Theological Term of the Week

cessationism
The view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (healing, tongues, prophetic revelations) ended with the apostolic age, and that while God still does do miracles, he does not gift individuals with the miraculous spiritual gifts. 

• Scripture that helps make the case:

…[Y]ou are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…. (Ephesians 2:19-20 ESV) 

• From Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther (quote found here):

In the early Church the Holy Spirit was sent forth in visible form. He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (Matt. 3:16), and in the likeness of fire upon the apostles and other believers. (Acts 2:3.) This visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit was necessary to the establishment of the early Church, as were also the miracles that accompanied the gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul explained the purpose of these miraculous gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.” Once the Church had been established and properly advertised by these miracles, the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost ceased.

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Cessationism
2. GotQuestions.org: Is cessationism biblical?
3. Richard Gaffin: Where Have All the Spiritual Gifts Gone?
4. Bob Gonzales: A Humble Argument for the Cessation of NT Prophesy and Tongues, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.
5. Nathan Busenitz: What Cessasionism Is Not
6. Monergism.com: Long list of audio resources on cessationism

Related term:

• continuationism

Filed under Ecclesiology

Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part III: Questions about Salvation

98. Q. What hinders the completion of sanctification in this life?
       A. The Scripture says “The flesh lusts against the Spirit so that you cannot do the things you would”.

(Click through to read scriptural proof.)

Click to read more ...

Sunday Hymn: To God Be the Glory

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

—Fanny Crosby

I made my youngest son listen to about 20 renditions of this hymn and he chose this one for you.

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• From All That Dwells Below the Skies at Field Stone Cottage
• How Sweet, How Heavenly at By Grace Alone
• What Wondrous Love Is This at Hopeful Morning
• The Happy Change at Rosemary at Home
• Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted at Gospel Grace
• O Happy Day When We Shall Stand at The Happy Wonderer
• Lord’s Day 43 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 43, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Faith Alone - October 21, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Our Wedding Day
• A Sunday Psalm: The Treasury of David - Psalm 9:15-17 at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.