STATEMENT ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS

An upcoming Statement written and signed by Christians who are Cessationists
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Statement on Spiritual Gifts
-Draft Edition-

Preamble

We affirm that God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has endowed His church with various spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ, for the proclamation of the gospel, and for the glorification of His name. These gifts were distributed sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and early church to establish the foundation of the church and to authenticate the divine message of the gospel.

However, we believe that certain extraordinary gifts, particularly those associated with direct revelation, miracles, and signs, were temporary and served a specific purpose in the foundational era of the church. With the completion of the canon of Scripture, these gifts have ceased to function in the same way as they did during the apostolic age.

This statement seeks to clarify our convictions regarding the cessation of the miraculous and revelatory gifts in light of Scripture, church history, and the sufficiency of God’s Word for all matters of faith and practice.

Article I – On the Sufficiency of Scripture

  • We affirm that the Scriptures, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the complete, inerrant, and final revelation of God’s will for His people. The Bible is fully sufficient for all matters of faith, salvation, and godly living.
  • We deny that ongoing, extrabiblical revelation is necessary for the edification, guidance, or completion of the church. We reject any claim that the canon of Scripture is open or incomplete.

Article II – On the Purpose of Miraculous and Revelatory Gifts

  • We affirm that the miraculous gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing, were given in the apostolic age for the specific purposes of authenticating the apostles’ message, establishing the early church, and demonstrating the power of the gospel.
  • We deny that these gifts are normative for the church today. We believe they were given for a unique period and are no longer necessary now that the full revelation of God has been inscripturated.

Article III – On the Cessation of Apostolic Gifts

  • We affirm that with the death of the apostles and the closing of the canon, the extraordinary gifts ceased. These gifts were signs of the apostolic office and were not intended to be perpetuated beyond the foundation of the church.
  • We deny that there are any present-day apostles or prophets who receive new revelation from God. We reject the notion that individuals can perform signs and wonders comparable to those of the apostolic era.

Article IV – On the Work of the Holy Spirit

  • We affirm that the Holy Spirit is actively at work today, regenerating sinners, sanctifying believers, and empowering the church for ministry through ordinary means, such as the faithful proclamation of the Word, prayer, and the sacraments.
  • We deny that the absence of extraordinary gifts implies that the Holy Spirit is inactive or withdrawn from the church. We reject any teaching that equates the presence of spiritual gifts with true spirituality or maturity in Christ.

Article V – On the Edification of the Church

  • We affirm that God continues to give spiritual gifts to His people for the building up of the church. These gifts, such as teaching, administration, exhortation, and mercy, are ongoing and essential for the growth and unity of the body of Christ.
  • We deny that miraculous or revelatory gifts are necessary for the maturity of the church. We reject the view that spiritual vitality is contingent upon the operation of these gifts.

Article VI – On Testing the Spirits

  • We affirm that all claims of spiritual experiences and supernatural occurrences must be tested by the Scriptures, which are the final authority on matters of faith and practice.
  • We deny the legitimacy of any teaching, movement, or experience that cannot be substantiated by Scripture. We reject the pursuit of experiential signs and wonders as a distraction from the centrality of Christ and the gospel.

Conclusion

We give thanks to God for the gift of His Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the ongoing provision of spiritual gifts that build up the church. We stand firm in the conviction that the extraordinary gifts of the apostolic age have fulfilled their purpose and ceased, and that the Bible alone is sufficient for guiding the church in every age. As we await the return of our Lord, we are called to faithfully proclaim His gospel, trust in His promises, and rely on the Spirit’s work through the ordinary means of grace.

Soli Deo Gloria.