Continuing the Gifts: A Case for Continuationism

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit's Promise to All Generations

The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are not confined to the early church but are a promise to all generations, as highlighted in Acts 2:39. This promise signifies the ongoing presence and work of the Spirit in the church today, affirming that these gifts are available to all believers. The gifts are not just historical artifacts but are meant to edify and build up the church in every age. Understanding this promise encourages believers to be open to the Spirit's work in their lives and communities, recognizing that the gifts are part of God's plan for His people. [01:26]

"For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:39, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be more open to experiencing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life today?

Day 2: The Enduring Nature of Spiritual Gifts

There is no biblical evidence that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Passages often cited by cessationists, such as 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, do not support the claim that these gifts have ended. Instead, the gifts are presented as enduring aspects of the Spirit's work among believers. This understanding challenges believers to reconsider any preconceived notions about the cessation of spiritual gifts and to explore how these gifts can be active in their lives and communities today. [01:53]

"Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual gifts do you believe are present in your life, and how can you use them to serve others?

Day 3: Understanding Tongues and Prophecy

Cessationists often misunderstand the purpose of the gift of tongues and the nature of New Testament prophecy. These gifts were not solely for authenticating apostles but served broader purposes, including edification and revealing God's will. Recognizing the true purpose of these gifts can help believers appreciate their value and seek to understand how they can be used for the common good within the church. [03:09]

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you seek to understand and use the gifts of tongues and prophecy for the edification of your community?

Day 4: Historical Continuation of Spiritual Gifts

Church history provides evidence that the miraculous gifts continued beyond the apostolic age. Early Christian writers like Ignatius and Justin Martyr testify to the presence of these gifts, challenging the cessationist narrative that they ceased with the apostles. This historical perspective supports the biblical case for continuationism and encourages believers to explore the rich heritage of spiritual gifts throughout church history. [06:40]

"And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them." (Acts 19:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How does the historical evidence of spiritual gifts challenge your understanding of their role in the church today?

Day 5: Scripture and Experience in Continuationism

While personal experiences of the Spirit's gifts are affirming, the belief in continuationism is primarily rooted in scripture. Historical evidence supports this view, demonstrating that the gifts were active in the early church and remain relevant today. Believers are encouraged to ground their understanding of spiritual gifts in scripture while being open to the experiences that affirm their presence and work in the church. [38:27]

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you balance scriptural understanding and personal experience in your approach to spiritual gifts?

Sermon Summary

In this final installment of the series, I explore the topic of cessationism versus continuationism, focusing on the belief that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to be present in the church today. The discussion is prompted by recent media and events advocating for cessationism, which claims that such gifts ceased with the apostolic age. I present ten reasons why cessationism is incorrect, emphasizing that the miraculous gifts are part of a promise made to all generations, as stated in Acts 2:39. There is no biblical statement indicating that any of the gifts have passed away, and the categories of "sign gifts" and others are artificial constructs not supported by scripture.

The gifts were not limited to the apostles, nor were they solely for authenticating them. Instead, they served broader purposes, including edification and the common good. Misunderstandings about the purpose of the gift of tongues and the nature of New Testament prophecy contribute to the cessationist viewpoint. Importantly, God can and does communicate outside the Bible, though the Bible remains the authoritative and irreplaceable word of God.

The tenth reason draws from church history, showing that the early church continued to experience these gifts well beyond the apostolic age. Historical figures like Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus provide evidence that the gifts were active in their times. While historical arguments are not determinative, they support the biblical case for continuationism. The rise of cessationism in the fourth century, as seen in figures like John Chrysostom, marked a shift in the church's understanding, but this was not the view of the early church.

Ultimately, the belief in continuationism is rooted in scripture and supported by historical evidence. While experiences of the gifts today are affirming, the primary basis for this belief is biblical. I invite open dialogue and reflection on these points, recognizing that sincere believers may hold differing views.

Key Takeaways

1. 10, do not support their claims. Instead, the gifts are presented as enduring aspects of the Spirit's work among believers. [01:53]
3. Misunderstandings of Tongues and Prophecy: Cessationists often misunderstand the purpose of the gift of tongues and the nature of New Testament prophecy. These gifts were not solely for authenticating apostles but served broader purposes, including edification and revealing God's will.

4. Historical Continuation of Gifts: Church history shows that the miraculous gifts continued beyond the apostolic age. Early Christian writers like Ignatius and Justin Martyr testify to the presence of these gifts, challenging the cessationist narrative that they ceased with the apostles.

5. The Role of Experience and Scripture: While personal experiences of the Spirit's gifts are affirming, the belief in continuationism is primarily rooted in scripture. Historical evidence supports this view, demonstrating that the gifts were active in the early church and remain relevant today.

** [01:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Introduction to Cessationism Debate
[01:12] - Overview of Reasons Against Cessationism
[01:26] - Promise to All Generations
[01:53] - No Biblical Statement of Cessation
[02:10] - Misunderstanding of Sign Gifts
[02:29] - Gifts Beyond Apostolic Authentication
[03:09] - Misunderstanding of Tongues
[03:22] - New Testament Prophecy
[03:38] - Function of Gifts in New Testament
[04:28] - Church History and Cessationism
[06:09] - Historical Evidence of Gifts
[09:14] - Early Christian Writers on Gifts
[18:11] - Justin Martyr's Testimony
[20:38] - Irenaeus on Gifts
[27:44] - Eusubius and Prophetic Gifts
[33:51] - Rise of Cessationism in 4th Century
[37:19] - Conclusion and Invitation for Dialogue

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Acts 2:39 - "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 - "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears."
2 Timothy 4:20 - "Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."

