Work of the Holy Spirit
There are no miraculous or extraordinary spiritual gifts validating God’s Revelation today, nor is any new Revelation given. The Canon is closed, God’s Special Revelation complete. Thus defined, God’s extraordinary activity has ceased.
Our persuasion and assurance of the infallibility of the truth of Scripture and its divine authority is from an inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts (WCF I:5). Although the Scriptures only mean what God originally intended to say, the inward illumination of the Spirit is necessary for a saving understanding of the Word (WCF I:6).
The Spirit of God calls individuals to saving faith, confirms our assurance, dwells in us to destroy the dominion of sin and strengthen us in all saving graces to the practice of holiness (WCF XIII:1), gives or takes away our liberty to pray for particular intentions, calls and confirms men to ordained ministry, guides ministers and church judicatories in their ministry and decisions, congregations in their calling of ministers, ministers in accepting calls, and individuals in life decisions. This leading of God should always be subjected to the measure of God’s Word and the confirmation of the Church.
The Church’s neglect of the whole counsel of Scripture leads to renewal movements often tainted with abuses, exaggerations of God's Word, unbiblical presumptions of authority, and heresy. Faithful preaching of God's Word, guidance of our Reformed Confessions and Biblical church government and discipline would make such movements unnecessary.
God in His mercy sends revival and hunger into the hearts of His people, causing many to desire Him and not be satisfied with a nominal faith. Sometimes such Christians have unexpected encounters with God’s grace. For some, this is the experience of regeneration; for others, the assurance of grace and salvation. All regenerated believers have the Holy Spirit and are baptized by one Spirit into one body in Christ. As the Confession states, one may be genuinely regenerated without experiencing assurance (WCF XVIII:3). It is God's desire that we know we have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13), and experience joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Pt. 1:8). Any of these experiences, may be what some identify as "baptism with the Holy Spirit." The Confessions give better and Biblical language to describe these spiritual events.
One should not base his relationship with God on the anticipation of extraordinary experiences of His grace. The Spirit of God enables us to have an assurance of grace and salvation without extraordinary, extra-biblical revelation or means, by the use of ordinary means (WCF XVIII:3): reading and meditating on scripture, prayer, hearing the Word preached, receiving the Sacraments and subjection to biblical authority.
"God in his ordinary providence makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above and against them, at His pleasure." (WCF V:3) Although there are no extraordinary works of God to confirm additions to His Word, a Sovereign God may use special providential means to guide, deliver or protect His people, especially in times of persecution, hardship, or advancement of the Kingdom, never as a contradiction, an addition to, or with the infallible certainty of canonical Revelation, but "as gracious intimations of the will of God, granted to them in answer to prayer, for their own encouragement or direction" (McCrie, Story of the Scottish Church). Scripture does not forbid one to pray for God’s special providential intervention to deliver beyond His ordinary workings through man and nature. The Spirit may give or withhold liberty and faith for such prayers or restrain such.
Our persuasion and assurance of the infallibility of the truth of Scripture and its divine authority is from an inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts (WCF I:5). Although the Scriptures only mean what God originally intended to say, the inward illumination of the Spirit is necessary for a saving understanding of the Word (WCF I:6).
The Spirit of God calls individuals to saving faith, confirms our assurance, dwells in us to destroy the dominion of sin and strengthen us in all saving graces to the practice of holiness (WCF XIII:1), gives or takes away our liberty to pray for particular intentions, calls and confirms men to ordained ministry, guides ministers and church judicatories in their ministry and decisions, congregations in their calling of ministers, ministers in accepting calls, and individuals in life decisions. This leading of God should always be subjected to the measure of God’s Word and the confirmation of the Church.
The Church’s neglect of the whole counsel of Scripture leads to renewal movements often tainted with abuses, exaggerations of God's Word, unbiblical presumptions of authority, and heresy. Faithful preaching of God's Word, guidance of our Reformed Confessions and Biblical church government and discipline would make such movements unnecessary.
God in His mercy sends revival and hunger into the hearts of His people, causing many to desire Him and not be satisfied with a nominal faith. Sometimes such Christians have unexpected encounters with God’s grace. For some, this is the experience of regeneration; for others, the assurance of grace and salvation. All regenerated believers have the Holy Spirit and are baptized by one Spirit into one body in Christ. As the Confession states, one may be genuinely regenerated without experiencing assurance (WCF XVIII:3). It is God's desire that we know we have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13), and experience joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Pt. 1:8). Any of these experiences, may be what some identify as "baptism with the Holy Spirit." The Confessions give better and Biblical language to describe these spiritual events.
One should not base his relationship with God on the anticipation of extraordinary experiences of His grace. The Spirit of God enables us to have an assurance of grace and salvation without extraordinary, extra-biblical revelation or means, by the use of ordinary means (WCF XVIII:3): reading and meditating on scripture, prayer, hearing the Word preached, receiving the Sacraments and subjection to biblical authority.
"God in his ordinary providence makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above and against them, at His pleasure." (WCF V:3) Although there are no extraordinary works of God to confirm additions to His Word, a Sovereign God may use special providential means to guide, deliver or protect His people, especially in times of persecution, hardship, or advancement of the Kingdom, never as a contradiction, an addition to, or with the infallible certainty of canonical Revelation, but "as gracious intimations of the will of God, granted to them in answer to prayer, for their own encouragement or direction" (McCrie, Story of the Scottish Church). Scripture does not forbid one to pray for God’s special providential intervention to deliver beyond His ordinary workings through man and nature. The Spirit may give or withhold liberty and faith for such prayers or restrain such.
posted by J. Glenn Ferrell at 7:49 AM
0 comments
