Posted on 08/30/2025 6:25:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
One of the most frequently cited texts by cessationists — those who believe the gifts of the Spirit, such as prophecy, tongues, and healing, ceased after the apostolic era — is found in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12:
“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Cessationists argue that “the perfect” refers to the completed canon of Scripture, and that once it was established, gifts like prophecy and tongues were no longer necessary. (Of course, they usually don’t also teach “knowledge will pass away” because it will rebut their entire argument regarding the canon of Scripture!)
They support their cessation interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13 with passages like James 1:23-25 and Psalm 19:7.
At first glance, this may sound compelling. But a deeper look at Scripture, church history, and global testimony reveals a very different picture. Here are 10 reasons why I am not a cessationist:
1. The Word was already called 'perfect' before the canon was complete
James and Psalm 19 already described God’s Word as “perfect” long before the New Testament was completed. This means Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13, was not talking about a completed N.T. canon. The “perfect” he described points to our full, face-to-face encounter with Christ in glory.
2. Paul was referring to seeing Christ face to face
Paul’s language is deeply personal: “Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” This is eschatological language — fulfilled only when we are glorified in Christ’s presence (cf. 1 John 3:2). He was not describing a moment in history when the canon closed, since he died before that happened; he was referring to himself, fully knowing once he transitioned to his eternal state in Heaven.
3. Full knowledge has not yet come
If “the perfect” arrived with the completed Bible, the church should now “know fully.” But we still “see through a glass dimly.” Even with exhaustive access to Scripture, no believer or scholar claims complete knowledge. Spiritual gifts remain necessary for building up the church until Christ returns.
4. Historic commentaries reject the cessationist reading
Before the 20th century, no major commentator interpreted “the perfect” as the closing of the canon. Even Reformers like John Calvin — often quoted by cessationists — understood 1 Corinthians 13 as pointing to the final state of glory, not the Bible’s completion.
5. Church history is full of miracles and gifts
The claim that miracles ceased after the apostles ignores historical evidence. Accounts of healings, prophecy, and deliverance run through:
Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, who documented ongoing charisms in the 2nd century.
Tertullian, who described prophecy and spiritual manifestations in North Africa.
Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, and other early fathers who reported miraculous interventions.
Augustine, who initially doubted miracles, but later in City of God testified to healings and exorcisms in his own time.
From the Desert Fathers to the Moravians to early Methodists, and Pentecostals in the 20th century, God’s Spirit continued to work in power. History flatly contradicts cessationism.
6. Cessationism replaces supernatural faith with rationalism
Much of modern cessationism is rooted in Enlightenment rationalism, which elevates human reason over supernatural experience. Ironically, many cessationists still use subjective language like “God laid this upon my heart” or “God gave me peace about this decision.”
If the Holy Spirit can bear witness with our spirit regarding our eternal state (Romans 8:16), why would He stop guiding, prompting, or speaking in ways consistent with Scripture regarding everyday practical things?
7. Signs and wonders still accompany the Gospel
Cessationists often cite Hebrews 2:3–4 to say signs only confirmed the gospel in the apostolic era. But the text is descriptive, not prescriptive. Today, in frontier missions and unreached regions, signs and wonders are common: visions, healings, and deliverance often precede Bible translation or church planting. God continues to confirm His Word in power amongst those in domestic and foreign lands who know not the Gospel.
8. Hebrews 1:1–2 doesn’t mean God no longer speaks
Cessationists point to Hebrews 1:1–2 to argue that God only speaks in His Son through Scripture now. But this misreads the text. The passage highlights the finality of Christ’s redemptive work that the Old Testament prophets pointed to, not a restriction of the Spirit’s voice.
Throughout Acts and the epistles, the Spirit points us back to Christ as He guides, warns, and instructs the church. Nothing in Scripture teaches that such guidance would cease.
9. The Church still needs the gifts for ministry
If the apostolic church — ministering in the power of Pentecost — needed the gifts to evangelize a hostile world, how much more do we need them today?
Acts 2:17 declares: “In the last days … your sons and daughters will prophesy.” These last days started with the church age. Gifts are not optional — they are mission-critical.
10. Global pentecostal growth proves God still moves in power
The fastest-growing segments of Christianity worldwide are Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, which emphasize the gifts of the Spirit.
