The Paper You've Been Waiting For
A Defense of Non-Continuationism and Sola Scriptura
The purpose of this paper is to defend the belief that God has ceased from giving new Special Revelation, and that the revelatory gifts ceased with the conclusion of the first century. Therefore God’s voice is only found today in the inspired Scriptures. This view is called Non-Continuationism (commonly called “Cessationism”) and is presupposed by the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. The other position, Continuationism (commonly called “Charismatic”), believes that God continues to give new Special Revelation today apart from the Scriptures. This new Special Revelation is believed to be in the form of prophecy, tongues and/or divine impressions.
Quick note: “Non-Continuationism” and “Continuationism” are preferable terms to “Cessationism” and “Charismatic” because all Christians are “Charismatic” in that both circles believe the Holy Spirit is active in His church.
Before continuing on, we first need to define what kinds of revelation exist: (1) General Revelation, and (2) Special Revelation. “Dr. Warfield distinguishes the two as follows: ‘The one is addressed generally to all intelligent creatures, and is therefore accessible to all men; the other is addressed to a special class of sinners, to whom God would make known His salvation. The one has in view to meet and supply the natural need of creatures for knowledge of their God; the other to rescue broken and deformed sinners from their sin and its consequences.’ General Revelation is rooted in creation, is addressed to man as man, and more particularly to human reason, and finds its purpose in the realization of the end of his creation, to know God and thus enjoy communion with Him. Special revelation is rooted in the redemptive plan of God, is addressed to man as sinner, can be properly understood and appropriated only by faith, and serves the purpose of securing the end for which man was created in spite of the disturbance wrought by sin. In view of the eternal plan of redemption it should be said that this special revelation did not come in as an after-thought, but was in the mind of God from the very beginning” (Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. 37).
General Revelation continues to be given to all men, as the Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2, NASB). The Apostle Paul also wrote concerning General Revelation: “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:18-21, NASB). Non-Continuationists and Continuationists agree that the light of General Revelation will continue being given until the return of Christ.
Special Revelation has been given in many ways down through the ages (Hebrews 1:1-2), but today is found only in the God-breathed Scriptures, and in no other source – whether that be prophecy, tongues, or impressions/feelings. David King, in his masterful work defending Sola Scriptura comments on Special Revelation, “The revelation of God is known to us in the New Covenant only in words, the writings of sacred Scripture” (King, Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith – Vol. 1. 35).
The purpose of this paper is to defend the belief that God has ceased from giving new Special Revelation, and that the revelatory gifts ceased with the conclusion of the first century. Therefore God’s voice is only found today in the inspired Scriptures. This view is called Non-Continuationism (commonly called “Cessationism”) and is presupposed by the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. The other position, Continuationism (commonly called “Charismatic”), believes that God continues to give new Special Revelation today apart from the Scriptures. This new Special Revelation is believed to be in the form of prophecy, tongues and/or divine impressions.
Quick note: “Non-Continuationism” and “Continuationism” are preferable terms to “Cessationism” and “Charismatic” because all Christians are “Charismatic” in that both circles believe the Holy Spirit is active in His church.
Before continuing on, we first need to define what kinds of revelation exist: (1) General Revelation, and (2) Special Revelation. “Dr. Warfield distinguishes the two as follows: ‘The one is addressed generally to all intelligent creatures, and is therefore accessible to all men; the other is addressed to a special class of sinners, to whom God would make known His salvation. The one has in view to meet and supply the natural need of creatures for knowledge of their God; the other to rescue broken and deformed sinners from their sin and its consequences.’ General Revelation is rooted in creation, is addressed to man as man, and more particularly to human reason, and finds its purpose in the realization of the end of his creation, to know God and thus enjoy communion with Him. Special revelation is rooted in the redemptive plan of God, is addressed to man as sinner, can be properly understood and appropriated only by faith, and serves the purpose of securing the end for which man was created in spite of the disturbance wrought by sin. In view of the eternal plan of redemption it should be said that this special revelation did not come in as an after-thought, but was in the mind of God from the very beginning” (Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. 37).
General Revelation continues to be given to all men, as the Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2, NASB). The Apostle Paul also wrote concerning General Revelation: “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:18-21, NASB). Non-Continuationists and Continuationists agree that the light of General Revelation will continue being given until the return of Christ.
Special Revelation has been given in many ways down through the ages (Hebrews 1:1-2), but today is found only in the God-breathed Scriptures, and in no other source – whether that be prophecy, tongues, or impressions/feelings. David King, in his masterful work defending Sola Scriptura comments on Special Revelation, “The revelation of God is known to us in the New Covenant only in words, the writings of sacred Scripture” (King, Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith – Vol. 1. 35).
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posted by rustypth @ 7:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Read your paper Case. Nice job. Very...thorough.
Great job Case!
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