Cessationism is Incompatible with Predestination
The foundation doctrine of Calvinism is the doctrine of Predestination…the idea that all things exist because God willed them to exist, just the way that they are, and that He did this in some sort of eternal decree before anything at all existed except Him (1Cor.2:7). Predestination is the cardinal point or primordial principle of the theological system known as the Reformed Faith. Before the foundation of the world, God devised a plan which encompassed all things…all beings, all events, and all universes (Eph. 1:4,9; 3:11; Isa. 14:24-27; 46:10-11; 2Tim.1:9). It is His Sovereign government of everything (Deut. 10:14; Acts 2:23; 4:28; 17:26; Rom.8:28-30), and it is beyond the comprehension of everyone, except for God Himself.
This doctrine, if rightly understood, sets up no bounds for God, except those that He sets for Himself. Predestination say’s that God can do as He wishes (Eph. 1:9,11; Rom.9:11,14-25; 1Pet.2:8). He does not have to ask a creature for permission to do what He wants. He is not subject to the approval of men in any matter. He is now, just what He has always been. There is no change of any kind in Him. He does not change His mind, as though He does not know the end from the beginning, or the last from the first. He is not subject to anyone, or anything, because His Infinite Wisdom is unbounded. He is “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity” (Isa. 57:15), and “His name is Holy” (Ps. 111:9; Lk. 1:49). “As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11)." "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46:10)."
The doctrine of the predestinating purposes of God is a high and holy doctrine to which all men must bow and be humbled by the glory, wisdom and power of God. It is a doctrine which encompasses everything, and that’s what makes it so important and so foundational. It is also a doctrine which has been forsaken in our time. Men are not fond of this truth, because it makes them powerless, and makes God an absolute sovereign monarch. It is a doctrine which underscores and establishes the “Sovereignty of God”.
Sovereignty is the concept that God is in control of everything. He is the absolute ruler. He is the “Blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (1Tim.6:15; Rev.19:16). He is the ruler of all things.
So what does any of this have to do with the doctrine of Cessationism? It confronts cessationism, because cessationism is a philosophy of “Divine Action”.
Cessationism say’s that God cannot act a certain way, because He does not do certain things anymore. Specifically, cessationism says that the Holy Spirit no longer gives certain miraculous signs and wonders. Cessationism states that the Holy Spirit gave gifts in the first century as “signs of the apostles”, but that these signs have since been withdrawn from the church community. There are no more tongues, miracles, prophets, prophecies, healers, or direct revelation. God does not give these things any longer, because God no longer acts in that manner.
So what cessationism does, is it seeks to limit God’s present actions, by actions which He supposedly took in the past. According to cessationism, when God removed the last of the apostles, He also removed the apostolic sign gifts. So God’s present actions are limited by God’s past actions.
The problem with this, is that there is not one verse of scripture to support the idea. When Paul wrote the Corinthian letter and set forth the rules for the governance of the gifts in chapters 12-14, he did not even hint that the gifts would soon be ceasing, but he wrote in a manner which implies their continuance in the church. He in fact told them all (not just apostles) to “desire spiritual gifts” (1Cor.14:1). He told them all to “seek to prophecy” (1Cor. 14:5). He told them all to seek the gifts which edify the most (1Cor. 14:12). None of this hints at the gifts ceasing, rather it establishes their continuance. 1Corinthians 14:22 indicates by the tense of the verb (Present Active Indicative) that tongues are to be a present and active sign for unbelievers.
