophets were not present during the period of the Judges and Joshua. Vision was rare. (See 1 Sam. 3:1) Finally, Samuel arose to take up the prophetic mantle. Through the kingdom period which followed the era of Samuel, as priests became increasingly corrupt, prophets as God’s voice became more common. Elijah and Elisha prophesied during this period. God raised up the schools of the prophets to compensate for priestly failure. Prophets of this era, however, did not add to the inspired literature that became Holy Scripture.

The golden period of prophetic greatness extended for about four hundred years, from approximately 800 BC. to 400 BC. During this era prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, produced major works. Others, such as Amos, Hosea, and Malachi, contributed powerful, but short prophetic collections.

Malachi, the last of the Old Testament writing prophets, ushered in four hundred years of prophetic silence until the rise of John, the Baptizer, who introduced Christ. Jesus, as prophet, priest, and king shepherded a new prophetic era which produced the New Testament canon.

Secondly, biblical prophets were inspired vessels used by God to convey messages which usually became books of the Bible. Their messages were God-breathed—inspired. “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 5:21). Peter explains, “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation” (2 Peter 5:20). Hebrews reminds us that, “God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets” (Heb. 1:1). Prophecy in this sense is synonymous with revelation. Paul reminds us that the mystery of Christ and the church, “which was not made known unto men in other generations . . . . Has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:5). That era has ended.

Surely, no self-proclaimed modern prophet would claim that their messages are an addition to Scripture! Note how emphatically Paul links his prophetic and apostolic credentials to his reception of revelation. “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preach is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11,12). In this inspired sense, the office of prophets has ceased. The Bible is complete.

Although traditional Pentecostals believe that the prophetic office continues in some sense in our day, they express alarm at many of the claims of modern prophets. Raymond Carlson–General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God–warns; “Prophecy by the New Testament apostles was different in authority from that of all other Christians in local churches. The writings of the New Testament are God’s very words . . . . No words spoken today can ever be on a par with the inerrant Scriptures.”[i]

Thirdly, we must distinguish between prediction and preaching in prophetic ministry. On the whole, prophets were not predictors–foretellers–but rather forthtellers, preachers. Moses and John the Baptizer, two of the greatest prophets of all time, recorded little or no prediction. With minor exceptions, the entire content of Moses’ prophetic ministry was either history, ethical statements (law), or exhortations for Israel to heed God’s directives. He did warn them about the consequences of disobeying the law and he did predict that there would be another prophet raised up like him.

In the main, prophets were forthtellers, preachers, appointed by God to herald his Word in a particular context. Consider Moses. God told him, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Ex. 4:12) Moses went with a message from God. Likewise, God commanded Isaiah to, “Go and tellthis people” (Is. 6:9ff).

In a similar way, the prophetic ministry of the apostles contained a minimal of prediction.  They spoke to specific needs in concrete situations. The gospels and epistles each appeal to different audiences. Even the most predictive of books, Revelation, brought a message from God to the seven churches of Asia in specific historical situations.

To cry out for a return of the prophetic office out of a desire to listen to predictions, is to demand something of the prophetic office that, even in its heyday, it rarely exhibited. They were great preachers presenting truth. Jesus predicted that the Spirit would lead the apostles into all truth. Did he or did he not? Is the Bible complete or flawed? If he did what he predicted he would do, we have no further need of new revelations.

Paul wrote to Timothy that Scripture contains all the truth necessary for any Christian to be mature and complete in Christ. (See 2 Tim. 3:15-17.) Why this continual clamour for prophets to bring a “revelation,” a “word from God,” a “prediction” when the Scriptures contain the adequate, all-encompassing, and inerrant revelation of God’s will for mankind? To demand the revival of the gift of prophecy, as manifest in biblical prophets, is to devalue the Scriptures, and to encourage the manufacture of counterfeit miracles to verify these modern ‘prophets’.

Fourthly, prophecy must be tested by Scripture and any prediction prove to be 100% accurate. Superficially, many claim that miraculous signs attest their own ministry’s authenticity. We need to remember that the magic of the Egyptian magicians initially mimicked the signs Moses performed. In India, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist gurus echo Muslim pirs in claiming power to effect miraculous cures. Some even demonstrate their power by walking on fire. But the Bible warns, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Testing a prophet requires a carefully comparison of their teaching with Scripture. John urges the readers of his first epistle to check whether a prophet’s teaching enshrined or denied the reality of Jesus’ incarnation and deity. (1 John 4:2,3) Much earlier God had warned Moses not to be impressed by miraculous signs but to check the content. “If a prophet . . . appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder . . . takes place, and he says, ‘Let us worship other gods,’ you must not listen” (Deut. 13:1-3). Conformity to revealed truth takes precedence over startling manifestations of signs.

