The Bible Provocateur
The Bible Provocateur
The Cessation of Spiritual Gifts
The completeness and sufficiency of Scripture stands as one of Christianity's most foundational yet contested principles. This eye-opening examination cuts through popular misconceptions about spiritual gifts, revealing why claims of modern-day apostles and prophets contradict biblical teaching about God's complete revelation.
At the heart of these challenges lies 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, which establishes a clear principle: partial revelation gives way to complete revelation. When Paul writes about "that which is perfect" coming to replace "that which is in part," he's establishing a crucial theological framework. Rather than pointing to Christ's future return, this passage reveals how the completion of Scripture fulfilled and replaced the need for continuing revelatory gifts.
The misunderstanding runs deeper than theological nuance – it strikes at whether believers truly accept Scripture's completeness. Those seeking modern prophetic words or apostolic authority often unwittingly signal their dissatisfaction with God's written Word. Biblical tongues weren't unintelligible prayer languages but actual human languages miraculously given for evangelistic purposes during the church's foundational period.
This matters profoundly because it affects how we approach spiritual authority. Many charismatic leaders have created what might be called a "spiritual ladder," positioning themselves at higher rungs through claims of special anointing or prophetic status. Yet true Christian ministry follows Christ's example of serving from the bottom, meeting people in their brokenness rather than claiming elevated spiritual status.
Scripture thoroughly equips believers for every good work without requiring additional special revelation. Have you found yourself seeking experiences beyond Scripture's boundaries? Consider whether you've fully embraced the sufficiency of God's completed Word – it contains everything needed for life and godliness.
Often, what goes along with that are the miraculous gifts, the miraculous gifts and signs and wonders that we have seen happen from Genesis up to the time of the apostles, elements done with. I would also tell you that the miraculous gifts that people believe they have miraculous gifts of the spirit, along with the last apostles, all of them went to the wayside as well. You may not like it, but that's what it is. And the people who don't like to hear it are the people who refuse to believe or refuse to admit that they have been lying to their congregations for decades perhaps, and people who love their pastors so much and esteem them so highly that they would rather have those people sit on their pedestals at the expense of the truth. But we're not going to have that tonight. We're going to tell you, we're going to tell the truth tonight. No games, no games. And when I get done, I hope you will understand why this is such an important matter. And again, I don't try to like have some grand exit and save the big, the big, the big moment for the end. I'm telling you right now anyone who embraces this idea that prophets and apostles and miraculous gifts are happening today, people who are adamant about adhering to these things and holding them. They have a fundamental problem with the necessity, with the completion and with the sufficiency of scripture. You're not satisfied. Not satisfied. The word of God is not enough. So you need parlor tricks and lollipops, because the word of God is not enough. The healing that the word of God is not, the healing that the word of God grants to the soul is not enough. We talked about this last night, about people going to the dentist's office when I was a kid. You go to the dentist's office, you go through all that pain to be healed and then, on your way out, the doctor offers you a sucker, a lollipop.
Speaker 1:People like their signs and wonders and their prophets and their apostles because it's not just they like lollipops. They need them. They need them and I'm going to tell you something else People who are spiritually weak, people who are spiritually weak, they are the ones who need prophets and apostles and the miraculous People. Today, let me say it again If you need or you rely on or you believe in the current and perpetual existence of apostles and prophets and the miraculous, apostles and prophets and the miraculous, you are weak and you do not see and understand the sufficiency of the ministry of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ, and the word that he communicated to us by his apostles and by his prophets. You may not like it, so what, don't care. It's the truth, and I rather believe the truth of the word of God. They believe these knuckleheads run around convincing people or trying to convince people that they have these spiritual offices and abilities. It's sort of like the MCU of Christianity, all these people in Christianity who believe they're superheroes. You're not.
