5. Many
Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and
sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate
this concept to the issue of miracles, prophecy, and tongues.
“Traditionally, revelation and the Bible
have been inseparable. Contemporary
views have driven a wedge between the Bible and revelation with devastating
results. Now revelation need no longer
be found only in the Bible, but in the mighty acts of God and in personal
encounter. The existential experience
has replaced objective truth as the Word of God.”1 This concept of
continuing revelation is dangerous. To
say that God has spoken to us today, giving our experience of God the authority
only Scripture rightfully has is adding to His Word, the Bible, and every person
could then claim they've heard various messages from God, causing confusion,
licence, and no credible final authority on what is indeed God’s Word. To suggest that God continues to give us new
information is unbiblical. He clearly
stated in Proverbs 30:6, “Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and
you will be proved a liar.”
Miracles,
prophecy and tongues had a unique role in God’s plan. Jesus preformed miracles to authenticate that
He was the Messiah, God in the flesh among them (Matt. 9:27-31,
12:9,14, 14:13-21, Mark 1:21-27, 1:40-45, 2:1-12, Luke 8:22-25, 40-56, and many
more). At the onset of the early church
tongues were experienced to demonstrate the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, a new
presence of God in believers (Acts 2).
Prophecies were made during Biblical times about historical events, to
prove that Jesus was the Messiah (Micah 5:2, Daniel 9:25,26), and future events
yet to come. All Biblical prophesies
made and fulfilled prove the Bible is God’s Word as no human could know in advance
these events as He does.
These signs and wonders performed were used by God at certain points in
history for His purposes mentioned here.
These forms of God revealing Himself were never meant to become
practices of the church, or carried on from those historic events. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 reads; “Love never fails;
but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are
tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we
know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial
will be done away.”
Because
we now have the full Word of God, there is no need for any further revelation
from Him. The Bible ought to be
considered the full, and complete, authoritative Word of God.
1 “Basic
Theology” Charles Ryrie, page 66
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