Now of course someone is going to object based upon 1Cor. 13: 8-13, that “whether there be prophecies they shall fail, whether there be tongues they shall cease, and whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away”. That is indeed correct. Those things will cease, and in the sense that is intended, there is a certain and definite cessationism. But this statement which indicates the cessation of prophecies, tongues and knowledge, does not apply, until “that which is perfect has come” (1Cor.13:10). Everyone is aware of the controversies and disputes with this passage. Suffice it to say that verse 11, (the immediate context of verse 10), says: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”. This clearly indicates that “that which is perfect” is the fully matured church. The things of the church’s childhood are “put away” when “the perfect” things of the church’s maturity are fully in place. To arbitrarily read into this passage something about the completed canon of the scriptures, is to eisogete rather than exegete, and is to change the topic to something which is not being discussed at all. It is generally believed that Christ will come when the church is complete and matured. It is at that time that we shall see Him “face to face” (v.12). And it is at that time, that the cessationism of verse 8 will take place. Any present form of cessationism is contrary, and contradictory, to this passage.
So what we have going on today among the cessationist, is a teaching and belief system which seeks to limit “Divine Actions” with regard to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. This philosophy of “Divine Action” is not based upon anything within the pages of scripture, nor is it based upon anything in the Reformed Faith. It is based upon personal opinion, and upon the presuppositions of the philosophy which is being embraced. The philosophy presupposes that God cannot act a certain way, because the actions are contrary to the beliefs of the philosophy. It is nothing more than circular reasoning. God does not do it, because we do not believe that God can do it. If we do not believe it, then God will not do it. God acts the way that we think He acts, and any acts which are contrary to the way we think, are contrary to what God does, because He does what we say that He does. The obvious problem here is that this form of thinking, this cessationist philosophy, has no scriptures interjected within it’s context. If this philosophy of Divine action could say something like: God does not act this way, because of verse_____; or God acts the way we think He acts, because verse_____ says_____; or God does what we say He does, because what we say He does is based upon these passages_____________; If the cessationist philosophy could say any of these things, then of course we would admit to cessationism, wholly embrace it, and take up the philosophy and teach it ourselves. But it is not able to say any of these things. It has no verses or passages to interject into the philosophy which it holds. Cessationism is incompatible with Predestination, because God ordained from the foundation of the world, that He would always do what He wants to do, when He wants to do it, and no cessationist can tell Him otherwise.
Cessationism is just a circular, self-centered, egotistical, man invented philosophy to limit the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. It is quite simply a form of spiritual rebellion, because it takes the words of God: “Forbid not to speak with tongues” (1Cor. 14:39), and translates them as “Forbid always to speak in tongues”. Rebellion against the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit is incompatible with God.
© 2013 EHJ
This doctrine, if rightly understood, sets up no bounds for God, except those that He sets for Himself. Predestination say’s that God can do as He wishes (Eph. 1:9,11; Rom.9:11,14-25; 1Pet.2:8). He does not have to ask a creature for permission to do what He wants. He is not subject to the approval of men in any matter. He is now, just what He has always been. There is no change of any kind in Him. He does not change His mind, as though He does not know the end from the beginning, or the last from the first. He is not subject to anyone, or anything, because His Infinite Wisdom is unbounded. He is “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity” (Isa. 57:15), and “His name is Holy” (Ps. 111:9; Lk. 1:49). “As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11)." "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46:10)."
The doctrine of the predestinating purposes of God is a high and holy doctrine to which all men must bow and be humbled by the glory, wisdom and power of God. It is a doctrine which encompasses everything, and that’s what makes it so important and so foundational. It is also a doctrine which has been forsaken in our time. Men are not fond of this truth, because it makes them powerless, and makes God an absolute sovereign monarch. It is a doctrine which underscores and establishes the “Sovereignty of God”.
Sovereignty is the concept that God is in control of everything. He is the absolute ruler. He is the “Blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (1Tim.6:15; Rev.19:16). He is the ruler of all things.
So what does any of this have to do with the doctrine of Cessationism? It confronts cessationism, because cessationism is a philosophy of “Divine Action”.