Speaker 2:Interject, jonathan, please do. I like to call it the spiritual ladder, and I think I've mentioned this on your platform before. The higher up you go, the greater the title apostle, prophet. But you get to the top of the ladder. Where's Jesus? He's at the bottom of the ladder, dealing with the people, blessing and working with the people who are broken and busted and need grace and mercy where we should be. Amen, you know, I just wanted to add that in there, brother, you're nailing it tonight, as always. Keep it coming, brother, keep it coming.
Speaker 1:We're going to try to do it. We're going to try to get this. I see I lost the guy that I was hoping he would stay, but I guess he, I guess he decided to exit early, so I knew that would happen. That always happens.
Speaker 2:Hey, I'm going to uh. As soon as Meg gets here, jonathan, I'm going to drop out so she can have the spot, okay.
Speaker 1:It's all right, we'll, we'll, we'll work it out when she gets here. Okay, so let me get to the next section of scripture, and I'm going to start in first Corinthians 13, because this is usually a go-to. This is usually a go-to when those of us who believe what I'm talking about are referred to as cessationists, cessation-alists. Cessation, meaning we believe that these things have ceased In 1 Corinthians. Paul says something in 1 Corinthians 13, 8 through verse 10. Let me read it Charity never fails, never fails. But whether they be prophecies, they will fail. Whether they be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part or we know partially, and we prophesy in part or partially chapter 13, verse 10. But Paul says when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Speaker 1:Now I'm using the verse that the opponents of what I'm saying will expect me or one of you to use first to combat their idea that these things are continuing. So I'm bringing it up first so that I can explain what it actually means and put it in your ears and see, let you decide for yourself. I don't want anyone here on this panel or anyone listening. I don't want anyone to say that I'm not showing you or giving you an explanation. I'm not even asking you to believe it. I'm asking you to investigate it and see if what I'm saying is at least a adequate and formidable perspective. Look it up for yourself. Now. Here's the problem. Here's what we have here. Charity doesn't fail. Prophecies do fail, and prophecies fail when there are no more prophets. Tongues will fail when there's no longer a need for it. They will cease when there's no longer a need for it. They will cease when there's no longer a need. But the Pentecostal movement has manufactured a need because they call speaking in tongues prayer language, which I am bereft of any example of this in the scriptures.
Speaker 1:The Bible says nothing about a prayer language that is referred to or called tongues. Tongues comes from the Greek word glossalia, which means simply languages, which is where we get our English word glossary Language. Tongues are languages when languages were unknown, when languages were given to those who did not know the language. That is what made it miraculous. The Holy Spirit gave the gift of tongues, or the gift of languages, to those folks who did not speak the languages and therefore that was what was unknown about it. It was unknown to them. It wasn't a unknown language that we use to speak to God in a secret language, which is just the stupidest thing I've ever heard that God requires us to have a secret prayer language because he can't understand what we're saying when we say it in English, because you can't understand what we're saying when we say it in English. And they go so far as to say that the reason why you need to have this secret language of tongues is so the devil can't take your prayers from you and steal them from you so that they don't reach heaven. This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Christians. Bear with me a little bit here. I'm going to try to manage my intensity on this whole issue, because this is one of those things that really, really frustrates me, because it is so ignorant and so many people believe it. And primarily, I must say, this has much association and much affiliation with the American church, american church churches in America, and you'd be surprised how many people in this charismatic movement, how many people that you might listen to, you might think are cool, but they are part of this charismatic movement, people who you see on TikTok on a daily basis, including the 2819 pastor, including Stephen Furtick, including Kenneth Copeland, including Creflo Dollar. All of these people, all of these people are counterfeits. Let me say it again they are all counterfeit.
