Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Elaborate on last days timeframe | Heb 1:2 | Val | 213331 | ||
Thank you Doc. So for those who might not understand the word advent, you are saying when Christ came to earth the first time until He comes in the future the second time. What would you say to people who want to look outside of the Holy Scriptures for guidance from God? Is the closing of the canon the reason we do not do this? Sincerely, Val | ||||||
2 | Elaborate on last days timeframe | Heb 1:2 | BMyers | 213336 | ||
Not everyone agrees on the issue for looking for guidance outside of scripture (Holy Spirit). When you use the term "we" I'm assuming that you are reffering to the mindset of Doc and yourself, which I believe is Cessationists, but not all Christians believe in this theology. I can say after reading books that Doc has recommended and others have recommended, that I'm not of that mindset and still feel that the Holy Spirit can and does prompt us and guide us, but never contradicts scripture (this could be a very long post, but at work right now). Brad |
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3 | Elaborate on last days timeframe | Heb 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 213338 | ||
Hi, Brad... You are mischaracterizing me -- a frequent occurrence that causes me very little angst -- and you are mischaracterizing Cessationism -- something that should cause you quite a bit of angst. Disagreeing with something is one thing, but burning straw men is something else altogether. The former is part of the duty of any student of the truth, the latter is worthy only of politicians! I cannot think of anyone in the Cessationism camp that would assert that the Holy Spirit does not prompt or guide. Oh my... quite the contrary. Outside of the working of the Holy Spirit there is no effectual calling, there is no regeneration, there is no conviction of sin, there is no understanding of the Word, there is no progressive sanctification, no personal and real relationship with God, etc. etc. etc. Sola Scriptura -- the doctrine upon which this forum is founded -- asserts that "the Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience." Sufficiency means that it is complete, lacking nothing. Certainty means that it is worthy of our full confidence, take it to the bank. Infallibility means that it is without error, accomplishing all that God intends. It is the ONLY thing that has those characteristics. To what end? To the end of ALL that is needed by us to know for salvation, for belief, and for those things required by God for us to do and to avoid. Nevertheless, sola Scriptura also asserts, "We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, IS FROM THE INWARD WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARING WITNESS BY AND WITH THE WORD IN OUR HEARTS. (John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20 and 27)" (my emphasis) God has taken very decisive and specific action to preserve His Word "against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world." Humans have hearts that are more deceitful than anything in the universe and Satan can author supernatural manifestations galore. Placing authority in dreams, mystical experiences, or feelings is not sola Scriptura. The serious student of truth, a follower of Christ, has learned to be highly suspicious of any of those things. It isn't a matter of their being real or not -- it is a matter of their being utterly undependable at best, and downright damnable at worst. People may pursue in their own lives, as they deem suitable, all kinds of experiences. No one here will deny them that right. However, holding dear the doctrines of sola Scriptura -- not to mention the intent of our gracious host in this specific venue -- we have no interest in visions, inner impressions, or apparitions. Instead, we place all our confidence and in that which God places above His own name: the Scriptures. In Him, Doc |
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4 | Elaborate on last days timeframe | Heb 1:2 | BMyers | 213343 | ||
Doc, still working (bummer to be at work on Saturday, but thankful for job), do you believe in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that they are still active today? My understanding from previous conversations, were no. The classification of this is cessationism, which there are various levels and as you have pointed out maybe it isn't various levels of cessationism, but of continuationism. Saying that a person is going outside of what the Bible teaches by believing in the gift of tongues or prophecy, I believe, this is where we disagree. Discussing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I don't believe is violating the terms of use of the forum. Just because some don't believe they are still active, doesn't mean they are right, especially since the debate centers on the very scriptures themselves and how one understands 1 Corinthians 13:8 and "perfect". Unfortunately brief notes don’t always allow full explanations, purpose wasn’t to offend, but point out different view point that is scripturally based. Brad |
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5 | Elaborate on last days timeframe | Heb 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 213354 | ||
Dear Brad, I am thoughtfully, intentionally, and decidedly confessional. That means that what I believe is summarized in an explicit statement of faith, fully disclosed to everyone. (I've tried to summarize that summary in my profile.) If you'd like read the confession, here it is: http://www.reformed.org/documents/baptist_1689.html I've never heard of a confessional Continuationist (an interesting anomaly in itself), so being confessional might not carry much significance for you. Perhaps this will help. Charles H. Spurgeon, speaking of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (see above), asserted: "This ancient document is the most excellent epitome of the things most surely believed among us. It is not issued as an authoritative rule or code of faith, whereby you may be fettered, but as a means of edification in righteousness. It is an excellent, though not inspired, expression of the teaching of those Holy Scriptures by which all confessions are to be measured." Back to your question: Do I believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active today? I thought I already answered that... but I'll answer it again... Yes, I do... Haven't you read all I've written here on the forum on Ephesians 4? (That chapter is, after all, one of the four chapters on spiritual gifts.) Of course, I understand that when people ask that question they aren't thinking about the mundane stuff -- but the Benny Hinn kind of stuff. I admit to thinking that that kind of emphasis on "sign gifts" is misplaced. Well did Christ say that "an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign." I wonder what would happen if those who sought gifts pleaded with the Father to grant that they be poor in spirit, deep mourners over sin, meek, humble, chastened, scourged, and servants of all? These are the gifts that glorify God, and characterized our Lord Jesus. Instead we tend to covet those things that will show others how pious, gifted, and divinely honored we are. Amazing how we think we can be vessels meet for the service of our Lord, but in way that will feed the flesh as well. It is like dragging into the Temple images of Baal. So the long and short of it is this: if there exists in a congregation the evidence of the increasing fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24), the decreasing fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), the exposition of the complete Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Peter 3:14-17), increasing of knowledge of God (Colossians 1:5-9), growing holiness of believers (Hebrews 12:14), etc. -- then, I would grant (and its only me, I can't vouchsafe Scripture on this point), that if people want to make utterance in something that is unverifiable as a genuine language, God won't make a big deal about it. Exegetically, the practical point of 1 Corinthians 14 is the value of clear communication of God's truth to the edifying of the congregation -- something lost in the aberrant behavior of the church of Corinth. The value of making plain exposition of the Word to the edification of the body is not only supported in this passage, but many others besides. I can stand confidently upon that principle, whereas the orthopraxy of ecstatic utterances rests on somewhat shaky ground. In Him, Doc |
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