Cessationism say’s that God cannot act a certain way, because He does not do certain things anymore. Specifically, cessationism says that the Holy Spirit no longer gives certain miraculous signs and wonders. Cessationism states that the Holy Spirit gave gifts in the first century as “signs of the apostles”, but that these signs have since been withdrawn from the church community. There are no more tongues, miracles, prophets, prophecies, healers, or direct revelation. God does not give these things any longer, because God no longer acts in that manner.
So what cessationism does, is it seeks to limit God’s present actions, by actions which He supposedly took in the past. According to cessationism, when God removed the last of the apostles, He also removed the apostolic sign gifts. So God’s present actions are limited by God’s past actions.
The problem with this, is that there is not one verse of scripture to support the idea. When Paul wrote the Corinthian letter and set forth the rules for the governance of the gifts in chapters 12-14, he did not even hint that the gifts would soon be ceasing, but he wrote in a manner which implies their continuance in the church. He in fact told them all (not just apostles) to “desire spiritual gifts” (1Cor.14:1). He told them all to “seek to prophecy” (1Cor. 14:5). He told them all to seek the gifts which edify the most (1Cor. 14:12). None of this hints at the gifts ceasing, rather it establishes their continuance. 1Corinthians 14:22 indicates by the tense of the verb (Present Active Indicative) that tongues are to be a present and active sign for unbelievers.
Now of course someone is going to object based upon 1Cor. 13: 8-13, that “whether there be prophecies they shall fail, whether there be tongues they shall cease, and whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away”. That is indeed correct. Those things will cease, and in the sense that is intended, there is a certain and definite cessationism. But this statement which indicates the cessation of prophecies, tongues and knowledge, does not apply, until “that which is perfect has come” (1Cor.13:10). Everyone is aware of the controversies and disputes with this passage. Suffice it to say that verse 11, (the immediate context of verse 10), says: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”. This clearly indicates that “that which is perfect” is the fully matured church. The things of the church’s childhood are “put away” when “the perfect” things of the church’s maturity are fully in place. To arbitrarily read into this passage something about the completed canon of the scriptures, is to eisogete rather than exegete, and is to change the topic to something which is not being discussed at all. It is generally believed that Christ will come when the church is complete and matured. It is at that time that we shall see Him “face to face” (v.12). And it is at that time, that the cessationism of verse 8 will take place. Any present form of cessationism is contrary, and contradictory, to this passage.
So what we have going on today among the cessationist, is a teaching and belief system which seeks to limit “Divine Actions” with regard to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. This philosophy of “Divine Action” is not based upon anything within the pages of scripture, nor is it based upon anything in the Reformed Faith. It is based upon personal opinion, and upon the presuppositions of the philosophy which is being embraced. The philosophy presupposes that God cannot act a certain way, because the actions are contrary to the beliefs of the philosophy. It is nothing more than circular reasoning. God does not do it, because we do not believe that God can do it. If we do not believe it, then God will not do it. God acts the way that we think He acts, and any acts which are contrary to the way we think, are contrary to what God does, because He does what we say that He does. The obvious problem here is that this form of thinking, this cessationist philosophy, has no scriptures interjected within it’s context. If this philosophy of Divine action could say something like: God does not act this way, because of verse_____; or God acts the way we think He acts, because verse_____ says_____; or God does what we say He does, because what we say He does is based upon these passages_____________; If the cessationist philosophy could say any of these things, then of course we would admit to cessationism, wholly embrace it, and take up the philosophy and teach it ourselves. But it is not able to say any of these things. It has no verses or passages to interject into the philosophy which it holds. Cessationism is incompatible with Predestination, because God ordained from the foundation of the world, that He would always do what He wants to do, when He wants to do it, and no cessationist can tell Him otherwise.
Cessationism is just a circular, self-centered, egotistical, man invented philosophy to limit the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. It is quite simply a form of spiritual rebellion, because it takes the words of God: “Forbid not to speak with tongues” (1Cor. 14:39), and translates them as “Forbid always to speak in tongues”. Rebellion against the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit is incompatible with God.
© 2013 EHJ
