You Have No New Messages (1Cor 13:8-13)
Intro: Must we take a position on this issue?
a) God sternly warned his people to hearken to prophets or be cut off (Dt 18:19, 1Jn 4:5)
b) Prophetic gifts are greatest gifts God has given church (1Cor 12:31, 14:1, 14:39, 1Thess 5:19-20, Eph 2:20, 4:11-13, 1Cor 12:28)
c) We're required to test spirits & judge among prophets (1Jn 4:1, 1Cor 12:10, 14:29, Dt 18:20)
d) Wide-spread activity in church; rapidly growing
1. Apostles & Prophets foundation of church (Eph 2:20-21)
Eph 4:11-13, apostles, prophets, evangelists, & pastoring teachers: essential offices for edification of saints & building up of body thru word of God. Only means by which God authoritatively speaks his word to his people. Only 2 laid at beginning at church's foundation.
2. Prophets testified that prophecy would end w/Jerusalem's destruction
Dan 9:24-27
Joel 2:28-32, see Acts 2
1Cor 14:21-22, see Is 28:11-18
3. These partial or incomplete means of revelation will cease when complete has come, and church attains maturity.
"For we [now] know [God's revelation] in part and we prophesy [God's revelation] in part; but when the perfect or complete [revelation] comes, the partial [revelations] will be done away (1 Cor 13:9-10).
When will partial means of revelation cease?
Now/Then
Know in part, prophecy in part/Complete, perfect has come
As child in speech & thought/As man, childish things put away
As in mirror, dimly/As face-to-face (w/clarity)
Know in part/Know fully, as fully known
Conclusion
Luther: "He who seeks God outside the Bible finds only the Devil." |