Prophetic prediction must not only be true to Scripture but perfectly accurate. Since God can predict the future with 100% accuracy, any prophecy of his, will come true. An accuracy rate less than 100% necessarily shows that the bearer’s prediction did not originate with God. “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously” (Deut. 18:22). A failed prophecy called for the perpetrator to be sentenced to death. All New Testament prophecy practiced in the early church passed this litmus test. (See Acts 11:27,28; 21:10,11) Perfect accuracy confirms a prophet’s credentials.

Sadly, many who claim the prophetic gift today, excuse inaccuracy. Several years ago Michael G. Maudlin set out to investigate the excitement generated by reports of the predictions of “The Kansas City Prophets. He wrote; “These men–pastor Mike Bickle, and prophets such as Bob Jones, John Paul Jackson, and Paul Cain are creating a stir in charismatic circles. They claim that the prophetic gift should be restored in the church, that prophecy is a natural, biblical means for God to speak to his people, and that (here’s the apocalyptic part) this increased prophetic activity is a sign of the emergence of the last-days’ victorious church.”[ii] The Kansas City Fellowship joined the Vineyard group of churches under John Wimber, who encouraged believers to seek the gift of prophecy.[iii]

The stir created by Vineyard and KCF moved traditional Pentecostals to issue cautionary statements. Indeed, the Vineyard itself has delineated a series of checks and balances to test prophecy. “All KCF and Vineyard leaders stress that the prophetic movement is immature and apt to make mistakes (except for, they stress, Paul Cain) . . . . The church allows for a generous margin of error in prophetic words . . . . Grudem, who teaches theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and attends a Vineyard-affiliated church, argues that every prophet today will make mistakes.”[iv]

Grudem claims that, “The Old Testament prophets who could not make mistakes without being declared false and put to death . . . in the New Testament are not prophets but apostles . . . . There is a discontinuity between the canonical revelation found in the Bible and the revelation received by modern-day prophets.” But as Robert Thomas, who teaches New Testament at California’s Master’s Seminary says, “How can you have inspired utterance that has error?”[v]

The Vineyard magazine, Equipping, contained a series of articles introducing prophetic ministry. In article after article the magazine attested to the veracity of the revelations that God has given this man and that. In the same breath it warns that prophets make mistakes. “Of course, prophets today do receive revelations from God. But in understanding and reporting what they receive, and in knowing what is from God and what is from their own minds or from a subtle suggestion of the Enemy, prophets do make mistakes . . . . Every prophet today will make mistakes.”[vi]

Sorry, the Bible is clear. Prophets must be 100% accurate or be declared false.

To review: 1. Prophets appeared at periodic intervals in history. 2. God called them to speak and write what he revealed to them. These revelations were rarely predictive. In the main they contained God’s Word for specific historical situations. Prophets were mainly powerful preachers. 3. Predictive prophecies were authenticated by their perfect accuracy.

Much more could be discussed on this topic. Having asserted that inspired prophecy as a gift or office has ceased, I am not saying that prophetic gifting does not continue in the New Testament Church as prophetic preaching. Uninspired prophecy continues as a preaching and teaching gift requiring the exegesis of the biblical text. Today’s prophetic preachers do not claim inspiration but use the inspired text of the Bible as their source. For a fuller treatment of this subject see my book Church-No Spectator Sport available through Amazon. Time permitting, I’ll write a third post in this series describing the limited sense in which the gift of prophecy continues. Of course, none of the above is written to limit God. As he used Agabus to predict a famine and warn Paul (see Acts 11:27,28; 21:10,11), he can at any time raise up a predictive prophet. However, such a rare occurrence must be discerned by Scripture. God is sovereign. May he be glorified in the church through the exegesis of his inspired Word.

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[i] G. Raymond Carlson, The Role of the Prophet Today, Article in The Pentecostal Testimony, March 1991, p. 22

[ii] Michael G. Maudlin, Seers in the Heartland, Article in Christianity Today, Jan. 14, 1991, p. 18

[iii] John Wimber, Introducing Prophetic Ministry, Article in Equipping, Fall 1989, pp. 4-6

[iv]  Maudlin, p. 20

[v] Ibid

[vi] Wayne A. Grudem, What Should be the Relationship Between  Prophet & Pastor? Article in Equipping, Fall 1989, p. 8

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share) See especially, Doctrine in Denim.