Speaker 1:Now Paul says tongues will cease, knowledge will cease, meaning that those words of knowledge that God gives directly, prophecies, they will fail, but the only thing, the only thing that will continue and that never fails is love. And then Paul says in verse nine but we know partially and we prophesy partially, not completely. He's saying we don't get the whole picture from prophecies, we don't get the whole picture from divine knowledge, in other words, that which God gives to people specifically for a particular time to lead his people. He says knowledge is partial, prophesy is partial, but we crave what gives us the full, we crave the full meal, we crave the whole picture, the whole picture. So in verse 10 of 1 Corinthians 13, he says that, even though these things that I just said are true, prophesying is in part, knowledge is in part. Tongues will cease. Then he says but Christians, but when that which is perfect comes, then that which is in part, meaning knowledge prophecies tongues, that which is in part, that will be done away. When will it be done away? It will be done away when that which is perfect comes.
Speaker 1:So here, here's what people asked next. So what is it that is, what is it that is perfect which is to come? So now I'm gonna pause here to ask people what is, what is it that is perfect that must come, and what does perfect mean? So what does perfect mean? And what does it mean that when that which is perfect is come, then all the other things that are in part will go away. So, whatever you say, I want to ask you why you say it. So, sister Evie, are you there All right? You there, all right? So what are your thoughts so far? What does it mean when it says in 1 Corinthians 13, 10, when that which is perfect comes? What does perfect mean? And what is it that you think it is that is going to come, that is perfect from paul's perspective so from paul's perspective, for me you said corinthians 1 first corinthians, first corinthians, chapter 13, verse 10 okay, gotcha, um.
Speaker 3:So what we see here and what we see throughout scriptures, the perfect one was the name of God and so, with him fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament, he was the perfect one, as the scriptures say, from the from Genesis, you know, all the way to the last book of the old Testament, and so they did not have these um, the, the like the new Testament just yet, so they were going by the old. And so my belief, and from what I see in the scriptures, is the perfect one was the savior, the Messiah, and he is to come, because we are waiting for the day that he comes back for his sons and daughters.
Speaker 1:So let me ask you this question then If, if Jesus Christ is what is spoken about here in terms of his future coming, then that would mean that those who say apostles and prophets exist today, they would have an argument to stand on. They would be right and I would be completely wrong. More, all right. Let me move on and I'm going to speak to this. Okay, hang in there with me.
Speaker 3:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:Sister Lisa, are you, you there?
Speaker 4:I'm here your thoughts so far so jesus is who we hope in and be. When he comes we'll understand everything, and until he returns, um, it's just partial understanding all right what is my take?
Speaker 1:all right now I'm asking I'm asking this question for a very good reason and I want to, I want to get everybody's answer before I, before I say why, because I'm going to say something the that which is perfect comes. Most people will say this is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Most people say this I'm going to say initially, I'm going to say initially one, that this is wrong, but secondly, I'm going to say why it's wrong and then, if you continue to disagree, then we'll take up that conversation, dt your thoughts. That which is perfect comes.
Speaker 5:What is perfect, I would say the second coming.
Speaker 1:Second coming. All right, good, greg, what do you say?
Speaker 5:Okay, Well, if we want to know what perfect means there, we've got to use some context clues. We know in part, we prophesy in part or, as you put it, partially, but when that which is perfect in contradistinction to partial so perfect is being used here in the sense of complete when that which is complete has come. Yes, so I'm saying it's the complete revelation of the new testament, the, the canon of scripture all right, let me freeze you there, let me freeze you there.
Speaker 1:States well, yeah, I hope. Well, yeah, I hope. Everybody heard that Because, again, no surprises what he said. That is the truth. That is the truth.
Speaker 1:Now let's get into explaining why. First of all, when that which is perfect is come Because the couple of ladies said this is referring to Jesus and when he comes. My brother, dt, said the same thing when Jesus comes. But see, here's the problem. If when that which is perfect comes, which is able to put away prophecy, words of knowledge and tongues, if that doesn't stop until Jesus comes, then that means these things are still going on. This means that everything I'm saying today is wrong, and I hate to be wrong, but that's what that would mean, and I hate to be wrong, but that's what that would mean. But, greg, brother, greg made a point.
