Non-Cessationist Sola Scriptura: The Theology of CPM
I believe in a theological position that I call Non-Cessationist Sola Scriptura.
Sola Scriptura refers to the Reformation doctrine that means "Scripture Alone" and that asserts that the Bible alone, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the only inspired Word of God and that they are the sole authority for God's people, flawlessly communicating God's will to mankind. The "Sola" or "Only" part asserts that nothing else does this or has this authority....Not Tradition, Magisterium, Hierarchy, Leaders, or Experiences from whatever source....ONLY SCRIPTURE!
Non-Cessationist refers to the concept that God still is active in the world and in the lives of people today in overtly supernatural ways. It says that no activity of God, described in the Bible, has ceased just because that the Bible is now complete. It asserts that all of the gifts, operations, and manifestations of the Holy Spirit described in the Bible may continue to happen to the end of this age according to the will of God.
Some would call this a "Word and Spirit" position and I guess that is a lot simpler to say than "Non-Cessationist Sola Scriptura" but I am trying to be explicit in what I am describing. It appears that many times people embrace one pole or the other of this Word and Spirit continuum. On the one hand, my experience with many charismatic individuals tells me that they give a lot of weight to the Spirit side, and seem fixated on spiritual experiences and "words". They seek after the next experience constantly and seem to let those things become the guiding factor in their lives. On the other hand, I find that a lot of exponents of Sola Scriptura tend toward cessationist positions and deny the supernatural gifts of the Spirit for today.
In the Church Planting Movements that are happening today we are seeing disciples being multiplied exponentially, and in these movements the Key factor seems to be radical obedience to Scripture.....and when this is done God is moving miraculously in signs and wonders including healings and even resurrections from the dead!
What is happening is not so much a "Balance" of Word and Spirit (The Word of God is not Unbalanced and therefore requires nothing to "Balance" it!), rather it is a radical embrace and committment to the Authority of Scripture Alone....AND...a radical embrace of the full present day working of the Holy Spirit in all of His gifts and operations!
Why do I accept both Sola Scriptura (The Scripture Alone as the Authority) and the Present Day Operations of All God's Gifts? Not because of my experience, not even because of the experience of people in the church planting movements! I accept both because the One that is my Authority, the Scripture, clearly affirms both.
SCRIPTURE AUTHORITY: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17-"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work".
CONTINUATION OF HOLY SPIRIT MANIFESTATION: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11-"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
These are certainly not the only Scriptures that bear on these things, but they illustrate the point well. By embracing both and excluding or downplaying neither, a theological foundation is laid that underpins the exciting and miraculous multiplication of disciples and churches that is happening today and that I believe is going to continue and increase with exponential impact in the days ahead.
One challenge I can leave with both my reader and myself.
Commit to both. Commit to a Sola Scriptura lifestyle, one in which we see God's written Word, the Bible as the Only Ultimate Authority in our lives, in which we Hear, Understand, and Obey it and exalt it above every other authority, tradition, and experience. Commit to and expect the present day operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives and through our lives to impact others and demonstrate the reality of God's power in the Now!
If we do, we may find that we ourselves are used by God to start new multiplying movements of disciples.
Sola Scriptura refers to the Reformation doctrine that means "Scripture Alone" and that asserts that the Bible alone, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the only inspired Word of God and that they are the sole authority for God's people, flawlessly communicating God's will to mankind. The "Sola" or "Only" part asserts that nothing else does this or has this authority....Not Tradition, Magisterium, Hierarchy, Leaders, or Experiences from whatever source....ONLY SCRIPTURE!
Non-Cessationist refers to the concept that God still is active in the world and in the lives of people today in overtly supernatural ways. It says that no activity of God, described in the Bible, has ceased just because that the Bible is now complete. It asserts that all of the gifts, operations, and manifestations of the Holy Spirit described in the Bible may continue to happen to the end of this age according to the will of God.
Some would call this a "Word and Spirit" position and I guess that is a lot simpler to say than "Non-Cessationist Sola Scriptura" but I am trying to be explicit in what I am describing. It appears that many times people embrace one pole or the other of this Word and Spirit continuum. On the one hand, my experience with many charismatic individuals tells me that they give a lot of weight to the Spirit side, and seem fixated on spiritual experiences and "words". They seek after the next experience constantly and seem to let those things become the guiding factor in their lives. On the other hand, I find that a lot of exponents of Sola Scriptura tend toward cessationist positions and deny the supernatural gifts of the Spirit for today.
In the Church Planting Movements that are happening today we are seeing disciples being multiplied exponentially, and in these movements the Key factor seems to be radical obedience to Scripture.....and when this is done God is moving miraculously in signs and wonders including healings and even resurrections from the dead!
What is happening is not so much a "Balance" of Word and Spirit (The Word of God is not Unbalanced and therefore requires nothing to "Balance" it!), rather it is a radical embrace and committment to the Authority of Scripture Alone....AND...a radical embrace of the full present day working of the Holy Spirit in all of His gifts and operations!
Why do I accept both Sola Scriptura (The Scripture Alone as the Authority) and the Present Day Operations of All God's Gifts? Not because of my experience, not even because of the experience of people in the church planting movements! I accept both because the One that is my Authority, the Scripture, clearly affirms both.
SCRIPTURE AUTHORITY: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17-"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work".
CONTINUATION OF HOLY SPIRIT MANIFESTATION: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11-"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
These are certainly not the only Scriptures that bear on these things, but they illustrate the point well. By embracing both and excluding or downplaying neither, a theological foundation is laid that underpins the exciting and miraculous multiplication of disciples and churches that is happening today and that I believe is going to continue and increase with exponential impact in the days ahead.
One challenge I can leave with both my reader and myself.
Commit to both. Commit to a Sola Scriptura lifestyle, one in which we see God's written Word, the Bible as the Only Ultimate Authority in our lives, in which we Hear, Understand, and Obey it and exalt it above every other authority, tradition, and experience. Commit to and expect the present day operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives and through our lives to impact others and demonstrate the reality of God's power in the Now!
If we do, we may find that we ourselves are used by God to start new multiplying movements of disciples.
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Frank Wilford