Where Can I Go For Help On Living Life?

Gurus tell us, “you are your own truth,” or “no one gets to define you but you.” Others tell us, “love yourself” or “never judge others”. Still others talk about yoga or some special course of supplements. Talk about confusing. Then some life crisis occurs. Or a relationship breaks down when our friends perceive that our “love yourself stuff” is just old arrogance in a new guise. A diagnosis of cancer rocks our world and anxiety takes over.

Where can we go for help. To the book that millions in every generation have gone to for wisdom and practical help. The Bible. There we will find ultimate truth about changeless ethical standards, who we are as men and women, how we should live and relate to one another, and how we can conquer the demons within. Although modern men and women think they have it all together and where to go for help they are sadly mistaken unless they turn to the collation of what God has revealed about reality in common revelation, special revelation, and in the incarnation of God’s Son at Christmas.

The Bible is a miracle! Imagine 40 different authors writing 66 different books over 1500 years recording a progressive and unified revelation of God and his dealings with mankind. In spite of this astounding diversity of authors, writing styles, literary genres, and time frames it is one unified and authoritative revelation of God’s will for mankind. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). They are “the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Scripture is inspired, or as the NIV states, “God-breathed.” Scripture is authoritative; it must be believed and obeyed. Scripture is sufficient for a person to be saved and equipped for every good work. We need no other revelation. It’s content evaluates as truth or false all human ideas and philosophies.

Do you doubt its authenticity? Well, consider what Jesus said about it. “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). In quoting a Psalm he said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). After his resurrection he talked with two men on the road to Emmaus. ‘Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead”’  (Luke 24:44-46).

To be an obedient follower of Christ, one must believe and act upon the inspired, authoritative, sufficient Word of God as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. Our lives should be spent probing its pages.

But you may think that it is hard to understand. Do we need scholars to explain the essential truths of the Scripture to us? Is its meaning so mysterious and archaic that ordinary, untrained people cannot understand it? It is not helpful to believe that the Scriptures are inspired, authoritative and sufficient in their teaching of all we need for life and godliness, if for understanding we need scholarly interpreters. 

Before the Protestant Reformation, the Roman Church taught that understanding of the true meaning of the Scriptures comes through the mediation of that church and its priests. They held that the Bible was too complicated and mysterious for ordinary men to understand. For this reason the Bible had not been translated into common languages. Tyndale, Martin Luther and others of the reformers revolutionized access to the Bible through their translations. This marvelous work continues today around the world.

The miracle about Scripture, besides its existence, is that it is understandable by an ordinary person in all it says about what is necessary for salvation and holy living. (Psalm 119:105,130) (The theological word for this is perspicuous which means clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.) All Christians are commanded to search the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11) The Scriptures are addressed to all. (Deut. 6:4-9) They are profitable for all. (2 Tim. 3:15-17) This reality does not deny that parts of Scripture are difficult; “there are some things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16). Consider however, the amazing clarity and simplicity of Christ’s teaching.

The essential clarity and simplicity of the Gospel is witnessed every day around the world when untaught men and women take up the Scriptures, understand what they are reading and are converted. This is why we distribute Gospels to people. The text is understandable and able to save through the help of the Holy Spirit illuminating the reader. None of this denies the blessing that preachers, teachers and scholars are to the church. But we must not let anyone rob us of our heritage.

Holy Bible, book divine

Precious Treasure, thou art mine.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; check out his web site: www.countrywindow.ca –– Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Can We Know Anything For Sure?

An article in a recent issue of the Globe and Mail outlined the pervasive extent of cheating in our society. Evidently not only is it prevalent in financial sectors but in poker, chess, fishing, and even in Irish dance. The U.S. is defrauded to the tune of 12 to 25 billion dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare. The author offers no solution to this moral morass. The ten commandments and a commitment to revealed ethical standards was not even mentioned. Except for the extent of cheating, this is nothing new. It is to be expected in any human society where God is ignored.

However, when we see the slippage in biblical standards among professing evangelicals, it is time to be very worried indeed. Ligonier Ministries took a recent survey and found that 65% believe we are born innocent, not sinners; 52% believe that God learns and adapts as circumstances change; 42% agree that adults have the right to choose their gender; and 56% agree that God accepts the worship of all religions.