Speaker 1:It starts by understanding what perfect means. Perfect means complete, and he's not speaking about something specific. Complete and he's not speaking about something specific, although there are many specific things that are contemplated within it. But that which is perfect means when that which is complete comes. Because remember, look what he says in 1 Corinthians, 13, 9, the verse right above. He says for we know partially or we know in part and we prophesy in part. So when he says in verse 13, 10, he says but when that which is complete comes and that which is partial is done away, does everybody understand what I'm saying, evie, does that make sense?
Speaker 3:Yes, it does Very good point. It made me think to myself this specific text, he could be talking to that specific time frame. You know what I'm saying Of people and because when we hear is to come, we know that we're in the time of grace and we're waiting for the coming. But that could have been for the time then for those specific people in that specific covenant. So, yes, we're talking those specific people in that specific covenant.
Speaker 1:So, yes, I'm talking, I'm with it, but let's get away from time and future, all these things. What Paul says, because he does, let me say this, let me say it differently, because he does talk about the future, but he talks about it when he says this, but when? But when that which is perfect comes, okay. So he's speaking about time. In that regard, and it's from the standpoint of that, there is a time when something that is complete comes, it will supplant that which was in part or that which was partial. In verse 9, 1 Corinthians 13,. In verse 9 and 10, he contrasts what's in part and how it is supplanted with what is complete. So what Paul is doing is laying out a biblical, or he's laying out a principle, a principle, and the principle is this If you have something that is partial, if you have something that is partial, you understand that it gives you only a fraction of what is needed to be known. So, when something comes that is more complete than that which was partial, get rid of what was partial and go along with that which is complete, because what is complete includes what was partial but adds what was unknown. Does that make sense? Was partial but adds what was unknown, does that make sense.
Speaker 1:So Paul is laying out a principle. He's not speaking about any particular specific thing, but he's speaking about a principle when you have what's complete, get rid of what was partial. And this is what's going to explain why there are no more prophets and why there are no more apostles. This is why this is going to be, why this has to be understood, because the idea is is that if, if Paul, if we have the word of God right, because the word of God the way we have it right now, I don't think that Paul had any idea that it was going to be laid out the way that it is. I don't know that Paul believed that his letters were going to be and going to have the impact that they have now today. I don't think that he knew that his words in his epistles were going to be part of what we refer to as the canon of God's word.
Speaker 1:So he lays out a principle. He doesn't say when the scriptures are complete, when I get through writing, when James and John and Peter, when they get through writing, then you will have the truth. No, he lays out a principle when something is complete, comes and gives you all that you need, then get away. Then get rid of the abridged versions, get rid of the short versions, because now you have the whole volume. Candy girl, go ahead. You have a comment?
Speaker 6:I do and it is. You said that the way it was said and then went to and said it coming, but that's not what came to me. What came to me was when we it's really hard to hear you.
Speaker 1:It's really hard to hear you. Can you hear me now? There's a whole lot of background noise back there. Go ahead and mute it and I'll come back to you. Go ahead and mute it and I'll come back to you. Can you hear me now? Yeah, go ahead. What do you have to say?
Speaker 6:I'm there.
Speaker 1:For me. I can't hear you.
Speaker 6:Jesus Christ, I can't hear you and we're safe. You okay, no Okay.
Speaker 1:Now can you hear me? Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, try one more time because it's taking a lot of time.
Speaker 6:go ahead the completeness of god in us. The essence, all three persons, the whole essence of god is the complete in us, which means we don't need the partial of what the apostles and the prophets prophesied, and all that because we have him within us to guide us and teach us what we need to know right, absolutely Now.
Speaker 1:go ahead. Meg, you had a question, go ahead.
Speaker 7:Yeah. So my question is there's a verse that I want you to help me understand. So when the verse says that the prophet is subject to the prophet, like I think it's in same um chapter that you're speaking about, right, you could you explain that? Because when you hear these false prophets and all these people talking they're like the first thing they say is oh, the prophet is subject to the prophet and I'm like well understanding in that. If you could help me with that please what that's talking about?