Conclusion
Cessationism rests on a Western rationalistic enlightenment demystifying of Scripture by cherry picking passages while ignoring biblical exegesis, the historic witness of the church, and the global testimony of the Spirit’s work today.
The gifts of the Spirit are not ancient relics; they are current tools for Gospel advance. In a world still darkened by unbelief, we need the full empowerment Jesus promised the corporate church in John 14:12.
Let us reject a powerless form of Christianity. Let us embrace the Word and the Spirit together. And let us step confidently into the mission of God, equipped by every gift He still freely gives.
Dr. Joseph Mattera is renowned for addressing current events through the lens of Scripture by applying biblical truths and offering cogent defenses to today's postmodern culture.
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So someone who leaves the belief system is a cessationist secessionist.
Bookmark to read later.
The Bible says that in the last days, God will pour out His Spirit on all people, and as part of this promise, “your old men shall dream dreams”.
Having been healed twice during the jesus movement era, I can’t subscribe to any diminished power of God today.
I don’t believe they have ceased but I also don’t believe in rolling around the aisle shouting gibberish.
I agree. Also, I don’t think you can learn to speak in tongues nor learn to interpret tongues. Either you have the gift or not. And I believe it is extremely rare. If you go to your church and there is a large group of people claiming to speak in tongues and interpret...be very skeptical of what is going on.
“If you go to your church and there is a large group of people claiming to speak in tongues and interpret...be very skeptical of what is going on.”
If you go to your church and there is a large group of people claiming to speak in tongues RUN LIKE THE WIND!
Whan speaking in tongues was done in the NT, the result was that EVERYONE could understand what the speaker was saying. When it’s done now, NOBODY can understand. Demonic, probably.
I would say prayer will one day cease. It’s like when you’re on vacation and you text your dad. One day, when LORD Jesus is standing right next to you, you can just speak to one another.
When was, exactly, the "Jesus Movement Era?"
Can you ascribe calendar dates to its beginning / end?
Regards,
🛐🛐🙏🙏✝️✝️
Counterfeit spirituality. Charismatic churches focus on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to us to focus on Christ. If you are focusing on the Holy Spirit, then who is making you do that?
I did not read your post bfore I posted #13. You are correct Madam.
John 14 is very clear.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Problem is, people call Jesus their Savior and treat Him like a lifeguard that can pluck them out when they are drowning.
Which would you sooner have, a lifeguard that waits until you are drowning and plucks you out, or a lifeguard that teaches you how to swim?
Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher. He was born in the flesh to teach us.
Problem is, people worship Jesus and don’t learn and follow His teachings. If you are not doing some of the things Jesus did, with Him in you, you are fooling yourself.
Miracles are merely science that we do not currently understand. That is not to discount them, as miracles are real.
I have found that the greater the presence of the Holy Spirit in me, the easier the miracles are to understand scientifically.
It seems that all the gifts that remain can be faked. “Helps” is a big one in cessationist Baptist circles.
A point that a radio pastor made has stuck with me for decades. A Spiritual Gift isn’t a propensity you had before salvation that just gets beefed up in a church setting. It is something you DIDN’T HAVE until given to you. Natural talents are often touted as Spiritual Gifts. The gifts are SUPERnatural.
I spent twenty plus years traveling to visit and attend charismatic churches as part of a research project furthering the understanding of human consciousness. They were very diverse, mostly Christian, some Messianic Jewish, some Buddhist, and some Hindu.
I also went through extensive traing on hypnosis, specifically stage hypnosis. I will never use it, as it is very dangerous.
I observed these same stage hypnosis techniques used in the charismatic churches, of all types. It’s trickery, not religion.
These people attending would swear on a Bible that they accepted Jesus and were “Born Again.” It has nothing to do with religion.
It is an external surrender, giving power over their will to the minister or evangelist. It’s a trance state.
The real “Born Again” experience is a surrender within self to Jesus and God. It is internal, not external.
This is how you can tell the imitation from the real experience.
After advising the Corinthian church about how to conduct a church service with Gifts (1 Cor 14), the scripture says, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”
Those who deny the gifts have nullified the above Commandment of the Lord. Not good.
Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Those who deny the gifts are calling this verse an error.
The existence of error (fake tongues) does not nullify the existence of real tongues.
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