For these reasons I want to begin an occasional series outlining what Christians must believe. This begins with revelation. Christians must affirm that ultimate truths, changeless ethical standards, and knowledge of the infinite, eternal God can only come through REVELATION. (Not the book.) That is, we can only know what is ultimately true not by experiment or opinion but through studying what God has revealed. We can learn about medicine, the movement of the planets, the characteristics of matter, and so on through observation and experiment. But we cannot learn about ethics, for example, through observation. Otherwise, we might conclude that bigamy, cheating, cannibalism, and mercy killing and even war are okay. As we will see, there is a limited amount about God that can be deduced from observation.

The knowledge of that which is beyond experiment and observation must come from the one who is Creator and Source of all. If he doesn’t reveal it, we can’t know it. Fortunately, he has revealed himself through four kinds of revelation; common revelation, special revelation, incarnational revelation, and written revelation. 

First, consider common revelation, which gives a limited picture of what can be known about God by observation. Romans One defines this for us. It also pronounces judgement on mankind for their overt rejection of what is plain to their eyes.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).  

Through this revelation of his creativity in making the universe, God has revealed several of his attributes. From what we see, we should be able to admit that; 1. The originator of the universe must be greater than the universe itself, he must be other-worldly, that is, divine; 2. He must have immense power to create the universe; that is, he must be omnipotent; 3. He must have infinite wisdom to create such immensity and diversity while keeping the universe in balance; 4. He must have existed before created time; he must be eternal.

In spite of what is obvious from gazing at the stars, considering the creation of our bodies, or pondering the immense diversity of creation from the smallest bacteria to the greatest whale, people reject what is clearly seen about the Creator. Instead, they embrace foolish ideas. (Read Romans 1,2).

Belief in common revelation—whether we call it that or not—is an essential Christian belief.

If we profess to be a Christian we must base our beliefs not on opinions, feelings, cultural practices, social media statements or philosophies but on what God has revealed. We’ve seen that he has revealed himself in common revelation. He has also revealed himself in;

2. Special Revelation

Because the revelation of God and truth through the light of creation is insufficient to provide what mankind needs to know for life and salvation, God gave special revelation through prophets. “God spoke to our fathers through the prophets at many times and in diverse ways” (Heb. 1:1). These prophets, men such as Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Daniel, did not choose to become the conduits of God’s revelation.  God chose them. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (1 Peter1:21). For example, consider Jeremiah. “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’” (Jer. 1:5).

For this reason, acceptance of the divine authority of the books of the Old Testament recorded by these prophets is a necessary Christian belief. We do not have the option to pick and choose between Genesis, Exodus, Judges, Ruth, Psalms, or Isaiah. They all declare the Word of God.

Sadly, throughout history mankind has rejected God’s revelation of himself in creation-common revelation, and through prophets-special revelation. Instead of accepting what what God revealed, cultures invented other narratives to explain reality. Our day is no different. In a recent article in the Globe and Mail the claim is made that religion was invented to hold agricultural societies together. The author categorically stated that now we know better than to believe in any religion.  So instead of accepting what God has revealed, we should just fabricate some other narrative? How has that worked out? Consider the twentieth century as an example of the effect of rejecting revelation and embracing human ideas. Some estimate that it resulted in the death of 200 million. I think the evidence of human folly and bestiality is enough for the followers of Jesus Christ reject the myths and stories and philosophies of so-called modern man. Instead, we celebrate the most astounding revelation in all of history:

3. Christ as Revelation.

God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin, not only to secure our salvation but as a revelation of who God is. “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Heb. 1:2). [We will consider the person of Christ in a later post.]

Christ is the Word of God, that is, the revealer of God, the ultimate communication from God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14).

Because of the importance of this revelation of God in Christ, God appointed men to infallibly record the events in his life, his teaching, and his death and resurrection. Men such as Matthew, Luke, Paul and John, etc.—like the prophets of the Old Testament—were infallibly let to record the books of the New Testament.

Belief in God’s revelation of himself in Jesus and the record of his life and teaching is an essential truth that genuine Christians must believe.

If we profess to be a Christian, we will embrace belief in our inability to know absolute truth except as God has revealed it in common, special, and incarnational revelation. In the next post, we’ll consider how essential it is to believe in written revelation as contained in the Bible.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; check out his web site: www.countrywindow.ca –– Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)