Speaker 1:is that? What that's talking about is that, when you know the gifts that god has, the gifts of the spirit that god has had given to people in the past, the the gift that he gave them was subject to the ones he gave it to, in other words, they had control over it. It wasn't some, so it wasn't it. So like, for instance, when you see these people talking about speaking in tongues and they go into this frenzy right, and they go into all this freaking out, or you see these people, you know, you know, um I forget the terms they use today when, when they, when they are receiving the holy spirit and they start acting crazy and acting like nut cases getting like drunk in the spirit right, all that, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:What he's saying is that that the gifts of God are not the gifts. The gifts that God gives to people are subject to those who, for whom they were given. They are controllable, they are manageable. They are not something that is just thrown out there and is and not and not subject to the control of the one of whom it was given. You know so, you, you have a lot of people that like to make it seem like there's some kind of an extravagant experience that they're, that they're having, that is, is, you know, supernatural, of supernatural import, and that they're being taken over. So and that's the biggest, that's the big idea they are not being taken over, like by an outsource, an out, an outside source in the sense of and in the sense of like they have no control over it and they're just being used as a vessel in the sense of um control over their bodies and whatever are completely usurped. But God, when he gives the gift, he subjects the gift to the person and he subjects the control of that gift to those to whom he gave it to be used at will. So, in other words, here's a good way of putting it If God gave you the gift of being able to heal people, if you can take away sickness from people.
Speaker 1:People who had that gift were able to do that gift at will and exercise it. If God gave you a gift of casting out demons, you'd be able to do it at will, any day of the week, anytime you want, and so on, and so on. If God gave you the gift of speaking in tongues, that means he gave you a gift of a language that you didn't learn, hence unknown, unknown to you. So if he, if you never spoke a day of Spanish in your life, never been around Spanish people ever in your life, if God gave you the gift of speaking in Spanish because he's going to use that to jumpstart and inaugurate the growth of his church, the birth of his church, then that gift is yours and as long as you are alive, you would have that gift and it was under your control. That's all. That's all that is.
Speaker 7:Oh, so, so like, and it's crazy that you say that, brother Jonathan, because you hear these people using this way out of context, and the context that is used is well, there's a profit under me, so I'm subject to that profit no or like you know what I mean as far as, like, ranking an office. So the other thing is did you go over um the difference between offices? And yes, okay, good I'm okay, good, good, good, good, good, awesome.
Speaker 1:Thanks, guys let me get to that. So in second corinthians my the next passage. But before I move on there, I just want to say one thing. I just want to reiterate one thing paul in first corinthians 13 10, is laying out a principle so that when we know that something that is more full and complete is at our disposal, there's no longer any necessity for us to lean upon that which was in part.
Speaker 1:I personally don't need to hear from another prophet, and neither should you. I don't need to hear or know about or sit under any kind of an apostle today, because what is a prophet or an apostle going to tell me that the word of God is not already sufficient to provide me? We are told in the word of God that the word of God truly furnishes the man or woman of God, the man or woman of God for every, not some, not partial works, but sufficient for everything. The word of God does that. Now, my sister Evie said earlier she mentioned that when that which is perfect comes. She mentioned Christ. The only issue that I have with that is that it's not Christ coming in the future, it is Christ when he came here as the word of God.
Speaker 1:Because what did the word of God do. When he came flesh, he gave us his word and then it was the apostles who gave us the written testimony in the epistles, which became what was necessary for us to have access to research. Meaning the word of God and number two, it also gave us the benefit and the blessing, if we study it, to have spiritual recall, meaning when you are in a situation where you're trying to explain to people things. If you studied it, then there's one of the biggest blessings that you can have is having the gift of recall, which means that you studied it, you read it, and so when you hear people talk about things, you're able to make an application because you have handled the word of God of truth and you studied to show yourself approved. But the people, generally speaking, that are running around talking about their speaking in tongues, they have words of knowledge casting.