Observation Questions:

According to Acts 2:39, to whom is the promise of the Holy Spirit's gifts extended? How does this relate to the sermon’s argument against cessationism? [01:26]
What does 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 say about the cessation of spiritual gifts, and how does the sermon interpret this passage differently from cessationists? [01:53]
How does the sermon use historical figures like Ignatius and Justin Martyr to support the continuation of spiritual gifts beyond the apostolic age? [06:40]
What is the significance of 2 Timothy 4:20 in the cessationist argument, and how does the sermon address this? [08:04]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the promise in Acts 2:39 challenge the idea that spiritual gifts were only for the early church? What implications does this have for believers today? [01:26]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that cessationists misunderstand the purpose of the gift of tongues and New Testament prophecy? [03:09]
How does the sermon argue that historical evidence supports the continuation of spiritual gifts? What role does church history play in this theological debate? [06:40]
How does the sermon reconcile the belief in continuationism with the authority and sufficiency of Scripture? [05:39]

Application Questions:

Reflect on Acts 2:39. How does believing in the ongoing promise of the Holy Spirit's gifts affect your personal faith journey and your role in the church? [01:26]
Have you ever experienced or witnessed a spiritual gift in action? How did it impact your faith or the faith of others around you? [38:27]
The sermon mentions misunderstandings about the gift of tongues. How can you seek a better understanding of spiritual gifts in your own study and prayer life? [03:09]
How can you engage in open dialogue with others who may have differing views on spiritual gifts, while maintaining respect and unity within the church? [37:19]
Considering the historical evidence presented in the sermon, how can you incorporate the lessons of early church history into your current faith practice? [06:40]
How does the belief in continuationism influence your expectations of God's work in your life and community today? [38:27]
What steps can you take to ensure that your belief in spiritual gifts is rooted in Scripture and not solely in personal experience? [06:09]

Sermon Clips

The miraculous gifts of the holy spirit are part of a promise made to all generations, uh that promise is found in Acts 2: 33 and especially verse 39 where Peter promises as part of the New Covenant, it's part of that promise made to all generations not just to that first or first two generations of Christians. [00:01:26]

Cessationism is wrong because there's no biblical statement that any of the gifts of the Spirit has passed away it's just not there and what some people claim 1 Corinthians 13: 8 9 and 10 have said about the gifts of the Spirit pastor way it's just incorrect it's not right. [00:01:53]

Cessationism is wrong because cessationists misunderstand the purpose of the gift of tongues and therefore get there's a lot of bad thinking that leads to that once you start with that wrong premise. [00:03:09]

The history of the early church after the time of the New Testament shows that the more apparently miraculous gifts of the holy spirit did not pass away or at least they did not pass away as the cessationist claim. [00:06:40]

I don't think that the historical argument is determinative I don't think it settles the issue I think the issue is settled biblically that's why I spent nine points saying why nine reasons why I believe that cessationism is wrong but here for number 10 I do want to give some attention to history. [00:09:14]

According to Ignatius the gift of Prophecy existed in the church in this writing that we're going to take a look at he was very careful to emphasize the importance of single Bishop leadership and he described himself prophesying among Christians and he's crying out in the spirit do nothing without the bishop. [00:15:37]

Justin Martyr is living somewhere between 100 165 again we're getting into the mid part of the 2 Century this is what Justin Martyr said in some of his writings uh from the dialogue with Trio he says this for the prophetical gifts remain with us even to the present time. [00:18:11]

Irenaeus ministered uh somewhere in the late 2nd Century say 175 to 195 he described many Christians in the church of his day who possessed and practiced the gift of the spirit and in the following passage he specifically mentions gifts such as exorcism, predictive prophecy, revelatory vision, and prophecy and healing. [00:20:38]

John chrissos was a cessationist but we don't see the rise of cessationism I would say until the 4th Century not until any significant strength you can find similar passages to this in Augustine by the 4th Century much of the church came to regard the manifestly miraculous gifts of the holy spirit as relics of the past. [00:33:51]

I don't believe there's any denying the evidence that if you were to tell a believer in ad 200 or 250 that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit were gone from the church he would likely tell you you don't know what you're talking about we see them in our midst even to the present day. [00:37:19]

At the very least I want you to know that there is a strong and firm belief in continuationism the idea that the more manifestly miraculous gifts of the Spirit are at work among God's people today the the idea that that is here is not only based on experience but there is a real fundamental belief in the Bible on these things and in church history. [00:38:27]

I believe because the Bible says so history says so and experience confirms it God bless you appreciate your comments appreciate your interaction again I'll just say it one more time there's no way we can interact with every comment or or question but we appreciate when they come God bless you glad you could join me for this series. [00:38:27]

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Continuing the Gifts: A Case for Continuationism

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit's Promise to All Generations

Day 2: The Enduring Nature of Spiritual Gifts

Day 3: Understanding Tongues and Prophecy

Day 4: Historical Continuation of Spiritual Gifts

Day 5: Scripture and Experience in Continuationism

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Continuing the Gifts: A Case for Continuationism

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