Another word of faith fallacy is the false notion of continuing revelation: The idea that God is speaking audibly beyond the pages of Scripture and providing new revelation beyond Scripture. This is the incubator through which all Word-Faith doctrines thrive. Sadly this is also prevalent in some reformed circles as well. Scripture does not provide blessing upon any who go beyond the Scriptures to promote new revelation. What does this mean for Scripture as inerrant, infallible and all-sufficient? How is this related to the continuance of miracles, prophecy, and tongues? Each has found a passenger role to the pseudo-doctrine of continuing revelation. Continuing revelation is an undermining of Scriptures all-sufficiency. The inspiration of men is upheld and the sufficiency of Scripture is secondary if revelation has continued. God has spoken in finality through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2) and has commended all things into His Sons hands (Col. 3:1-5). Concerning Scripture, its sufficiency lies in its origin: the authorship of God the Father and superintended by the Holy Spirit. Since Scripture provides self-testimony of its sufficiency (2 Timothy 3:16), those who claim to receive continuing revelation demote the sufficiency of Scripture. Such a claim elevates ones own mind to the place whereby only the Triune God resides. The supposition that revelation has continued disobeys the various commands of God to refrain from adding or subtracting from His Word (Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. 4:2). Peter wrote that men had recorded Scripture by the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20). The Scriptures were provided, not by sheer human will, but by Gods own authorship. Therefore, Scripture is the highest authority in all matters because the Source of the bible is the Creator. He has pronounced that He has spoken in finality through Christ in Scripture. Because of this all things must be tested against the sufficiency of Scripture. Scripture is the only truth, by the Absolute truth: Jesus Christ (John 14:6; John 17:17). Man cannot speak with absolute authority until he has spoken within the confines of biblical authority. Those who profess that revelation continues beyond Scripture are liars and are rebuked by the Holy Scripture (Prov. 30:6). The Scriptures sufficiency and divine inspiration upon such doctrines as prophecy, tongues, miracles implies that Scripture must be the measuring rod through which these doctrines are defined. Scripture attests to possessing absolute truth and its Author is incapable of lying, the Scriptures must be clearly examined to clarify the context of each occurrence. For example, Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions would affirm through experience that tongues are normative for today and is interpreted ecstatic speech. Whereas Scripture defines tongues as known languages which were declarations of the Gospel to unbelievers from various nations during Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). Concerning prophecy and miracles, the Scriptures serve as the sole means to provide historical-grammatical context. The purpose of prophecy and miracles must be defined by Scripture, not experience. All experience must be tested against the canon of Scripture. Since experience is subjective and fallible, it must be interpreted by the only source, which is objective and infallible. ~ Doron Gladden
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 07:04:58 +0000
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