Miraculous Gifts and All That

Ok so here's my two cents worth on the topic. I've been thinking about it all week (well for some of it at least) and this is my definitive stance. Broadly speaking I am a cessassionist. I believe that the 'miraculous gifts' seen in the New Testement and proclaimed as still in evidence today by Charasmatics/Pentecostals are, in fact, no longer needed and not in use...

Blunt, I know.

First things first. We have to ask ourselves 'what are miracles?' 'what is the biblical position of miracles?' it seems abundantley clear to me from scripture that miraculous acts in both the OT & NT were ALWAYS used as proof of either the prophets ministry i.e Elijah, Moses or concerning the validity of Jesus i.e Christ himself and the apostles. As far as I am concerned the biblical pattern of miracles can be best summed up like this "where miracles are performed we should expect to hear the inspired Word of God spoken. When there is no prophet there is no signs." Walter J. Chantry Signs of the Apostles (Banner of Truth).

Well, we have the Word of God. It is complete. The canon of Scripture is closed.

Therefore anyone who proclaims that they are bringing some sort of special revelation from God is clearly not. If someone speaks in tongues 'from God' they are not. If someone prophecies a word 'from God' they are not. If anyone claims to heal a person 'from God' they are not. God has spoken, he has fully revealed himself in his Word and in his Son. In sending us Jesus God has granted us the greatest 'miraculous gift' that of salvation and faith.

And if someone were to say 'well I know thay my gifts are not a revelation from God but I still miraculously speak in tongues...' So what? It's not God's word, so who cares what they say?

Scripture promises that the 'miraculous gifts' will depart in 1 Cor 12 & 13 but what will remain? Love. 1 Corinthians 13 8-12 is fairly conclusive on the matter.

My dad reckons that 'spiritual gifts' is a topic that can never be fully resolved and defeated from scripture either way. I'm not so sure. But my mind is made up. This topic pales in comparison to other theological battle grounds and whilst I am always prepared to stand my ground, my mind is made up and so I will not worry.

I too found Ferguson's 'The Holy Spirit' extremely tough, his scholarly writing head is a tough one to crack! But I would reccomend Walter J Chantry's far more slender pastoral book which has been a real help for me this week.

Thoughts anyone?